Ipswich Railway Station - History

History

The Eastern Union Railway opened its first terminus in Ipswich in 1846 on Station Road at the other end of the present-day tunnel close to the old quay for the Steamboats and the aptly named 'Steamboat Tavern'. The Ipswich Steam Navigation Company had been formed in 1824/1825 during a period of 'steamship mania' and briefly offered services from the quay between Ipswich and London calling at Walton-on-the-Naze.

The current station is just to the north of Stoke tunnel which was constructed as part of the Ipswich to Ely Line which opened as far as St Edmunds in late 1846.

The station moved to its present location in 1860, the main building is thought to be principally the work of Peter Bruff. The island platform was added by the Great Eastern Railway in 1883.

Ipswich engine shed opened in 1846 and was at the south end of Stoke tunnel. It was the 3rd largest shed in the Great Eastern area during the steam era after Stratford and Cambridge.

The station's original lifts were removed in 1993 when the line was electrified.

Following the Privatisation of British Rail services from Ipswich Station were operated by Anglia Railways from 1997 until April 2004 after which the franchise was won by National Express East Anglia (operating under the 'one' brand until 2008).

In the five years between 2004/05 and 2008/09 patronage rose by 50% from 2 million per year to 3 million per year.

Ticket barriers were installed in the station building in May 2009 and the exit gate on Platform 2 closed permanently.

New lifts, which had been promised for many years since they were removed in about 1993 were opened on 6 June 2011.