New Bittern Line Sunday services are booming!

The new all year around hourly Sundayservice on the Norwich to Sheringham is already proving a success with morepeople taking the train.

Figures released by Abellio Greater Angliashow that over the first three months of 2015, there was a 20% increase inpassengers travelling on the Bittern Line between Norwich and the North NorfolkCoast, with over 10800 journeys made, compared to just over 9000 journeys inthe same period in 2014.

The enhanced service was launched lastOctober, meaning that for the first time there is an hourly frequency ofservice on Sundays during the winter period and therefore throughout the yearon the Bittern Line. Six extra services in each direction were introduced, sothat 13 services now run in each direction with the first departures fromNorwich and Sheringham at 08.36 and 09.42 respectively, with last trainsdeparting Norwich at 20.36 and from Sheringham at 21.42. They benefitcommunities along the route providing better connectivity for trips to and fromNorwich and the coast, and make North Norfolk more accessible and attractivefor weekend breaks, all year around. The service had an immediate positiveimpact, but as awareness of the more convenient and frequent service increased,the first quarter of this year has seen the notable 20% rise in passengerjourneys.

The upgrade is one of a number ofimprovements that have been taking place on the line in the last couple ofyears. The local trains used on the line have been refurbished; the last traindeparture from Norwich to Sheringham on Fridays and Saturdays was moved backfrom 22.45 to 23.05 last December (in response to customer and communityfeedback and earlier than expected), North Walsham station has benefited frombetter customer facilities (including better lighting, a ticket vending machineand new customer information screens) and train service performance has seen amoving annual average punctuality of almost 95%.

Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairsfor Abellio Greater Anglia said: “We're pleased to see that the introduction ofan hourly Sunday service on the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham,throughout the year, has attracted many more people to take the train. It wasone of the key commitments we made as part of our current short franchise andis part of our ongoing programme to develop and promote the line, working inclose partnership with key stakeholders such as the Bittern Line Community RailPartnership. The improved frequency of service is also a major boost forNorfolk’s economy and the local businesses that will benefit from more peoplevisiting Norwich and the coastal and market towns the Bittern Line serves.”

Ted Gadsden, Chair of the Bittern LineCommunity Rail Partnership, said, “We are delighted by the introduction of thehourly Sunday service to Sheringham and the improved passenger numbers. Iam sure that it will have a welcome impact on the tourist industry,demonstrating the importance of rail travel, especially in this area.”