berney arms enquiry

[Alarmkid23]

hi, i am wondering why on some random Saturdays train go every hour or so go passing through berney arms throughout the day even though they dont stop, this happened twice on 2 separate visits to the stations in which we saw a hourly pair of non stop train go passing through when we saw little to no trains in the distance on the Acle line, can anyone look into this anomaly please?

Kind regards
Gabriel

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably engineering diversions? If you want to see what they are, check realtimetrains.co.uk or another such site.

 

[Alarmkid23]

it wasn't nothing was on national rail to explain as to why.

 

[Bletchleyite]

it wasn't nothing was on national rail to explain as to why.

If the diversions didn't have any effect on the service as far as the passenger saw it (i.e. journey times were not extended and no stations were missed out) it wouldn't be on there.

As I said, check realtimetrains.co.uk - you will be able to see what the trains were on there.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Berney Arms only has three station calls on a typical Saturday, the 0801 to Great Yarmouth, the 1201 to Great Yarmouth and the 1519 to Norwich. Everything else running on the line, and whilst there's a few trains calling at Reedham, there's not that many, ao they must presumably all run non-stop through Berney Arms.

 

[Alarmkid23]

basically there was nothing on realtime train to suggest that trains were being cancelled it was just VAR trains were being sent down the berney arms line every hour or so to pass though fast on the way to and from Yarmouth

 

[Bletchleyite]

basically there was nothing on realtime train to suggest that trains were being cancelled it was just VAR trains were being sent down the berney arms line every hour or so to pass though fast on the way to and from Yarmouth

Wasn't suggesting anything was cancelled, just that trains were being diverted that way for whatever reason. If there were trains going that way marked VAR that wouldn't otherwise (compare it to the same day next week), those were likely diverted, possibly due to an issue on the day.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Is there anything open to see near Berney Arms? Windmill/pub/cafe or whatever.

 

[Alarmkid23]

there is not anymore the bistro at the old pub shut down but the windmill is open by appointment only

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there anything open to see near Berney Arms? Windmill/pub/cafe or whatever.

Not a lot, though I do plan at some point to run there from somewhere more sensible and catch a train back (that way round would be more interesting, albeit inconvenient were it cancelled).

 

[Alarmkid23]

its a 5 mile to either reedham or great yarmouth if train is cancelled, easy way to walk is park at wickhampton church then head down concreate road then at the junction at the bottom turn left then walk along the grass track then onto weavers way to berney arms by turning right at a tree and picking up the weavers way there

 

[dk1]

hi, i am wondering why on some random Saturdays train go every hour or so go passing through berney arms throughout the day even though they dont stop, this happened twice on 2 separate visits to the stations in which we saw a hourly pair of non stop train go passing through when we saw little to no trains in the distance on the Acle line, can anyone look into this anomaly please?

Kind regards
Gabriel

Was this last Saturday?

 

[tram21]

its a 5 mile to either reedham or great yarmouth if train is cancelled, easy way to walk is park at wickhampton church then head down concreate road then at the junction at the bottom turn left then walk along the grass track then onto weavers way to berney arms by turning right at a tree and picking up the weavers way there

Surely they have to find an alternative means of transport if they cancelled this train?

 

[dk1]

Surely they have to find an alternative means of transport if they cancelled this train?

Alternative transport is not provided for Berney Arms.

 

[Kite159]

Alternative transport is not provided for Berney Arms.

Not even a rail replacement boat?

------

As for trains for Great Yarmouth via Berney Arms, it's a way to run more trains to Great Yarmouth considering the route via Acle is single track from the junction at Bundell.

 

[rocrat]

Alternative transport is not provided for Berney Arms.

I'd like to see this legally tested

 

[Jan Mayen]

I'd imagine if it were legally tested, and Greater Anglia were required to provide alternative transport, they might ask the judge to suggest how they provide it, or close the station altogether.

 

[Alarmkid23]

or mayby speak to the farmer if they are out in the fields to see if they could offer the stranted person a lift upto acle or yarmouth

 

[Bletchleyite]

or mayby speak to the farmer if they are out in the fields to see if they could offer the stranted person a lift upto acle or yarmouth

I believe there was once a semi official rail replacement boat - I seem to recall the local lifeboat did it? Was because it was a very late notice cancellation.

