Lowestoft railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lowestoft | |||
 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | |||
| Place | Lowestoft | ||
| Local authority | Waveney, Suffolk | ||
| Operations | |||
| Station code | LWT | ||
| Managed by | National Express East Anglia | ||
| Platforms in use | 3 | ||
| Live departures and station information from National Rail | |||
| Annual Rail Passenger Usage | |||
| 2004/05 * | 0.245 million | ||
| 2005/06 * | 0.226 million | ||
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
| * Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Lowestoft from Office of Rail Regulation statistics. | |||
|
|||
Lowestoft railway station is a railway station serving the town of Lowestoft in Suffolk. The station is the terminus of two routes; the Wherry Line from Norwich and the East Suffolk Line from Ipswich.
The station is served by National Express East Anglia. All services are operated by diesel multiple units of Classes 153, 156 or 170. Some services are operated direct to London Liverpool Street via the East Suffolk Line using new Turbostar units.
According to Strategic Rail Authority usage figures (2003) Lowestoft is after Ipswich the most used station in Suffolk, with busy commuter traffic to Norwich and to a lesser extent to Ipswich. Up until the late 1960's the station was busier still with regular extra direct express trains for holiday makers in the summer from London and elswhere (see British Rail Eastern Region timetable 1966) and local services to Great Yarmouth (withdrawn in 1970).
The station is staffed and much of the original historical structure remains: however,it lost many of its facilities (including its overall roof and WH Smith bookshop)in 1992. It retains one of the last original British Rail enamel signs in situ on its frontage (see photograph) proudly declaring "British Railways - Lowestoft Central" The "Central" was to distinguish the station from Lowestoft North on the line to Great Yarmouth South Town which was closed in 1970.
Lowestoft station made an unusual appearance in the horror story 'Wrong Side of the Tracks' from the book 'Ghosts Far From Subtle', after author Joe Rattigan was inspired on the Lowestoft to Norwich line to write one of his many Suffolk-based ghost stories.
In April 2008, Waveney District Council issued a policy document that states it is their intention to have the existing centrally located railway station closed and a new one opened that would be located 400 metres west and away from the town shopping area, beach and other attractions. The council have stated that the closure of the present station will release land for new housing, shops and a new town square. These proposals are being opposed by the local rail users group but the Conservative controlled Waveney District Council have stated that they intend to follow the policy of closure. Network Rail and the TOC are opposing the move but are being ignored by the council. The council proposals are backed by 1st East, a Government inspired regeneration company.
[edit] External links
- Train times and station information for Lowestoft railway station from National Rail
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oulton Broad North | National Express East Anglia Wherry Lines |
Terminus | ||
| Oulton Broad South | National Express East Anglia East Suffolk Line |
|||
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Norfolk and Suffolk Yarmouth-Lowestoft Line 1859-1970 |
Lowestoft North | ||
 This article on a railway station in the East of England is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
