Plans on track to breathe new life into Lowestoft station

Published on: Monday, 18 July 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Lowestoft is set to receive a boost after plans for a new visitor information centre at the rail station were given the green light.

The project, which is led by the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership (ESLCRP), will see a new volunteer-run visitor information centre, Community Rail office, and station adopters’ room at the station.

A working group - consisting of ESLCRP, Abellio Greater Anglia, Waveney MP Peter Aldous, Suffolk County and Waveney District Council, Network Rail, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and Lowestoft Vision - was formed last year to help re-connect the station with the town centre.

The project was backed by Waveney MP Peter Aldous, who recently discussed the exciting plans for the station in the House Of Commons, with Rail Minister Claire Perry agreeing to meet with the project team to discuss ideas and further funding opportunities.

Train operator Abellio Greater Anglia agreed to allow use of some station buildings for the creation of a new volunteer-run Visitor Information centre. The appeal for volunteers is underway and the information centre will open once they have been appointed.

Martin Halliday, Community Rail Officer for the ESLCRP said: “Lowestoft has a unique asset in the station; its central location, history and regular services are now set to be complemented by the opening of a new visitor information facility and the formation of a dedicated station adoption team. There are some exciting ideas currently being discussed and we are looking forward to working with various parties to realise these aspirations, helping to release the enormous potential of this historic site.”

Paul Oxley, Stakeholder Manager at Abellio Greater Anglia, said: “We are very pleased to be working with ESLCRP on this project deliver a facility to boost the town's tourism, and would like to thank everyone who has been involved so far. Around half a million passengers use the station each year, which serves direct lines to both Ipswich and Norwich with onward connections to London, the midlands and north.”