Welcome to Norfolk Railway Society
Coming Up...
NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY - Meetings (19.30 start unless stated)
19th April - Annual General Meeting
3rd May - An Interrail Experience 2017 - Chris Mitchell
17th May - Towards a Corporate Identity - A look at North London Railway station architecture 1850 -1900 - Jim Connor (Re-arranged from 1st March).
Norfolk Transport Group (19.30 start)
12th April - Road Transport - Ken Mills.
​26th April - Travels with Graham Smith.
10th May - Members' Evening.
NRS Show Day 2018
Thank you to all exhibitors, members and vistors who came to our show on Saturday 10th March at Poringland Community Centre. We hope you enjoyed they day.
NRS Show Day 2017
Thank you to all exhibitors, members and visitors for making our 2017 show a success. See our Gallery of photos.
We made a donation of £250 to Southwold Railway Trust - see their latest update.
Photo Galleries of previous Show Days are available here:
Show Report 2014
2015
2016
News Digest 2018 - the latest links to news stories.  For older stories see the News Digest 2016 and the News Archive.
Signal Remodelling - Lines between Norwich and Yarmouth/Lowestoft closed 10th - 18th February.
The closure of these routes is to enable major engineering works to take place. For full details of replacement services click here. See also the Network Rail news item.
East Coast, West Coast and East Midlands rail franchises - update
In a statement to the House of Commons on 5th February Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said he will end the contract with Stagecoach/Virgin for the East Coast franchise. Read his full statement here.
This news was also reported by Railway Gazette.
In other franchise news, the shortlist to receive invitations to tender for the next East Midlands franchise includes Abellio, Arriva, incumbent Stagecoach and a joint venture of First Group and Trenitalia. Read Railway Gazette's report.
Meanwhile on the West Coast route incumbent Virgin Trains will continue to operate intercity passenger servcies until the start of the West Coast Partnership under a direct award by the Transport Secretary. Read Railway Gazette's report.
News Digest 2017
Department for Transport publishes "Connecting People: A Strategic Vision for Rail"
Published on 29th November this document can be downloaded here.
Signalling upgrade on the Norwich - Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth lines starts in October.
Network Rail has announced plans for the "state of the art" signalling upgrade...read more.
Major disruption between Ely and March caused by derailed freight train (14th August).
A freight train derailed near Manea this afternoon causing the closure of the lines between Ely and Peterborough. Services run by Greater Anglia, East Midlands Trains and Cross Country have been affected.  A report on the GA website this evening states disruption is expected until the end of the day on 19th August.
Although GA reported the derailment was at Manea, EMT's website said it was between Ely North and Ely West junctions. Nonetheless this will cause serious disruption to passengers and to freight traffic.
Official opening of Cambridge North Station
On 7th August the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, unveiled a plaque to officially mark the opening of Cambridgeshire's newest station. Delivered by Network Rail as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan it opened to passengers on 21st May.  In 2019 a new direct Greater Anglia Norwich to Stansted Airport service will commence, stopping at Cambridge North, when new trains are intorduced by the operator.
Greater Anglia Class 68 railtour for East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH)
GA has announced an enthusiasts' charity charter train on Saturday 16th September. It will follow the same route as the April 2016 charter for EACH, with journeys from Norwich to Ely return and then Norwich to London Liverpool Street return.This time the Mark III carriage set will be top'n'tailed by Class 68 locomotives. All profits from the event will be donated to EACH. Full details, including how to book, are available on the GA website. Click the link for more information about EACH.
Greater Anglia seeks feedback on new train designs
GA website news item and train designs. (3rd April 2017)
Southwold Railway Trust buys Southwold site.
SRT has taken possession of the Steam Works site in Blyth Road, Southwold. (2nd April 2017)
Collision at Hockham Road user worked crossing - RAIB Report published
The Railway Accident Investigation Branch has published its report into the collision near Thetford on 10th April 2016 in which a tractor driver was seriously hurt. See also EDP report.
Track extension approved for Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
Mid Suffolk District Council has formally approved plans which will see the Suffolk line more than double its current length.
Bidders for East Midlands Franchise announced
The DfT has made a direct award to East Midlands Trains, which provides services from  Norwich to the Midlands and beyond, extending the current franchise by up to a year. It has also announced the pre-qualifying bidders for the new franchise (Rail Gazette and RAIL 1st March). These include Trenitalia in a joint venture with First Group. Trenitalia recently completed the acquisition of Essex Thameside franchisee c2c (Rail Gazette 13th February)
Cambridge North Station to open 21st May?
Following Twitter users can provide useful information. On 3rd March RAIL Assistant Editor Richard Clinnick @Clinnick1 tweeted that Realtime Trains is showing trains serving Cambridge North from Sunday 21st May. The first service will be the 0850 from Cambridge arriving at 0853.
Greater Anglia's plans for new train depot
A former chemical works factory near Manningtree is to be the site of a new depot to maintain Greater anglia's new fleet of Stadler trains.  See Global Rail News and GA website
Greater Anglia's Priorities for Infrastructure Improvements
GA has set out the key infrastructure improvements required in East Anglia over the next decade
Website Updates
21th February
- Diary
Quick Links
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