The Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) and Lowestoft Central Project were delighted to be supported by volunteer teams from Network Rail, allowing them to make significant progress in efforts to improve the approaches to Lowestoft Station as well as assisting with a heritage initiative.
Network Rail colleagues from various regional teams joined forces to tidy a large area of railway land adjacent to Platform 4 and undertook construction of two track panels which will be inserted into the rails alongside the platform.
This work will in-turn facilitate a long-held aspiration to install track and ballast in an area adjacent to the station buffer stops, further enhancing the area and assisting in efforts to celebrate the stations heritage.
The team was made up of engineers and management from Permanent Way, Signalling & Telecommunications, Offtrack, Electrification & Plant, Rail Management and Infrastructure Maintenance, all based at Network Rail’s Ipswich Delivery Unit.
Together with the Lowestoft Central Project, Wherry Lines CRP has been working to rejuvenate the station over the past decade, with a number of initiatives including the restoration of the former Parcels Office into a public exhibition space, operation of a community rail shop and tourist information office, installation of modern low energy lighting housed in Victorian style casement lamps, and the restoration and reopening of doorways, better connecting the station with the town it serves.
Throughout this time, the partnership has been pleased to work with Network Rail on several occasions, including the securing of railway land to help prevent trespass and anti-social behaviour, installation of a living hedge creating a new wildlife corridor, and opportunities for the public to visit Lowestoft Signal Box and the Edwardian Swing Bridge at Somerleyton.
Martin Halliday, development officer at Community Rail Norfolk, on behalf of the Wherry Lines CRP and Lowestoft Central Project, said: “We are hugely grateful to our Network Rail colleagues for giving their time and expertise in support of our aspirations for Lowestoft Station.
“The work undertaken has provided a significant improvement to the approaches by rail into the station, and the creation of new track panels will in turn enable us to undertake further aesthetic improvements to the area around the buffer stops, with the opportunity to utilise some authentic railway infrastructure.”
Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Wherry Lines CRP via their website.
