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	===Rackheath station===		===Rackheath station===
	A new station is proposed as part of the [[Rackheath]] [[Eco-towns (UK)\|eco-town]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php\|title=Transport\|publisher=Rackheath eco-community\|access-date=16 July 2009\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715110422/http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php\|archive-date=15 July 2009\|url-status=dead}}</ref> The building of the town may also mean a short freight spur being built to transport fuel to fire an on-site power station. The plans for the settlement received approval from the government in 2009.<ref>{{cite news\|url=~~http~~://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8154397.stm\|title=Airfield eco-town plan selected\|publisher=BBC News\|access-date=2009-07-19 \| date=2009-07-16}}</ref>		A new station is proposed as part of the [[Rackheath]] [[Eco-towns (UK)\|eco-town]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php\|title=Transport\|publisher=Rackheath eco-community\|access-date=16 July 2009\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715110422/http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php\|archive-date=15 July 2009\|url-status=dead}}</ref> The building of the town may also mean a short freight spur being built to transport fuel to fire an on-site power station. The plans for the settlement received approval from the government in 2009.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8154397.stm\|title=Airfield eco-town plan selected\|publisher=BBC News\|access-date=2009-07-19 \| date=2009-07-16}}</ref>

	==References==		==References==

imported>Uhooep: /* History */ punct

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← Previous revision		Revision as of 14:16, 21 June 2025
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	The section of the line between Sheringham and Holt which was closed in the 1960s remains in use as a heritage railway line operated as the [[North Norfolk Railway]] (NNR - also known as the Poppy Line). After a period of 36 years, the link between the Bittern line and the North Norfolk Railway was reinstated in 2010 with the opening of a new [[level crossing]] at Sheringham.		The section of the line between Sheringham and Holt which was closed in the 1960s remains in use as a heritage railway line operated as the [[North Norfolk Railway]] (NNR - also known as the Poppy Line). After a period of 36 years, the link between the Bittern line and the North Norfolk Railway was reinstated in 2010 with the opening of a new [[level crossing]] at Sheringham.

	[[Sheringham railway station]] was upgraded in 2019 to accommodate the new [[British Rail Class 755\|Class 755s]]<ref>{{Cite web \|date=12 February 2019 \|title=New, longer Sheringham station platform to be installed ready for new trains - \|url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/news-articles/new-longer-sheringham-station-platform-be-installed-ready-new \|website=[[Greater Anglia]] \|accessdate=28 January 2024 }}</ref>		[[Sheringham railway station]] was upgraded in 2019 to accommodate the new [[British Rail Class 755\|Class 755s]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=12 February 2019 \|title=New, longer Sheringham station platform to be installed ready for new trains - \|url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/news-articles/new-longer-sheringham-station-platform-be-installed-ready-new \|website=[[Greater Anglia]] \|accessdate=28 January 2024 }}</ref>

	==Stations==		==Stations==

imported>Ehrenkater: /* Stations */

2025-04-12T16:21:55Z

Stations

New page

{{short description|Branch line in Norfolk, England}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox rail line
|name = Bittern Line
|color =
|logo = Roughton Road Railway station 10 Nov 2007 (6).JPG
|logo_width = 300px
|image = A train has arrived at Worstead Station - geograph.org.uk - 1047310.jpg
|image_width = 300px
|caption = A {{Brc|156}} train at {{rws|Worstead}} in 2008
|type = [[Heavy rail]]
|system = [[National Rail]]
|status = Operational
|locale = [[Norfolk]], [[England]]
|start = {{rws|Norwich}}
|end = {{rws|Sheringham}}
|stations = 10
|routes =
|daily_ridership =
|open = 1874–77
|close =
|owner = [[Network Rail]]
|operator = [[Greater Anglia]]
|character = Rural line
|stock = [[British Rail Class 755|Class 755]]
|linelength = {{convert|30|mi|22|chain|km}}
|tracklength =
|tracks = 1–2
|gauge = {{track gauge|uksg|allk=on}}
|electrification =
|speed =
|elevation =
|map = [[File:Bittern Line.png|300px]]<br>([[:commons:File:Bittern Line.png|Click to expand]])
|map_state = uncollapsed
}}
{{Bittern Line}}
The '''Bittern Line''' is a railway [[branch line]] in [[Norfolk]], England, that links {{rws|Norwich}} to {{rws|Sheringham}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bitternline.com/| title=Home| website=Bittern Line}}</ref> It passes through [[the Broads]] on its route to an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] on the north Norfolk coast.<ref>''OS Explorer Map 252 – Norfolk Coast East''. {{ISBN|978-0-319-23815-8}}</ref> It is named after the [[Eurasian bittern|bittern]], a rare bird found in the reedy wetlands of Norfolk.

