Stopping All Stations: East Suffolk Line

Recorded July 2022 The East Suffolk line is a 49-mile secondary railway line running between Ipswich and Lowestoft. The Halesworth, Beccles and Haddiscoe Railway opened between those points in 1854, and the East Suffolk Railway took over and extended southwards to Ipswich and north and east to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, opening in 1859, and forming a more direct route to London from the coastal towns. The GER operated a successful passenger and goods train service, and with the development of seaside holidays the seasonal passenger traffic increased considerably; the goods traffic was limited by the predominantly rural and agricultural topography, with some notable pockets of industry, and considerable fishery traffic. After 1945 use of the line declined and costs escalated sharply, and it appeared likely that the network would be closed, but the East Suffolk Railway main line was reprieved in 1966. At present the line carries an hourly passenger service, consisting of British Rail class 755 bi-mode multiple units. Stations Visited: Ipswich, Westerfield, Woodbridge, Melton, Wickham Market, Saxmundham, Darsham, Halesworth, Brampton, Beccles, Oulton Broad South and Lowestoft