New railway station signage set to support local tourism

Published on: Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Last updated: Wednesday, 17 April 2019

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Ever got off a train and been unsure where to go? Hopefully that is a thing of the past now at Hoveton and Wroxham station, the gateway station for Wroxham, its amenities, the river, foot and cycle trails and the Bure Valley Railway.

The Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership have unveiled improved signage at the station this week with the information set to support the local economy, tourism and use of countryside walking and cycle routes helping to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Working with local volunteers who make up the station adopter team and train operator Greater Anglia, the Partnership was keen to add extra signage showing visitors where they can access pathways taking visitors to the village centre, riverside park, local amenities and enjoy longer walks towards Aylsham and the Three Rivers Way to Horning. In addition, the signs include routes to the boatyards, toilet facilities and the popular narrow-gauge Bure Valley Railway.

The completed scheme comes at an exciting time for the Bittern Line which will this year see a major £1m upgrade of Sheringham Station and train operator Greater Anglia begin the introduction of its brand-new train fleet. The line has also enjoyed record patronage over recent years with around seven hundred thousand journeys now being undertaken along the route each year.

Peter Mayne, Chair of the Bittern Line Community Partnership said; “We are delighted to unveil our new signage which provides more accurate information to visitors, encouraging people to explore local amenities and tourist attractions and the fabulous walking routes towards Aylsham and to Horning via the Three Rivers Way.”

Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Community and Customer Engagement Manager, added: “The Bittern Line has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past few years and serves as a major transport artery for tourism and communities along the route. Improved signage such as that provided by the Partnership at Hoveton & Wroxham helps us prepare for even more passengers when further improvements - including our current £1m project to build a new platform at Sheringham Station and the forthcoming introduction of an entire new fleet of trains - is complete.”

The Bittern Line which runs from Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham is one of the most picturesque routes in the region as it travels from the City through the Broads National Park towards the North Norfolk Coast. With Hoveton & Wroxham being a major gateway to the Broads, it is hoped that the new signage will help guide visitors and follows recent initiatives which have included real time information screens, tourism maps and station ticket machines.