The line is {{convert|30|mi|22|chain|km}} in length and there are 10 stations. It is part of [[Network Rail]] [[Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)|Strategic Route 7]], SRS 07.11, and is classified as a rural line.<ref name=NRR7>{{cite web
|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|title=Route 7 – Great Eastern
|publisher=[[Network Rail]]
|access-date=2009-05-20
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104601/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2009/Route%207%20-%20Great%20Eastern.pdf
|archive-date=7 June 2011
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Passenger services are operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]], which also manages all of the stations.

==History==
The line was granted permission in 1864<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Britain's Scenic Railways|last=Holland|first=Julian|last2=Spaven|first2=David|publisher=Times Books Group Ltd.|year=2012|isbn=978-0-00-792671-8|location=Fulham Palace Road, London|pages=78–81}}</ref> and the first stretch was opened between Norwich and {{rws|North Walsham}} in 1874 by the [[East Norfolk Railway]]. It was extended to [[Cromer railway station|Cromer]] by 1877 before being extended to {{rws|Sheringham}} in 1877, using a section of the [[Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway]] line. From the early twentieth century until the end of steam services, in 1962, the [[Great Eastern Railway]] operated coastal holiday services from [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]] under names such as the ''[[Norfolk Coast Express]]'' and ''[[Broadsman|The Broadsman]]''.<ref name=":0" />

Following the closure of the majority of the Midland and Great Northern network, the line operated as a single branch between Norwich and Melton Constable before the section between Sheringham and Melton Constable was closed in 1964.<ref>[https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/NUR/F/8/200 Proposed withdrawal of passenger services between Melton Constable – Sheringham. 1963-1964 ]</ref> The remainder of the line was listed for closure in 1967<ref>[https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/NUR/F/8/200 Proposed withdrawal of passenger services between Norwich – Sheringham. 1967]</ref> but survived the proposal after being declined by the [[Secretary of State for Transport]].<ref>Closures ''[[Railway World]]'' issue 354 November 1969 page 472</ref>

The Bittern Line Partnership was set up by [[Norfolk County Council]] in 1997. and was designated a [[community rail]] line by the [[Department for Transport]] in September 2007.

The section of the line between Sheringham and Holt which was closed in the 1960s remains in use as a heritage railway line operated as the [[North Norfolk Railway]] (NNR - also known as the Poppy Line). After a period of 36 years, the link between the Bittern line and the North Norfolk Railway was reinstated in 2010 with the opening of a new [[level crossing]] at Sheringham.

[[Sheringham railway station]] was upgraded in 2019 to accommodate the new [[British Rail Class 755|Class 755s]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 February 2019 |title=New, longer Sheringham station platform to be installed ready for new trains - |url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk/news-articles/new-longer-sheringham-station-platform-be-installed-ready-new |website=[[Greater Anglia]] |accessdate=28 January 2024 }}</ref>

==Stations==

The following table summarises the line's 10 stations, their distance measured from {{rws|Norwich}}, and their estimated number of passenger entries/exits in 2018/19 and 2022/23:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=14 December 2023 |title=table-1410-passenger-entries-and-exits-and-interchanges-by-station.ods |url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1907/table-1410-passenger-entries-and-exits-and-interchanges-by-station.ods |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=ORR (Office of Rail and Road)}}</ref>
{{table alignment}}
{|class="wikitable sortable col6right" style="font-size:95%;" border="1" cellpadding="1"
!rowspan=2|Station !!rowspan=2|Location !!rowspan=2|Local authority !!rowspan=2|Mileage !!colspan=2|Passenger numbers
|-
!2018/19
!2022/23<ref name=":1" />
|-
|{{rws|Norwich}}
|[[Norwich]]
|[[Norwich City Council|City of Norwich]]
|align=right|0{{0|{{3/4}}}}
|align=right|4,250,834
|3,964,948
|-
|{{rws|Salhouse}}
|[[Salhouse]]
|[[Broadland]]
|align=right|6{{0|{{3/4}}}}
|align=right|11,778
|14,006
|-
|{{rws|Hoveton & Wroxham}}
|[[Hoveton]]/[[Wroxham]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|8|3|4}}
|align=right|136,414
|124,804
|-
|{{rws|Worstead}}
|[[Worstead]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|13|1|4}}
|align=right|25,650
|26,816
|-
|{{rws|North Walsham}}
|[[North Walsham]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|16{{0|{{3/4}}}}
|align=right|265,400
|243,208
|-
|{{rws|Gunton}}
|[[Thorpe Market]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|19|3|4}}
|align=right|19,188
|28,446
|-
|{{rws|Roughton Road}}
|[[Roughton, Norfolk|Roughton]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|24{{0|{{3/4}}}}
|align=right|21,766
|24,670
|-
|{{rws|Cromer}}
|[[Cromer]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|26|3|4}}
|align=right|219,244
|244,294
|-
|{{rws|West Runton}}
|[[West Runton]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|28|3|4}}
|align=right|27,212
|32,918
|-
|{{rws|Sheringham}}
|[[Sheringham]]
|[[North Norfolk]]
|align=right|{{frac|30|1|4}}
|align=right|225,894
|232,222
|}

