Woodbridge Railway Station - History

History

The railway line connecting the East Suffolk Railway (ESR) at Halesworth with the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR) at Ipswich was built in two parts: the portion of this line south of Woodbridge was built by the ECR; Woodbridge station and the portion of line north of there was built by the ESR. The line opened on 1 June 1859, and Woodbridge station opened with the line. The ESR was absorbed by the ECR on opening day.

On 1 July 1862, the ECR and other small railway companies amalgamated to become the Great Eastern Railway (GER). At the 1923 Grouping, the GER was amalgamated with other companies to form the London and North Eastern Railway; this in turn was a constituent of British Railways at the start of 1948.

On 1 January 1927 there was a train crash at Woodbridge station. A wagon coupling had broken at Bealings station and when the engine stopped at Woodbridge, the rear portion running downhill smashed into the back of the stationary train. Only one minor injury was recorded.

The station goods yard closed on 18 April 1966.

With the privatisation of British Rail, ownership of the line and station passed to Railtrack on 1 April 1994. The franchise to operate the passenger services on this route was won by Anglia Railways in 1997; in 2004 National Express won the franchise and operated services using the branding 'one', which was renamed National Express East Anglia in 2008.

On 28 January 2003 a train collided with a car on the ungated level crossing leading to the marina.

On 13 December 2010 a train hit a car on a level crossing close to Woodbridge station.

  • Woodbridge Station in 2008

  • The shelter on the up platform in 2012

  • National rail sign and Victorian postbox at Woodbridge

  • Footbridge detail at Woodbridge.

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