Boost as work resumes new heritage area at Lowestoft station

Work centring on former tracks at Lowestoft railway station - which once conveyed fish and aggregates onto the railway - is under way.

With a new heritage area to be created to the south of Lowestoft train station, the project has received a major boost.

Members from the GBRTT Volunteering party at Lowestoft railway station with Wherry Lines and Lowestoft Central Project volunteers. Picture: Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Lowestoft Central Project) Nine members of the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) teamed up with community rail volunteers at Lowestoft railway station to help them progress plans.

After Network Rail had previously donated a set of railway level crossing gates which form a 60-foot backdrop to the area, the Lowestoft Central Project and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership received a boost as the GBRTT spent two days helping them to develop the new heritage area.

Network Rail engineers help prepare a former semaphore signal at Lowestoft. Picture: Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Lowestoft Central Project)

Plans for the heritage area at Lowestoft rail station were revealed a few years ago, as works began with installation of the former crossing gates by volunteers from Balfour Beatty Rail.

Centred on the former track to the harbour - which is still evident in the station’s short stay car park - the gates provide an authentic railway backdrop and improve an area that had previously been plagued with anti-social behaviour and trespass issues.

With Greater Anglia recently unveiling some new signage and markings - helping to prevent unauthorised parking - it has enabled work to restart on the heritage area.

Once complete, it will be complemented by semaphore and ground signals as well as interpretation panels telling how the railway once used this important link to the harbour.

During their time in Lowestoft the GBRTT team - who had travelled across the country - helped to clear vegetation, re-lay railway sleepers, painted fencing and assisted with restoration work on the gates.

Engineers from Network Rail also helped prepare a redundant semaphore signal for restoration which, once complete, will be installed in the area early next year.

'Fantastic collaborative effort'

On behalf of the Lowestoft Central Project, Community Rail development officer, Martin Halliday said: "We were delighted to accept an offer of volunteer support from the Great British Railways Transition Team and their help has significantly advanced efforts to create our heritage quarter at Lowestoft station.

"Together with assistance from Network Rail and Greater Anglia, we are now significantly further forward with this project."

Chris Mitchell, chair of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership added: "This has been a fantastic collaborative effort and a real boost to the volunteer team, bringing them much closer to completing their scheme."