Bittern Line - History

History

The line was opened between Norwich and North Walsham in 1874 by the East Norfolk Railway, and it reached Cromer by 1877. The rest of the line, between Cromer and Sheringham, was opened in 1887 using a section of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway line (a further section of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway running from Sheringham to Holt is preserved as the North Norfolk Railway).

The Bittern Line Partnership was set up by Norfolk County Council in 1997.

In November 2006 track renewal work began with whole lengths of the old track being lifted and new rails and sleepers being installed, along with new level crossing points. The work will improve the ride comfort and safety and reduce the noise levels for those living near to the track. The work was carried out by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Network Rail.

The line was designated as a community rail line by the Department for Transport on 28 September 2007.

Passenger numbers are increasing, and the route has seen a number of service improvements in recent years, including two additional trains in the evening (one an hour after the previous last train, and one filling in a two-hour gap before the last train), and the next timetable will see the Sunday service improved from two-hourly to hourly.