Locations for potential new Norfolk railway stations mooted

Stations near Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn, Rackheath and Long Stratton are among those mooted by various groups who feel the county's rail routes are being underused.

And Norfolk County Council is mulling over whether to spend thousands of pounds to explore whether the business cases for the new stations stack up enough to put pressure on rail companies.

While the county council has no direct control over railways, leaders say County Hall's influence can be brought to bear on rail companies, National Rail and the Department for Transport.

These are the possible stations which have been put forward by various groups:

Broadland Business Park: Initial work on a business case suggested there would be benefits of a station or halt on the Bittern Line.

Broadland Business Park (Image: Mike Page)

But that was done before the Covid-19 pandemic - which led to fewer people working in offices.

The council says more work would need to be done to establish if there is still a business case.

Postwick: A new station at Postwick Park and Ride on the Wherry Line was previously mooted.

Postwick Park and Ride (Image: Newsquest)

But, following initial discussions with the rail industry some time ago, it was not seen as feasible since passenger demand would be likely to be low.

Rackheath: With major growth planned in the Rackheath area, suggestions of a new station there have been doing the roads for almost a decade.

New homes take shape at Rackheath (Image: Mike Page)

But council officers, while "sympathetic" to the idea, said it was unlikely to be feasible as it would create longer journey times along the Bittern Line. However, they did not rule out further investigation.

North Thetford: A new station has been put forward as part of the new Kingsfleet neighbourhood, where 5,000 homes are being built.

But council officers say, while technically feasible, it might make more sense to focus on improving the town's current station.

Thetford town centre (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2011)

King’s Lynn: The idea of a parkway station just south of the town has been mooted.

Previous proposals were not seen as viable, but the council has said it will consider the idea as part of a review of the King's Lynn Transport Strategy.

King's Lynn (Image: Ian Burt)

Thickthorn and Hethersett: New stations have been suggested to serve the UEA, Norwich Research Park and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The station at Hethersett shut in 1966.

But the county council does not support the proposals, saying any new station would be "some considerable distance from the destination it is proposed to serve and would not offer any advantage over the existing stations at either Norwich or Wymondham".

Forncett St Mary, near Long Stratton: Railfuture East Anglia advocates this proposal, but the county council does not support it.

The council says it would slow down journey times on the Norwich to London line and new homes in Long Stratton are on the opposite side of the town.

Long Stratton (Image: Mike Page)

Wisbech: Although not in Norfolk, the county council is supporting the Wisbech Rail project, which aims to reopen the Wisbech to March rail line - closed since 1968.

It was discussed at a council meeting this week, where David Cumming, the council's strategic transport team manager, said: "What we are looking to do is try secure funding which would allow us to look at them in some more detail.

"At the moment we are trying to assess the cases and see if there is a case for those stations."

The council could use £40,000 from its local transport plan budget to carry out a high-level feasibility study into the potential new stations.

They feature in Norfolk County Council's draft rail prospectus - a document which outlines the authority's requirements from rail to serve the needs of the county.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the prospectus aimed to "establish a clear vision for rail in Norfolk".

He said: "It is vital that rail continues to support Norfolk's economy and helps deliver the housing and jobs growth needed."