Partnership delivers Station travel plan for North Walsham

Published on: Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

A partnership between train operator Greater Anglia, Norfolk County Council, North Norfolk District Council and the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership (CRP) to deliver a Station Travel Plan for North Walsham station is set to make further progress on Friday, 24 February with the unveiling by Councillor John Lee, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment at North Norfolk District Council of a new cycle shelter and improved information boards. A new 'Getting to the station leaflet' has also been produced. These are the first actions to be implemented through the Station Travel Plan initiative for North Walsham. Further improvements have been identified including improved marketing of the train service, replacement of the waiting shelters and information screens and upgrades to station lighting. Station Travel Plans have been used widely across the country to encourage more people to travel by train, to increase the use of sustainable modes of transport for access to the station and to improve community engagement with the local railway. An initial study was carried out by the CRP with support from the other partners including valuable input from local volunteers in identifying an Action Plan of recommendations. Councillor John Lee, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment at North Norfolk District Council said: "The Bittern Line is an important part of life in North Norfolk; our residents use it for work, business and leisure and the Council is pleased to have worked on this exciting project which aims to get more people travelling to North Walsham station sustainably and using the rail service." Andrew Goodrum, Customer Service Director, Greater Anglia said: "The Station Travel Plan for North Walsham is already delivering passenger benefits and we are determined to further improve community engagement and partnership initiatives at stations like North Walsham to encourage more use and greater awareness of local train services."

Graham Plant, Cabinet member for Planning and Transportation, Norfolk County Council said: “These may only be the first steps in implementing the Station Travel Plan, but with fuel prices sky high, they are just the sort of improvements that will encourage people to leave the car at home and switch to cycling or walking to the railway station. This is an excellent initiative that is helping connect the railway to the communities it serves."