December Timetable

The new timetable will bring faster trains and more seats to the line

The new December 2010 timetable, which started on the 12th December, will see a number of major improvements to train services for passengers travelling on the Norwich to London route, and some additional service enhancements on the routes which connect with these mainline services at Ipswich and Norwich. 

The benefits

The main benefit is the provision of thousands of additional seats on peak time trains to and from London. Other benefits that the majority of passengers will benefit from include:

• Additional seats provided on many peak trains to/from London for passengers using stations between Norwich and Ingatestone, and more trains calling at Stratford.  
• Extra seats and a better off-peak service pattern for stations between Ipswich and Ingatestone.
• A fast morning peak 07.40 Norwich to London service (1 hr 45 mins) and some faster off peak Norwich – London services (1 hr 48 mins).
• Faster off peak services between Harwich and London services, changing at Manningtree (key peak services and “boat trains” remain direct).
• More frequent services to Southminster.
• Later evening connections from London to  Sudbury, Walton on the Naze, and Great Yarmouth.
• A new hourly service between Ipswich and Saxmundham will operate with Lowestoft/Peterborough to London journeys involving a change of trains at Ipswich (there are plans for an hourly Ipswich - Lowestoft service from December 2012 providing Beccles loop is completed).   
• Most Norwich – Cambridge services will operate as 3 carriage trains (currently 2).
• Most Ipswich – Cambridge trains upgraded to more modern 2 carriage trains.
• Revised weekday service pattern and earlier Sunday services on the Ipswich – Felixstowe line.
• Two extra services each way between Norwich and Great Yarmouth