Lowestoft - another loss of (planned) through London services

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Stopped before it started ... from the Lowestoft Journal

Hopes for direct train services between Lowestoft and London have been dealt another blow after they were removed from a franchise agreement.

Four trains each way per day between England's capital and its most easterly town had been promised as part of the agreement which saw Greater Anglia run services around the region since 2016.

But disruption to services caused by the coronavirus pandemic has seen that agreement end four years early, with no sign of direct trains being introduced.

A spokesperson for Greater Anglia confirmed the direct services were no longer a commitment, although transport bosses have agreed to look for opportunities to introduce them going forward.

Waveney MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) Peter Aldous previously called on direct services to be introduced to improve accessibility and encourage business investment in the town.

Speaking after the change in agreement, he said: "It is very disappointing.

"As far as improving connectivity to the area, it is not helpful.

"I have had a meeting with Greater Anglia to discuss this and they have agreed with me that they will, over the course of the next six months, look to see if it is possible to get that reinstated."