North Norfolk Labour Party campaigners have welcomed the news that Network Rail are planning running trains 20 minutes later on Friday and Saturday from next year to meet London train connections, but are still pressing for bosses to go further.
A leaked email from Network Rail has stated that pressure from stakeholders – such as the Labour Party’s Leave Later petition – has meant that trains will now run later from next year to connect with the London train on a Friday and Saturday.
However, the Labour Party in North Norfolk are still pressing for a midnight train from Norwich to North Norfolk to ensure people can have a long enough night out in the city.
The ‘Leave Later’ petition has been backed by over 500 signatories at www.leavelater.info.
Greater Anglia recently also announced more regular Sunday trains and an hour later train from Sheringham to Norwich on Sunday night.
Denise Burke, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for North Norfolk (pictured), said:
“Along with the improvements to the Sunday timetable we feel this is a step in the right direction for the Bittern Line.
However we have found through the Leave Later petition found that more people wanted to see a midnight train rather than just one that was just twenty minutes later. This would ensure those attending a gig or concentre or those taking a trip to the theatre could make the most of Norwich’s night-time economy and were not clock-watching.
We’ll continue to press Greater Anglia and Network Rail for improvements moving ahead because better public transport is in the interest of everyone here in North Norfolk”.