Extra Train Lowestoft to Ipswich for the First Light Festival
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has worked with Greater Anglia to once again run an additional late train from Lowestoft’s First Light Festival. The additional service from Lowestoft to Ipswich will run on Saturday night 22 June to help people get home after the main act.
The extra train will run to the following timetable:
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
At Ipswich passengers will be able to connect with the service to Norwich with stops at Stowmarket and Diss.
Note: the connecting service at Ipswich to Norwich will be replaced by a bus, calling at intermediate stations Stowmarket and Diss.
Passengers can check their travel plans in advance at www.greateranglia.co.uk
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 on Saturday 22 June and Sunday 23 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 performance 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 22 June, with a change at either Norwich or Ipswich.
There are regular direct services to Lowestoft from Norwich and Ipswich and back all weekend.
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