==Services==
[[File:Norwich UK train station.JPG|thumb|left|[[Norwich railway station|Norwich station]] in 2005]]
Passenger services are operated by [[Greater Anglia (train operating company)|Greater Anglia]]. The typical service is one train per hour in each direction between Norwich and Sheringham. Calling patterns are varied, with some trains stopping at all stations while others omit some of the lesser-used stations along the line, such as {{rws|Salhouse}}, {{rws|Gunton}} and {{rws|Roughton Road}}.

In 2019, new [[British Rail Class 755|Class 755]] [[Electro-diesel multiple unit|bi-mode]] trains began to replace the previous mixture of [[British Rail Class 153|Class 153]], [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]] and [[British Rail Class 170|Class 170]] [[diesel multiple unit]]s.<ref>{{cite news | last = Anderson | first = Stuart | title = Greater Anglia's new bi-mode trains roll into service on Bittern Line | newspaper = North Norfolk News | publisher = [[Eastern Daily Press]] | date = 2019-11-13 | url = https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/bittern-line-passengers-give-new-trains-seal-of-approval-1-6372953 | access-date = 2019-11-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191113170242/https://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/bittern-line-passengers-give-new-trains-seal-of-approval-1-6372953 | archive-date = 2019-11-13}}</ref>

The line is also used by freight trains which are operated by [[GB Railfreight]]. Some trains carry [[gas condensate]] from a terminal at North Walsham to [[Harwich International Port]].

==Infrastructure==
[[File:The second train to use the crossing at Sheringham 24 04 2010 (3).JPG|thumb|left|The Sheringham level crossing in use in 2010]]
The line is [[Double-track railway|double-track]] from [[Norwich railway station|Norwich]] to {{rws|Hoveton & Wroxham}}, where it becomes [[Single-track railway|single-track]] with a [[passing loop]] at {{rws|North Walsham}}, and two platforms at Cromer also allowing passing. The line is not [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrified]]; it has a [[Loading gauge#Great Britain|loading gauge]] of W8 between Norwich and Roughton Road and W6 from Roughton Road to Sheringham. The maximum speed is {{convert|75|mph|kph}}.<ref name=NRR7/>

The line was re-signalled in 2000, leading to the closure of a number of mechanical [[signal box]]es and control moving to a panel at the [[Trowse Bridge|Trowse Swing Bridge]] control room. This saw the end of one of the few remaining sections of single-track main line controlled by tokens.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} The Cromer signal box has been preserved.

==Proposed developments==

===Rackheath station===
A new station is proposed as part of the [[Rackheath]] [[Eco-towns (UK)|eco-town]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php|title=Transport|publisher=Rackheath eco-community|access-date=16 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715110422/http://www.rackheatheco-community.com/comm_transport.php|archive-date=15 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The building of the town may also mean a short freight spur being built to transport fuel to fire an on-site power station. The plans for the settlement received approval from the government in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8154397.stm|title=Airfield eco-town plan selected|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2009-07-19 | date=2009-07-16}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bittern Line}}
*[https://bitternline.com/ The Bittern Line website by Greater Anglia]
*[https://bitternline.com/stations/ The route of the line]

{{Railway lines in the East of England}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Railway lines in the East of England]]
[[Category:Community railway lines in England]]
[[Category:North Norfolk]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1887]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in England]]

Bittern Line - Revision history

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