Extra East Suffolk Line train home from Lowestoft’s First Light Festival

12 June, 2023

Greater Anglia will run an additional late train from Lowestoft to Ipswich on Saturday 17 June.

The additional service will depart Lowestoft at 23.05 so people attending Lowestoft’s First Light Festival can travel home by rail.

The train will also connect with the 00:41 at Ipswich for people returning to Stowmarket, Diss and Norwich.

First Light is a free multi-arts festival that celebrates the first light of midsummer’s weekend at Britain’s most easterly point.

Free events – which include music, dance, film, literature, art, science, talks, sports, workshops, food and drink – will run on Lowestoft’s sandy South Beach from 12:00 (noon) to 21:30 (dusk) on Saturday 17 June and from 10:00-16:00 on Sunday 18 June. Ticketed Sundown Events will keep the festival going through Saturday night in venues across Lowestoft, while the festival will return to the beach between 03:45-05:30 on Sunday for its signature dawn programme of new music and perform as the midsummer sun rises.

Festival-goers are encouraged to use public transport to keep congestion and pollution out of the town.

There are regular services from London Liverpool Street to Lowestoft on Saturday, with a change at either Norwich or Ipswich.

There are regular direct services to Lowestoft from Norwich and Ipswich and back all weekend.

Festival-goers are advised to plan their journeys in advance by checking journey times at www.greateranglia.co.uk

Aaron Taffera, Chair of the East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership, said, “We are grateful to Greater Anglia for working with us to put on an additional train, ensuring that the festival is fully supported by public transport. This will really help to keep congestion and pollution out of the town and provide fast, easy access to people coming in from further afield.”

Genevieve Christie, Festival Organiser, said “With large numbers of people expected to attend the festival, we would recommend that visitors take advantage of our excellent rail links. With regular trains from Norwich and Ipswich arriving at Lowestoft station in the heart of the town, it is a really easy way to get here. Meanwhile, fewer cars will reduce congestion and help ensure the event is as enjoyable as possible for festival-goers and residents alike.”

“Where else can you walk from a station to a festival in less than 20 minutes? This is sustainable travel at its best.”

Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director, Martin Moran, said, “With our great value fares, fast, frequent services, and the station’s close proximity to the beach and festival events, it couldn’t be easier to get there and back by train.”

The vast majority of the festival is free, with a handful of ticketed experiences available, including wild beach camping and Saturday evening’s Sundown Events. For the full festival programme and to book visit www.firstlightlowestoft.com

Timetable Saturday 17 June – 23:05 Lowestoft to Ipswich

  • 23:05 Lowestoft
  • 23:11 Oulton Broad South
  • 23:20 Beccles
  • 23:31 Brampton
  • 23:38 Halesworth
  • 23:46 Darsham
  • 23:53 Saxmundham
  • 00:03 Wickham Market
  • 00:09 Melton
  • 00:15 Woodbridge
  • 00:31 Ipswich
INDUSTRIAL ACTION is taking taking place in early May. Mon 6/5, and Wed 7/5 though Sat 11/5 most services will run but there will be some cancellations. On Tuesday 7/5 there will be a full strike; NO services on the East Suffolk Lines or the other local/regional routes will operate that day. Mainline services to/from London will be reduced.
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