A public transport users' group has marked the 10th anniversary of an hourly rail service being introduced between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

In December 2012 an hourly service over the East Suffolk line was introduced following the completion of a passing loop at Beccles.

With it being 10 years to the month since the passing loop was constructed on the East Suffolk rail line at Beccles, enabling an hourly service to be introduced seven days a week between the two largest towns in Suffolk, a special meeting was held this week.

As new trains have been introduced and improvements made to the stations since then, a "bright future" for the East Suffolk rail line was discussed this week.

It came as the East Suffolk Travel Association - the voluntary independent body for local public transport users - marked the occasion by issuing a discussion paper during a launch ceremony at the parcels office on Lowestoft station on Tuesday, December 6.

Looking ahead to the next 10 years on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line, ESTA launched the discussion paper, East Suffolk Line: A Railway for all Purposes.

At the launch ESTA chairman Trevor Garrod said it was being unveiled "to stimulate debate on what should be done to enhance the service further over the next decade."

Mr Garrod said it "addressed the issues of faster journey times, catering for increased populations and better integration with buses to places not on the rail line" as it was "a line for all purposes".

The discussion paper states: "The past decade has seen great improvements for rail passengers on the East Suffolk Line between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

"It is important to keep improving rail services and facilities to meet the challenges of climate change."

Looking at "what is needed 2022-32 and beyond", it states: "Faster trains and higher line speeds; more capacity for population growth; more integration of services and ticketing; less need to change trains and the challenge of freight – differing needs of Felixstowe, Sizewell and Lowestoft."

Speaking at the meeting, Greater Anglia's customer and communities engagement manager Alan Neville said he saw "a bright future for the East Suffolk Line".

Mr Neville said the increased frequency had doubled passenger numbers, and the future challenges were "to increase line speed, modernise level crossings and cater for people moving into the new housing at such places as Saxmundham and Ipswich Garden Suburb."