Published on: Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Rail journeys through the beautiful Suffolkcountryside will be accompanied by live music in a special event on EasterSaturday.
The East Suffolk Line Community RailPartnership has teamed up with train operator Abellio Greater Anglia to host aspecial Music Train on Easter Saturday with festival favourites Solanaproviding the entertainment.
The special event will take place onboard atrain from Beccles to Ipswich and back again with one carriage playing host toaround two hours of live musical entertainment.
If the pilot event is a success, it is hopedmore music trains will follow throughout the year featuring a wide mix of localgroups and musical styles.
Music Trains for the East Suffolk Line arebeing championed by Beccles Councillor Graham Elliott who also chairs thenorthern line group for the Community Rail Partnership.
Cllr Elliott said: "Music trains have provedextremely popular around the country and with such a wealth of musical talentin the area, I thought it would be a great way to showcase local musicianscomplimented by the beautiful views of the Suffolk countryside which can beseen along the line".
The first live band chosen to perform onboard are Solana, formed in the Spanish city of Valencia in 2012, theirrepertoire incorporates such diverse influences as swing, klezmer and Latinrhythms and features Spanish guitars, Celtic flutes and irrepressible fiddles,a style which has made the group hugely popular on the UK and continentalfestival circuits.
The first East Suffolk Line Music Traindeparts Beccles at 13.25 on Easter Saturday, 26 March calling at Halesworth, Darsham, Saxmundham, WickhamMarket, Melton & Woodbridge, arriving in Ipswich at 14.36. The returnjourney departs at 15.17 calling at all stations, arriving back in Beccles at16.25.
Although the first Music Train event runsfrom and returns to Beccles, passengers can also board the outgoing train fromLowestoft at 13.07 (Oulton Broad South 13.15) with the return service arrivingat 16.43 (Oulton Broad South 16.35).
A scheduled service train is being used forthe inaugural Music Train event between Beccles and Ipswich and passengers willrequire a normal rail ticket for the journey (current train fares apply) whichcan be purchased as usual from stations or the conductor on board.
Passengers can also take advantage ofGroupSave tickets and there is no additional charge above the current trainfare to join the Music Train event.
GroupSave tickets are applicable to thosetravelling in a group of 3 - 9 adults, and could save up to 1/3 off adult fareswith up to four children also travelling for just £1 each.
For more information please see www.eastsuffolkline.com