 

[Alarmkid23]

yes and a young family with kids could not manage the 5 mile walk to great yarmouth

 

[dk1]

Not even a rail replacement boat?

------

As for trains for Great Yarmouth via Berney Arms, it's a way to run more trains to Great Yarmouth considering the route via Acle is single track from the junction at Bundell.

Did you mean Brundall by chance?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2025 ==

I'd like to see this legally tested

It has been. Anybody who goes there has decent walking shoes. It was even closed for 18 months during a botched resignalling programme back in 2019.

 

[Jan Mayen]

It has been. Anybody who goes there has decent walking shoes. It was even closed for 18 months during a botched resignalling programme back in 2019.

Interesting. Could you expand on this, please?

 

[sh24]

Worth pointing out the Sunday service means you can tick the station off and only spend 25 mins there. That’s my plan this summer as don’t fancy a 5 mile walk or hours in the middle of nowhere.

 

[dk1]

Interesting. Could you expand on this, please?

I recall a few occasions when cancelled trains left the odd passenger stranded and the local media got hold of the story and tried to make a big deal about it. Dont remember it ever getting very far and obviously nothing can change as it’s only accessible via water or use of a private road. Trains have also not been permitted to stop in the hours of darkness since the 1980s which in itself is an absolute farce.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Mar 2025 ==

Worth pointing out the Sunday service means you can tick the station off and only spend 25 mins there. That’s my plan this summer as don’t fancy a 5 mile walk or hours in the middle of nowhere.

We have many enthusiasts who do that. Recently a young lad on his own on a day of bad weather. Thankfully our wonderful conductor checked on his welfare before leaving him as he didn’t seem to be the full ticket (excuse the pun) but was insistent. Was so nice to pick him up on the way back with a wave and he seemed no worse for the cold, wet, windy experience. Just happy that he’d ticked off one of his goals.

 

[duffield]

I'd imagine if it were legally tested, and Greater Anglia were required to provide alternative transport, they might ask the judge to suggest how they provide it, or close the station altogether.

Thankfully neither Greater Anglia nor any of the other TOCs have the power to actually close stations they find inconvenient.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Thankfully neither Greater Anglia nor any of the other TOCs have the power to actually close stations they find inconvenient.

Indeed. I was curious as to whether or not a court had in fact ruled that replacement transport MUST be provided in the event of a cancellation, even at a remote location such as Berney Arms where it'll be a rail replacement boat or Rail replacement Land Rover (assuming you get the land owners permission to use their track,which cannot be assumed these days. See Altnabreac).
In the event of engineering work, I doubt anything is provided.

 

[dk1]

Indeed. I was curious as to whether or not a court had in fact ruled that replacement transport MUST be provided in the event of a cancellation, even at a remote location such as Berney Arms where it'll be a rail replacement boat or Rail replacement Land Rover (assuming you get the land owners permission to use their track,which cannot be assumed these days. See Altnabreac).
In the event of engineering work, I doubt anything is provided.

Yes, nothing is provided.

 

[sh24]

We have many enthusiasts who do that. Recently a young lad on his own on a day of bad weather. Thankfully our wonderful conductor checked on his welfare before leaving him as he didn’t seem to be the full ticket (excuse the pun) but was insistent. Was so nice to pick him up on the way back with a wave and he seemed no worse for the cold, wet, windy experience. Just happy that he’d ticked off one of his goals.

How lovely. Give me a wave on the 20th July!

 

[dk1]

How lovely. Give me a wave on the 20th July!

With pleasure mate. Might even toot!!

 

[DarloRich]

I'd like to see this legally tested

It is a rail replacement tractor or boat to the nearest road.

As a former local resident it is a lovely walk from "Great" Yarmouth in the summer but I wouldn't want to be out there in the winter. It can be bleak. At those times it is like something out of Great Expectations - you expect Magwitch to appear asking for a file and pie!

Do you know I might go in the summer just for the journey.