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Ipswich railway station

Ipswich railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England, serving the town of Ipswich, Suffolk. It is 68 miles 59 chains (110.6 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street[1] and, on the main line, it is situated between Manningtree to the south and Needham Market to the north.

Ipswich
General information
LocationIpswich, Ipswich
England
Grid referenceTM156437
Managed byGreater Anglia
Platforms4
Other information
Station codeIPS
ClassificationDfT category B
History
Opened1860
Passengers
2017/18 3.352 million
 Interchange  0.571 million
2018/19 3.416 million
 Interchange  0.633 million
2019/20 3.292 million
 Interchange  0.621 million
2020/21 0.727 million
 Interchange  0.108 million
2021/22 2.126 million
 Interchange  0.428 million
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Ipswich is also the terminus of the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft, a branch line to Felixstowe and a branch line to Ely, Cambridgeshire. Its three-letter station code is IPS.

The station is operated by Greater Anglia, which also operates all trains serving it, as part of the East Anglia franchise.

History edit

The Eastern Union Railway (EUR) opened its first terminus in Ipswich, called Ipswich Stoke Hill, in 1846 on Station Road at the other end of the current tunnel, close to the old quay for the steamboats and the aptly named Steamboat Tavern. The Ipswich Steam Navigation Company had been formed in 1824/25 during a period of "steamship mania" and briefly offered services from the quay between Ipswich and London calling at Walton-on-the-Naze.[2]

The current station is just to the north of Stoke tunnel, which was constructed by the Ipswich & Bury Railway as part of the Ipswich to Ely Line opening as far as Bury St. Edmunds in late 1846.[3]

The station was re-sited to its present location in 1860. Some sources suggest that the main building was thought to be principally the work of Peter Bruff, who had certainly started the structure.[4]

Architect Sancton Wood(1816-1886) won a competition to design the new station and it may have been his design.[5]

However the architectural series started by Nikolaus Pevsner states:[6]

“The present station opened in 1860. By Robert Sinclair, the Eastern Counties Railway’s engineer, although Gordon Biddle suggests the design may have been Peter Bruff’s. Called ‘graceful and pretty’ in the Handbook of 1864. Perhaps it struck people as that when it was new. White and red brick, with round-arched windows, low and spreading. The buildings on the island platform, added in 1883, are much more ornate, with carved keystones, terracotta roundels and ironwork by Matthew T Shaw & Co, Millwall.”

 
Early photograph of Ipswich Railway Station, ca. 1865

As built in 1860, the station had a single main through platform with some shorter bay platforms at the north end. When the new station was completed, a new road (Princes Street) linking the station to the town was also opened.[7]

By the 1860s, the railways in East Anglia were in financial trouble and most were leased to the Eastern Counties Railway (ECR). Although they wished to amalgamate formally, they could not obtain government agreement for this until 1862, when the Great Eastern Railway (GER) was formed by the amalgamation.[8] The island platform at Ipswich was added by the GER in 1883.[9]

In 1883 an island platform was opened (today's Platform 3 and Platform 4) to improve operations at the station. Many of the original platform buildings exist today and close inspection reveals the heads of what are believed to be Greek Gods incorporated into the design.[10]

Ipswich engine shed (later shed code 32B) opened in 1846 and was at the south end of Stoke tunnel. It was the third-largest shed in the Great Eastern area during the steam era, after those at Stratford and Cambridge.

At the beginning of World War I, soldiers of the Norfolk Yeomanry regiment were deployed to Ipswich to guard key railway bridges in the area. They were relieved by the 9th field company Royal Engineers.[11]

In 1923, the GER amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).

On 30 April 1932, the LNER arranged an exhibition of railway stock at Ipswich. The show was opened by Sir Arthur Churchman, of tobacco family fame, and over 16,000 visited the show. The proceeds were divided between the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital and railway charities. The exhibits were (class/wheel arrangement/number/name):

  • 'Hush Hush' W1 class 4-6-4 No. 10000;
  • A1 Class 4-6-2 No. 4476 Royal Lancer with corridor tender and "Flying Scotsman" headboard;
  • Class D49 4-4-0 No. 201 "The Braham Moor". This last locomotive was brand new and had not been in service.

The show also included a sleeping car and a new composite corridor coach.[12]

In 1948, following nationalisation of the railways, Ipswich became part of the British Railways Eastern Region.

By the late 1970s, the costs of running the dated mechanical signalling systems north of Colchester was recognised and, in 1978, a scheme for track rationalisation and re-signalling was duly submitted to the Department of Transport. This was followed by a proposal to electrify the Great Eastern Main Line in 1980.[13]

The early 1980s saw track rationalisation and signalling work carried out in the Ipswich area and, on 9 April 1985, the first electric train consisting of two Class 305 electric multiple units (EMU) worked into Ipswich station. The previous year another member of the class had been dragged to Ipswich by a diesel locomotive and was used for crew training. The first passenger carrying train was formed of British Rail Class 309 EMUs which ran on 17 April 1985. The plan was for most trains to be formed of British Rail Class 86 locomotives which, until the line to Norwich was electrified, would changeover with the Class 47s at Ipswich and this arrangement commenced from 1 May 1985. During 1985–87, the line to Norwich was electrified and through electric working commenced in May 1987.[14]

The station's original lifts were removed in 1983 when the line was electrified.[15]

Following the privatisation of British Rail, services from Ipswich were operated by Anglia Railways from 1997 until 2004, after which the franchise was won by National Express East Anglia (operating under the 'one' brand, including 'one' Great Eastern and 'one' Anglia, until February 2008).[16]

In the five years between 2004–05 and 2008–09, patronage rose by 50% from 2 million per year to 3 million per year.[17] Ticket barriers were installed in the station building in 2009 and the exit gate on platform 2 was closed permanently.

