Published on: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Last updated: Thursday, 22 June 2023
Fans of the famous Flying Scotsman steam locomotive are being urged to keep off the tracks and enjoy a safe day out when the locomotive travels around the region this Friday.
Flying Scotsman is due to travel on the Greater Anglia network on Friday 23 June, when the engine makes its way from London to Great Yarmouth via Norwich.
Members of the public will not be permitted past the barriers at Norwich railway station. People are advised to find a safe place away from all stations and level crossings along the route. Anyone wanting to take a photo at Norwich is advised to stand on Riverside/Koblenz Avenue or the Carrow Road Bridge over the railway.
The gates will be closed at Great Yarmouth and people wanting to take a photo are advised to find a safe location near the station. Members of the public will not be permitted through the gates at Great Yarmouth.
Greater Anglia is advising the public to:
- Stay behind the yellow line on any other station platforms at all times.
- Remain aware of their surroundings and stay away from the platform edge.
- Listen to staff and obey instructions given to them, as other trains will still be in operation.
James Reeve, Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, said:
“Flying Scotsman will not be the only train running on our railways – there will be many other regular, scheduled services operating, so it is vital that rail fans stay in safe areas and don’t trespass on the line and put themselves and others at serious risk. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation.
“We will have extra staff on hand. However, we are urging people to stay away from stations unless they are travelling with Greater Anglia.
“While we appreciate many people want to view the locomotive, safety is our priority. There are plenty of local footpaths along the route where people will be able to take photos.”
Additional staff from Greater Anglia, Network Rail and British Transport Police will be on duty during the day to help keep people safe and ensure the railway continues to operate punctually.
Juwad Nasir, Network Rail Anglia’s head of network delivery, said:
“It’s been a real team effort to get this historic engine running through our patch, with contributions from our planning and operations teams, as well as from colleagues at Greater Anglia and the British Transport Police. We’ll be working hard to help people on board Flying Scotsman enjoy the experience, while keeping the service running reliably for passengers on regular trains.
“I’d also urge everyone to follow the advice and stay safe. There is never a reason to take a risk near the railway.”
Enthusiasts are also reminded that flying drones close to the railway can be illegal and could result in action being taken by British Transport Police.