New ticket machines at East Suffolk Line stations

Greater Anglia has completed a programme to install new automatic ticket vending machines at two key stations on the East Suffolk Line between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

The £36K investment in new ticket machines at Woodbridge and Saxmundham means that, for the first time, passengers using these stations can purchase their train tickets before they travel and even collect tickets which they have bought "on-line".

The installation of the new ticket machines has been part-funded by Suffolk County Council and supported by Suffolk Coastal MP, Therese Coffey, who visited Woodbridge station today, Friday 17th May to view this latest customer service improvement and formally mark the completion of the project.

The new Atos FAST machines are equipped with the most up-to-date and customer-friendly screen layout helping to simplify the method for ticket purchase by reducing the number of steps to complete a ticket transaction. When purchasing a ticket, the screens also display relevant information concerning any travel restrictions that may apply to a particular ticket type, helping to ensure that customers are easily able to purchase the correct and most appropriate ticket for their intended journey. The initiative to upgrade and install new ticket machines is aimed at improving the service offered to customers at rural stations which do not have a ticket office.

Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs, for Greater Anglia said: "We are pleased to complete this important upgrade for passengers at two key stations on the East Suffolk line between Ipswich and Lowestoft. We initiated this scheme as part of a wider programme of improvements for the route to follow on from the launch of the new hourly service last December. The ticket machines will make ticket purchase much easier for passengers, in addition to the print-at-home and mobile ticketing options we have made available along the East Suffolk line in the last year. We are grateful for the support of Suffolk County Council, the East Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and Therese Coffey MP in taking this customer and community-focused improvement forward."

Suffolk Coastal MP, Therese Coffey , said, “After discussing the case for Greater Anglia's project, by writing to the Chief Executive of Greater Anglia last year highlighting the need for people to buy tickets at these busy stations, I am delighted that new ticket machines are now ready for use at both Woodbridge and Saxmundham. This is a much needed facility for passengers who can now take advantage of advanced purchase rates and pick up tickets bought on-line.”