Wherry Lines
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Principal Stations (from west to east)
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The Wherry Lines are the railway lines in England, from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. These lines pass through The Broads.
The line was first opened from Norwich to Great Yarmouth by the Norwich and Yarmouth Railway in 1844, running via Reedham. The link from Reedham to Lowestoft was added in 1847 by Samuel Morton Peto. Finally, the northern route from Norwich to Great Yarmouth was added in 1882 by the Great Eastern Railway. Despite their apparently rural nature the lines should be regarded as commuter lines. In this respect, gross overcrowding at morning and evening peaks has caused local concern.
On February 1 2007, the services operating on the line were designated community rail services[1] as part of the The Community Rail Development Strategy which aims to increase passenger numbers and income, improve the management of costs, and develop a greater sense of community involvement.[2]
The towns and villages served by the three routes are listed below.
Norwich-Great Yarmouth via Acle
- Norwich
- Brundall Gardens
- Brundall
- Route to Reedham and Lowestoft diverges
- Lingwood
- Acle
- Great Yarmouth
Norwich-Lowestoft
- Norwich
- Brundall Gardens
- Brundall
- Route to Acle and Great Yarmouth diverges
- Buckenham with just one train in each direction daily
- Cantley
- Reedham
- Route to Berney Arms and Great Yarmouth diverges
- Haddiscoe
- Somerleyton
- Oulton Broad
- Lowestoft
Norwich-Great Yarmouth via Reedham
- Follows Lowestoft line as far as Reedham, then diverges to:
- Berney Arms
- Great Yarmouth
Passenger services are provided by 'one', using of Class 150, Class 153, Class 156 or Class 170 diesel multiple units, as the routes are not electrified. Most services originate from Norwich, but some services operate through from London Liverpool Street via Norwich. These through services are either formed of Turbostars or else are Class 90 electric locomotives with hauled coaching stock, which are dragged from Norwich by a Class 47 diesel locomotive.
The name of the line is taken from the Norfolk wherries, which played an important role in the transport of goods and people around the broads before road and rail transport became widespread.
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