Transport users group wants to see Yarmouth rail transformed

Members of the East Norfolk Transport Users Association (ENTUA) want to see more trains running between the town, its surrounding villages and the city, longer transfer windows for connections at Norwich station and better international connections via the town's railway line.

ENTUA secretary Steve Hewitt announced the group's aspirations - along with a new prospectus at an event attended by Greater Anglia managers, and representatives of Sir Brandon Lewis and the Broads Authority at Great Yarmouth Railway Station on Tuesday.

ENTUA secretary Steve Hewitt (centre) highlighting the transport group's ambitions for Great Yarmouth's rail network over the next ten years. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)The prospectus reads that while Great Yarmouth is "still a major holiday destination," it "stands out as the poor relation," when compared with Blackpool - which offers a direct service to London.

At the meeting, Mr Hewitt said: "We've always thought Yarmouth is neglected when it comes to rail services.

"One train an hour to one of the biggest seaside resorts on the East Coast is something that needs to be looked at.

ENTUA secretary Steve Hewitt, with the group's new rail prospectus. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)"This document contains our aspirations for the next ten years. None of them are silly.

"We don't want a ten-minute service, we just simply want extra trains running and to more places, for example to Reedham, Peterborough and even Stansted Airport."

ENTUA also outlined their hopes to see a longer bus service connecting the rail station with the town centre, as well as EV charging ports at the station car park.

Great Yarmouth Railway Station. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)Alan Neville, Greater Anglia's customer engagement manager, said he welcomed ENTUA's ambitions.

"It helps us to shape what we all want for the future, which is for more people to use rail," he said.

"Some things are easier to achieve than others, but the main objective was getting new trains and improving the performance, and we've done both of those."

Greater Anglia's customer engagement manager, Alan Neville. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)Greater Anglia has recently celebrated impressive punctuality targets, with the Yarmouth to Norwich line hitting 99pc. The train line also unveiled a new £1.4bn fleet of trains in 2019.

Copies of East Norfolk Transport Users Association's rail prospectus are available at Great Yarmouth Railway Station. Picture - Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)