Latest Rail News

24.01.14

Passenger boost for Greater Anglia

The East Suffolk Line had a record number of passengers last year, following improvements to the track and signalling.

In 2013, there were over 653,000 journeys on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line; an increase of 11.5% on the previous year.

Abellio Greater Anglia introduced a new hourly service in December 2012 after installing a passing loop at Beccles. The £4m scheme brought a disused platform at the station back into use.

Track and signalling works were also carried out as part of a wider £21m project to re-signal the East Suffolk Line.

Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs, said: “We're pleased to see that the new hourly service along the whole East Suffolk route has already been a great success. One year on and passenger numbers are up 11.5% year on year and over 60% on 2009/2010 – the last full year before the hourly service was introduced on the southern half of the route (Saxmundham – Ipswich).

“By working together with partners who share an interest in the success of the East Suffolk line, we are helping to create an exciting new phase in the history of the line with more services, better performance and better customer facilities. We're committed to making the Ipswich to Lowestoft route an even more successful route and an even more valuable asset to the communities it serves, supporting tourism and the local economy."

Local MP Therese Coffey said: “I am delighted that the figures show such an increase in passengers. It is clear that a regular timetable with hourly trains has benefited residents, commuters and tourists alike. The service has also improved links to Ipswich and London for Suffolk Coastal businesses, giving a boost to the whole area.”

Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]

Image c. Joshua Brown under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence

Comments

Nonsuchmike   24/01/2014 at 17:18

For nearly a hundred years up until 1963 Beccles was a fine station with four passenger lines, goods lines and four platforms. To say that the improvements to two platforms and two tracks in 2012 has generated an 11% improvement is a tad Orwellian, notwithstanding the reduction to one platform and one track in the meantime. Perhaps with additional passing places, the numbers of passengers - which incidentally fell considerably between 2008 and 2011 - may make an even more dramatic improvement when services are increased to every forty minutes. Who knows what elysian heights may be scaled if, perish the thought of such a surfeit, the frequency of trains rockets to a dizzying two whole trains per hour?

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