Railwatch 086 - November 2000

East Anglia

By Trevor Garrod and Nick Dibben (nick.dibben@railfuture.org.uk)

Pro-active The Wherry Line Partnership, of which RDS is a member, paid for the hire of two diesel locomotives to provide additional trains between Norwich and Lowestoft for this year's Lowestoft Air Show. The trains were well used and certainly eased overcrowding on other services - but Ipswich- Lowestoft trains still had capacity problems which, we hope, will be addressed next year.

Meanwhile, the partnership is working on a package of initiatives ranging from a calendar publicising the line to better information on taxi links from unstaffed stations.

Walk on The East Suffolk Travellers' Association has published a leaflet describing six walks from and between stations on the Ipswich-Lowestoft line. To obtain a free leaflet, please send an sae to Trevor Garrod, 15 Clapham Road, Lowestoft NR32 1RQ.

Branch backs Anglia The branch has supported an application by Anglia Railways for Rail Passenger Partnership funding to increase rail services in the region. Anglia proposes a new hourly, limited stop, direct service between Cambridge and Norwich. It is hoped the service will start in 2002. In the long term, these services would be extended to Oxford as part of the East-West rail link. Also included in the plan are additional services between Ipswich, Cambridge and Peterborough. The branch has campaigned for many years for an earlier departure from Peterborough to Ipswich and if the Strategic Rail Authority provides the money, services could start in May 2001.

Branch line growth Although some train operators have neglected branch lines and cut services, demand during the peak period on the Sudbury to Marks Tey branch is such that the single-car class 153 cannot cope and buses are being provided to carry the excess! Train operator Great Eastern hope to have a two-coach class 150 unit available for the next timetable.

Boom The Norwich to Sheringham route has seen 50% growth in passenger traffic in three years, thanks largely to the work of the community rail partnership scheme which includes RDS and many local organisations which have worked together to promote it. Plans are being developed to extend the line to the original Sheringham station and share facilities with the present user, the North Norfolk steam railway.

Impressive passenger growth has been recorded on the Ipswich-Felixstowe line. In the past, conflicting needs of passenger and freight trains resulted in a poor service. However, following a track upgrade by Railtrack last year, Anglia Railways have been able to provide an hourly service and timekeeping is much improved. The result: A 30% increase in the number of users.

Norfolk freight The county council has issued a rail freight strategy document with the intention of promoting business awareness of rail. It also includes railfreight infrastructure schemes in its local transport plan. A key part of the strategy is to identify sites and former rail routes which could have future rail potential and protect them against other development.

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