Greater Anglia announces wide-ranging May service improvements

Greater Anglia has announced a substantial package of timetable enhancements across its regional network, with changes due to come into effect from Sunday 17 May and delivering a range of improvements for passengers in the Stowmarket area and across East Anglia.

The operator said the May timetable update is focused on expanding capacity, improving connections and responding to growing passenger demand on key routes. Stowmarket in particular will see increased intercity stopping patterns, alongside service uplifts on several busy commuter and regional lines.

Highlights include:

• Extra intercity service calls at Stowmarket on Mondays to Saturdays, giving a half hourly intercity service for most of the day
• An extra morning peak Ipswich to Cambridge service and evening peak Cambridge to Ipswich service on Mondays to Fridays
• An extra morning peak Norwich to Cambridge service and evening peak Cambridge to Norwich service on Mondays to Fridays
• An extra evening service each way between Norwich and Ely on Mondays to Saturdays
• More early morning services between Cambridge and Stansted Airport on Mondays to Fridays
• An earlier first arrival in Lowestoft from East Suffolk line stations on Mondays to Fridays
• A later last train from Lowestoft to Beccles and from Beccles to Lowestoft on Mondays to Saturdays
• More stops for Westerfield on East Suffolk line Ipswich to Lowestoft services on Saturdays and Sundays
• A later departure time for the last Norwich to Lowestoft service on Mondays to Saturdays
• Additional morning and evening peak services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth on Mondays to Fridays
• More services calling at Brundall, Cantley, Reedham, Haddiscoe and Somerleyton on a daily basis, giving them an hourly service
• An extra late evening service each way between Norwich and Sheringham on Mondays to Saturdays
• Extra morning and evening services each way between Norwich and Sheringham on Sundays
• More services calling at Salhouse and Worstead on the Norwich to Sheringham line on a daily basis

According to Greater Anglia, the additional services will benefit passengers travelling to and from Stowmarket as well as those using the Ipswich to Cambridge, Ipswich to Lowestoft, Norwich to Lowestoft, Norwich to Great Yarmouth, Norwich to Sheringham and Norwich to Cambridge routes.

The operator said the changes reflect sustained growth in passenger numbers on regional services, driven in part by the rollout of new trains over the past six years. These have delivered more seating capacity, improved punctuality and reliability, better accessibility through low floors and retractable steps, and a more comfortable on-board environment.

Greater Anglia added that customer and stakeholder feedback has played a key role in shaping the timetable, with input from local authorities, community rail partnerships and rail user groups helping to identify where additional services would be most effective.

Martin Beable, Managing Director for Greater Anglia, said:

“We are pleased to be able to announce an extensive range of service improvements on our regional routes this May. We are always working to refine and improve services across our network in line with local feedback, aspirations, and emerging demand. The positive impact of the introduction of our new trains has seen passenger numbers rise across our regional routes. We’re glad to be able to add in extra trains across a number of our routes from May, making rail travel even more attractive and convenient.”

Image: Greater Anglia