10 March 2026 •
Local rail operator c2c Railway has announced that its successful Essex Ultra Marathon event is returning for a third consecutive year this September.
Following the success of the 2024 and 2025 events, c2c has announced that its popular Essex Ultra Marathon will be returning for a third consecutive year on Saturday 12 September.
This year’s event, which is open to people of all ages (18 and over) and abilities, includes 10, 30 and 50-mile race options, with all distances taking in the Essex Riviera while closely following the c2c train route from Upminster, Tilbury and Benfleet down to Southend-on-Sea.
All proceeds from this year’s event – raised through race entry fees and additional sponsorship – will again be donated to charity, with the official partner set to be announced soon.
c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen, said:
“As a keen runner and fitness enthusiast, I am delighted that c2c is again hosting its popular Essex Ultra Marathon this September alongside our friends at XNRG.“This year’s Ultra sees the addition of a new 10-mile route, which I hope will inspire even more people – including many members of the c2c team and the communities we serve – to lace up their trainers and walk, jog or run the Essex Thameside.”
The 10, 30 and 50-mile routes will start at Benfleet station, Tilbury (Lansdowne Primary Academy) and Upminster station respectively, before heading out east along the Essex Riviera to the finish line at Thorpedene Primary School in Shoeburyness.
All those registered to take part in the c2c Essex Ultra Marathon will receive free travel on the c2c route to and from the race.
Registrations for all distances will open shortly, so keep your eye on xnrg.co.uk/events/c2c-essex-ultra or sign-up to the mailing list for further information.
The entry fees for all three races are as follows:
10-miles
- Standard – £39
30-miles
- Early bird – £75 (register before 12 August)
- Standard – £85
50-Mile Route
- Early bird – £95 (register before 12 August)
- Standard – £105
- c2c is the award-winning train operator running services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, serving 26 stations in East London and South Essex.
- c2c is one of the UK’s most punctual and popular train operators and nearly 37.3 million journeys are made on its services every year.
- The operation of all c2c services transferred into public ownership on Sunday 20 July 2025 and is managed by DFTO (DfT Operator Ltd).
- XNRG’s mission is to help people challenge themselves and break through their mental and physical barriers, whilst providing peace of mind with expertly run events, going the extra mile for every competitor.
About DFTO
- DFTO is the government’s public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027.
- The group’s current train operating companies are: c2c, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and WM Trains (London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway).
- DFTO runs more than 8,500 services each weekday and delivers more than 640 million customer journeys across its networks every year.
Images
Featured Image: Runners at the start of the 2025 c2c Essex Ultra Marathon (30-miles)
Second Image: Runners at the start of the 2025 c2c Essex Ultra Marathon (50-miles)
Third Image: c2c Managing Director, Rob Mullen, completes the 2025 Ultra