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Popular summer bus service linking station with seaside is saved

A popular summer bus service described as a vital link for tourism will run again this year after the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) stepped in with new funding.

With Great Yarmouth Station located some distance from the beach, bus station and town centre, it means that rail passengers arriving at the resort will no longer be faced with a long walk to reach some of the coastal towns most popular attractions, as well as the resorts extensive golden sands.

The service, which has run successfully for the past two years by Our Hire Ltd, found itself under threat until previous sponsor the Wherry Lines CRP stepped in to fund the popular link.

In addition to the Wherry Lines financial support, a range of materials promoting the service such as printed timetables and posters have been funded through Community Rail Network and will be distributed around the town, at Norwich station and in communities along Wherry Lines routes including Acle, Brundall, Cantley, Lingwood & Reedham.

Martin Halliday, development officer at Community Rail Norfolk, parent organisation of the Wherry Lines CRP, said: “Despite a wet summer in 2023, the service proved extremely popular, not just with holiday makers but with residents throughout the area who were able to enjoy a day out by the coast by using both the railway and 100 bus-link.

“With villages such as Reedham having just one bus service per week, the railway is a lifeline for communities and the added connectivity of a regular bus from Great Yarmouth Station enables a good value, quick and easy to use way to reach and enjoy the resort.”

James Reeve, Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, said: “Greater Anglia is pleased to be supporting this Wherry Lines initiative helping to connect rail passengers arriving at Great Yarmouth station with locations around the town. Many visitors arrive by train and being able to offer a seamless travel experience for onward journeys from the station is very important for our customers and helps to showcase Great Yarmouth as a terrific holiday destination.”

The Our Bus Wherry 100 Service runs every 30 minutes during the day until 31 August. There is no need to book in advance – just hop on! The maximum single adult fare is £2, children aged 5-19 travel for £1.50 and under 5’s go free. English National Bus Passes are also accepted, with a range of discounted daily and family tickets available from the driver.

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Wherry Lines CRP via their website.