The Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership and the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership along with parent organisation Community Rail Norfolk have been re-accredited by industry trade body, Community Rail Network on behalf of the Department for Transport, with recognition based upon their extensive efforts over the past year and an array of exciting plans for the future.
Image above: From left, Wherry Lines CRP Chair Chris Mitchell, Bittern Line Chair David Pearce & Community Rail Norfolk Development Officer Martin Halliday.
Across the Bittern Line, the partnership continues to promote sustainable public transport by rail and in 2025 successfully persuaded the railway to introduce a seven-day hourly service at West Runton station. It has printed and distributed over 40,000 free timetables and line guides which included street maps of Cromer, Sheringham and North Walsham. In addition, the partnership sponsored the Sheringham Helps community volunteer event, collaborated with Sheringham Museum to offer free admission for rail passengers over the town’s 1940s Weekend and helped to both welcome and direct visitors to events at Cromer Carnival.
The Wherry Lines also produced free printed line guides and timetables as well as at Great Yarmouth station, financially supporting the installation of a Changing Places toilet, created a riverside Broads Trust Information Hub, new signage, cycle racks and numerous cosmetic improvements. In addition, the partnership continued its sponsorship of the Wherry 100 bus service during the peak holiday season which provided better connectivity for some 6000 visitors between the railway station, seafront and town centre. At Lowestoft, the partnership together with the Lowestoft Central Project, worked to help facilitate a visit of the touring Railway 200 Exhibition Train, Inspiration, attracting record breaking numbers along with the year-round operation of the stations’ popular community rail shop and tourist information office through which their volunteers assisted over 10,000 visitors to the area during 2025.
Other achievements over the past twelve months included supporting the re-location of Oulton Broad North station signal box for preservation at the East Anglia Transport Museum, restoration of gates at Lowestoft station as part of a new heritage quarter, numerous events at the Parcels Office including a specially commissioned railway photographic exhibition, craft and seasonal fairs supporting local crafters, a fortnightly friendship club for the elderly and a special event and exhibition marking the anniversary of a Kindertransport arriving in 1938.
Plans for the coming year include the provision of much needed toilets at Lowestoft station, improvements at North Walsham station and funding towards design work in respect of the proposed reinstatement of Lowestoft station roof and promotion of new integrated rail and bus services. Both partnerships also provide additional support to the railways volunteer station adopter scheme providing new planters, clothing and planting, helping to make stations attractive gateways to the communities they serve.
Both Bittern Line and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships include stakeholders from local authorities, transport user groups, volunteers and the rail industry, and represents the area at national and regional events including parliamentary receptions, industry activities, promotional events and conferences.
During 2026 they will see efforts to improve connectivity bring additional rail services including extra stops at stations on both the Bittern Line and Wherry Lines routes, new regional rail routes and bus services calling at Hopton, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Pakefield, Kessingland and Southwold – all stopping at Lowestoft railway station’s bus interchange for the first time.
This is the third time the partnerships have achieved accreditation, formal recognition by the Department for Transport that Community Rail Partnerships operate to a high standard and that their objectives and activities address local community needs, support the Government’s Community Rail Strategy and is a good representative of the local community.
Bittern Line Chair, David Pearce said; “On behalf of all our stakeholders and volunteers, I am delighted that our efforts have once again been recognised with this prestigious Charter Mark. “Throughout the past year we have worked tirelessly to bring improvements to the line, additional services for passengers and help promote sustainable travel by rail.”
For the Wherry Lines, which celebrated its Twenty Fifth Anniversary last June, Chair, Chris Mitchell added; “For the past twelve months we have enabled much needed improvements at Great Yarmouth station, continued our award-winning collaboration with the Lowestoft Central Project, celebrated the National Railway 200 Anniversary and worked with our stakeholders to bring enormous improvements to connectivity with additional rail and integrated bus services, promoting use of the railway and helping to preserve its incredible heritage. “We are very pleased to achieve re-accreditation based upon our extensive efforts and exciting plans for the future.”
The Bittern Line runs from Norwich via the Broads National Park, serving the market town of North Walsham before reaching the North Norfolk Coast at Cromer and Sheringham. The Wherry Lines run east from Norwich via the Broads National Park to the coast at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.