Infrastructure
The line is double-track from Ipswich to Woodbridge and from Saxmundham to Halesworth with the rest of the route being single track. The line is not Electrified, has a loading gauge of W10 between Ipswich and Westerfield and W6 for all other sections, and a line speed of between 40-55 mph.
Until October 2012, the section from Westerfield to Oulton Broad was signalled using Radio Electronic Token Block controlled from Saxmundham, and was the only line in England to use this system (the system was used elsewhere in the UK in both Wales and Scotland). However, due to radio frequency licensing issues, Track Circuit Block signalling (using AzLM axle counters) has replaced the RETB system, which was abolished after the last Ipswich - Lowestoft service reached Oulton Broad South on the night of Friday 19 October 2012. Between Saturday 20 October and Monday 22 October 2012 the new Track Circuit Block signalling system was commissioned and tested. The new signalling came into operation on Tuesday 23 October 2012, controlled from the existing signal box at Saxmundham.
The route sees a regular two-hourly passenger service running between Ipswich and Lowestoft operated by Class 170, Class 156 and Class 153 diesel multiple units. This service used to run all the way to London Liverpool Street but was stopped to enable longer electric trains to be used south of Ipswich. From December 2010, an hourly service was introduced between Ipswich and Saxmundham, providing an hourly service for part of the route with only the single track restricting its continuation up to Lowestoft. This is mostly operated by a Class 153 unit.
Under Network Rail planning the line is part of Strategic Route 7. The section between Ipswich and Westerfield is a part of SRS 07.12 and is classified as secondary line with the remainder of the line being part of SRS 07.11 and classified as rural.
Read more about this topic: East Suffolk Line