Greater Anglia has announced that an additional late train will be running from Lowestoft to Ipswich on Saturday, June 17th.
This service has been scheduled to accommodate people attending Lowestoft's First Light Festival, allowing them to conveniently travel home by rail.
Departing at 23:05 from Lowestoft, this train will also connect with the 00:41 service at Ipswich, enabling passengers to return to Stowmarket, Diss, and Norwich.
The First Light Festival is a captivating multi-arts event that celebrates the first light of midsummer's weekend at Britain's most easterly point.
It offers a wide range of free activities, including music, dance, film, literature, art, science, talks, sports, workshops, and delightful food and drink options.
The festival will take place on Lowestoft's sandy South Beach from 12:00 (noon) to 21:30 (dusk) on Saturday, June 17th, and from 10:00 to 16:00 on Sunday, June 18th.
To keep the festivities going, ticketed Sundown Events will be held in various venues across Lowestoft on Saturday night.
Additionally, the festival will return to the beach between 03:45 and 05:30 on Sunday for a remarkable dawn program of new music and performances as the midsummer sun rises.
To minimize congestion and pollution in the town, festival goers are encouraged to utilize public transport.
Convenient options include regular services from London Liverpool Street to Lowestoft on Saturday, with a change at either Norwich or Ipswich.
Furthermore, there are frequent direct services available to and from Lowestoft throughout the entire weekend, connecting Norwich and Ipswich with the festival location.
Festival-goers are advised to plan ahead by checking journey times at www.greateranglia.co.uk
Aaron Taffera, Chair of the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership, said, “We are grateful to Greater Anglia for working with us to put on an additional train, ensuring that the festival is fully supported by public transport. This will really help to keep congestion and pollution out of the town and provide fast, easy access to people coming in from further afield.”
Genevieve Christie, Festival Organiser, said “With large numbers of people expected to attend the festival, we would recommend that visitors take advantage of our excellent rail links. With regular trains from Norwich and Ipswich arriving at Lowestoft station in the heart of the town, it is a really easy way to get here. Meanwhile, fewer cars will reduce congestion and help ensure the event is as enjoyable as possible for festival-goers and residents alike.”
“Where else can you walk from a station to a festival in less than 20 minutes? This is sustainable travel at its best.”
Greater Anglia's Commercial and Customer Service Director, Martin Moran, said, “With our great value fares, fast, frequent services, and the station's close proximity to the beach and festival events, it couldn't be easier to get there and back by train.”
Would make sense if Greater Anglia could allow some of the Class 755s to operate to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth from London Liverpool Street via Norwich & via Ipswich.