Passengers travelling along the Bittern Line are set to benefit from a major upgrade to visitor information, as new digital touchscreen displays are installed at four key North Norfolk stations.
The interactive screens have been introduced at Sheringham, Cromer, Hoveton & Wroxham, and North Walsham, funded through a £47,778 grant from Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund. The initiative, led by North Norfolk District Council and approved in July 2025, is now entering its final phase, with full commissioning expected within the next fortnight.
Enhancing the Passenger and Visitor Experience
Once operational, the digital screens will provide real-time access to a wide range of local information, including:
- Tourist attractions and destinations
- Local businesses and hospitality venues
- Event listings and seasonal activities
- Area maps and visitor guides
This integrated approach is designed to help passengers and visitors better plan their journeys and make the most of their time in North Norfolk.
In a key development, the system has also been enhanced through collaboration with Norfolk County Council, incorporating live onward bus departure information. This feature aims to improve multimodal connectivity and support smoother transitions between rail and local bus services.
Supporting Local Economies and Tourism
The screens will be managed by Visit North Norfolk, ensuring content remains relevant and up to date during the busy summer period. The initiative is part of a broader programme to upgrade visitor information infrastructure across the region.
Additional screens are being rolled out in partnership with the Broads Authority, Community Rail Norfolk, and various market towns and destinations, bringing the total value of the wider project to over £140,000.
Backed by Community-Focused Rail Investment
Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund continues to play a pivotal role in supporting projects that enhance the railway’s contribution to local communities. Over the past year, 28 schemes have received funding, spanning areas such as:
- Station upgrades
- Integrated transport initiatives
- Education and heritage projects
- Biodiversity and community rail schemes
Each project is required to demonstrate clear benefits for both rail users and the wider community.
Industry Voices
Andrew Hird, Managing Director of Visit North Norfolk, said:
“We are delighted to be working with our partners to deliver this exciting and innovative project to the towns of north Norfolk. It helps provide visitors with up-to-date information about the area and supports local businesses by providing a platform to highlight events, things to do and businesses to visit”.
Scott Dolling, Greater Anglia’s Partnerships Manager, said:
“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is designed to support projects that make a real difference to the communities we serve.
“This initiative will help provide consistent information for visitors using public transport, while giving people more confidence to explore the fantastic destinations along the Bittern Line."
“By improving access to local visitor and onward travel information, we can help make rail journeys easier, better connected and more useful for local communities and visitors.”
Aligning with GBR Transition
The project also reflects wider structural changes across the rail industry, supporting the transition toward Great British Railways. Collaboration between c2c, Greater Anglia, and Network Rail Anglia under a unified regional leadership team is driving a more integrated and customer-focused railway.
By improving access to real-time, location-specific information and strengthening multimodal links, initiatives such as this highlight the tangible benefits of closer industry alignment—helping create simpler, more joined-up journeys for passengers.
Image credit: Greater Anglia
