Information Wanted - Norfolk Area

[ChrisEJ1993]

Hello all.

I'm going on holiday on the 1st of August, and I'll be in the Norfolk area from then until the 7th of August. I'll be staying inside Acle railway station (It's ticket office has been converted into Self-Catering Accomadation) so thats where any of my journeys will be starting from.

I was just wondering if anybody knew of any special workings, railtours, freight, etc, and whether they had any times for them?

I am also interested in knowing where good places to see passenger trains are.

I will be purchasing an Anglia Plus 3 Days in 7 Pass during my stay, so please only tell me about things that are covered by the area I can go to with that.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Just for reference, somebody has already just given me the information for the 90 drags past our window

 

[jamesontheroad]

You could take the train over to Wymondham (and then walk the short distance over to Wymondham Abbey halt) to see the Mid Norfolk Railway. I've never ridden any of their trains, but I grew up near by and understand that they have a busy schedule throughout the summer and a large team of motivated volunteers gradually re-opening their line towards Fakenham.

http://www.mnr.org.uk/ for all details.

Then of course there's the North Norfolk Railway from Sheringham. It's an even shorter walk from the NR terminus to the original station for trains down to Holt.

http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/

With any luck, maybe one day the two will be connected...

http://www.norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks, we where planning a trip to the North Norfolk Railway already, but will defenatly check out the MNR.

 

[jamesontheroad]

From the Anglia Plus map I can't tell whether your pass is valid just in the Norfolk zone, or also Suffolk and Cambridge...

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/managed/promotions/pr833a56c35ce7410111bc604e2f6920/areaMap/AngliaPlus.JPG

However, for probably the most variety of passenger and freight workings you could do worse than spend a sunny morning or afternoon at Ely station.... FCC Kings Lynn/Kings Cross 365s; NXEA Peterborough/Liverpool Street 170s, Cambridge/Norwich 170s (and Kings Lynn/Liverpool street electrics morning and evening); CrossCountry Birmingham/Stansted 170s and EMT Liverpool/Norwich 158s, plus whatever freight workings happen to be passing to/from Folkestone / Harwich.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Sounds excellent! Thanks for the tip =D

 

[mawallace]

I use the Anglia Rangers quite often - they are valid Noriwch - Ely - Cambridge - Ipswich - Lowesotft - Norwich

SO yes, you can use it to get to Ely.

It is not valid to Peterbrough or Kings Lynn though, or south of Ipswich

From the Anglia Plus map I can't tell whether your pass is valid just in the Norfolk zone, or also Suffolk and Cambridge...

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/managed/promotions/pr833a56c35ce7410111bc604e2f6920/areaMap/AngliaPlus.JPG

However, for probably the most variety of passenger and freight workings you could do worse than spend a sunny morning or afternoon at Ely station.... FCC Kings Lynn/Kings Cross 365s; NXEA Peterborough/Liverpool Street 170s, Cambridge/Norwich 170s (and Kings Lynn/Liverpool street electrics morning and evening); CrossCountry Birmingham/Stansted 170s and EMT Liverpool/Norwich 158s, plus whatever freight workings happen to be passing to/from Folkestone / Harwich.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Thanks for the info. On that note, what EXACTLY do I ask the conductor for? (Acle doesn't have a ticket office)

 

[mawallace]

Just ask for an Anglia Day Ranger if you want the one that only last for a day.

If you want the one thaat lasts for three days then you have to go to a manned station!

You can find the details on

http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/train_tickets/ticket_types/rangers_and_rovers


Not too sure if they will affect you, but National Express East Agnlia may not be running some days due to strikes. If they go ahead the RMT union says the strikes will take place from 00.01 on Thursday to 23.59 on Friday on 30/31 July, 6/7 August, 13/14 August and 20/21 August.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Grrrrr thats really awkward! How much is an anglia day ranger and how much area does it cover? I have a railcard.

 

[MCR247]

I dont think you can use railcards with rovers

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Well how much is it without then?

 

[matt]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/pr7a1a85c35ce741018bbf333fb1a59f/details.html

I presume thats the rover. You can use a railcard.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Yes, thats it. But can you buy in advance or on the train? Because Acle has no ticket office.

 

[krus_aragon]

Yes, thats it. But can you buy in advance or on the train? Because Acle has no ticket office.

The terms in the link above say you can get a "Full refund on unused tickets returned before the start date shown on them", which suggests that you can get them in advance.

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

Ahh, I didn't spot that! I have emailed them asking for more information about purchasing the tickets, and I'll post the answer here just in case anybody else needs to know.

 

[Sleepy]

[If you want the one thaat lasts for three days then you have to go to a manned station!

Not correct - 3 in 7 can and are issued on board trains !

 

[ChrisEJ1993]

I'll defenatly ask for one on board, and I guess if he says I can't buy on board I'll just get a single ro Norwich and buy it from there instead.