New lifts, which had been promised for many years since they were removed in 1983,[15] were opened in June 2011.[18][19]

In October 2011, the Department for Transport awarded the new franchise to Abellio, the services formerly operated by National Express transferring to Greater Anglia in February 2012. Abellio then became responsible for the operation of Ipswich station.[20][21][22]

Description edit

 
Westward view, with the new lifts almost complete
 
Eastward view, showing Stoke tunnel
  • Platform 1 is a bay platform for trains to/from Lowestoft and Felixstowe, as well as some Cambridge and Peterborough services.
  • Platform 2 is used for through-trains to London from Norwich as well as most Felixstowe services.
  • Platform 3 is used for through-trains to Norwich from London as well as some Cambridge services.
  • Platform 4 (4A, 4B and 4C) is used for services to Cambridge, Lowestoft and Peterborough, and stopping services to London.

There is an avoiding line between the lines that serve the main through platforms 2 and 3.[23]

Prior to electrification there were two short sidings at the London end of the "up" platform which were used for locomotive changes on up trains when required.[24]

Platforms 3 and 4 can be accessed via the footbridge or lift.

Opposite platform 4 is a stabling point used by Freightliner diesel and electric locomotives. Classes 66, 70, 86 and 90 are the most common, although locomotives of other companies have been known to use the point in the past. In July 2019 Freightliner was granted planning permission to build a maintenance depot within the yard.[25][26]

The station has extensive facilities including self-service ticket machines, ticket counters, a convenience store, two cafes, a multi-storey car park, taxi stand, bus station and ATMs. The whole stations is now fully accessible, with lifts having been installed in 2011.

The entrance to the station was remodelled during 2015 in a £1 million scheme.[27]

Services edit

Historic overview edit

Passenger train services to and from Ipswich have always been dominated by the main line to London Liverpool Street but traffic to the north serves lines to Bury St Edmunds, Norwich, and also the East Suffolk Line for Great Yarmouth South Town and later to Lowestoft where through-trains operated until the 1980s and were briefly revived in the early part of the 21st century, although the need for more commuter seats south of Colchester saw these terminating at Ipswich (with two daily services extended to Harwich International as of December 2019).

Many minor local stations closed during the 1960s, as did branch lines to Framlingham and Aldeburgh. Branch services on the Felixstowe line have, with the exception of the first few years of that line's existence, started from Ipswich as have local stopping services on the East Suffolk, Norwich and Cambridge lines. One interesting working in the 1920s and 1930s was a train that operated from Sheffield via Worksop, Spalding, March and Ely to Felixstowe during the summer months.[28]

By far the most interesting working was the “Boat Train” which operated between Harwich Parkeston Quay and various destinations until the 1990s. The privatisation of British Rail in the 1990s saw this service terminated at Peterborough. Another long-distance working was from Colchester to York via Lincoln, which ran for a number of years.[29]

Throughout the steam era trains were predominantly hauled by Great Eastern Railway locomotives and, indeed, when steam ended in Suffolk in 1960, some of these locomotives were still operated. After the grouping of 1923, LNER designed locomotives were also employed in the area with the B17 4-6-0 class working many main line services. After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways introduced the Britannia class 4-6-2 class which worked main line services until succeeded by diesels in the late 1950s.

 
Ipswich station in 1951, with a Liverpool Street express arriving behind a B17 class locomotive

East Anglia was the first area to be worked completely by diesel trains with Class 40s taking over main line express workings. The first one of these ran in June 1958, complete with a headboard with the wording "First Diesel Hauled train on the GE in public service".[30] These were succeeded by Class 37 and Class 47 up until electrification in the mid-1980s when Class 86 took over, followed by Class 90 locomotives from 2003.

Local services in the diesel era were worked by Diesel Multiple Units, although smaller diesel locomotives such as Class 31 worked local trains such as Ipswich - Birmingham and Ipswich - Cambridge[31] during the 1980s.

Former train operating company Anglia Railways ran services known as London Crosslink from Norwich to Basingstoke via Stratford. This service started in 2000 and ended in 2002, employing British Rail Class 170 DMUs.

In January 2020, the Class 745 FLIRT multiple unit sets began entering service to replace the Class 90 hauled sets.[32] Following the introduction of these units, the loco-hauled sets have all been withdrawn from service, with the last Class 90 running passenger services on 24 March 2020.[33] Class 90s are still operating Freightliner services along with Class 66 and Class 70 diesels and Class 86 electrics.

Current timetable edit

The following services typically call at Ipswich:[34]

Operator Route Rolling stock Frequency
Greater Anglia London Liverpool Street - Colchester - Manningtree - Ipswich - Diss - Norwich Class 745 1x per hour
London Liverpool Street - Stratford - Chelmsford - Colchester - Manningtree - Ipswich - Stowmarket - Diss - Norwich 1x per hour
London Liverpool Street - Stratford - Shenfield - Chelmsford - Hatfield Peverel - Witham - Kelvedon - Marks Tey - Colchester - Manningtree - Ipswich Class 720 1x per hour
Ipswich - Stowmarket - Bury St. Edmunds - Soham - Ely - March - Manea - Whittlesea - Peterborough Class 755 Every 2 hours
(Harwich International -) Ipswich - Needham Market - Stowmarket - Elmswell - Thurston - Bury St. Edmunds - Kennett - Newmarket - Dullingham - Cambridge 1x per hour
(Harwich International -) Ipswich - Woodbridge - Melton - Wickham Market - Saxmundham - Darsham - Halesworth - Brampton - Beccles - Oulton Broad South - Lowestoft 1x per hour
Ipswich - Westerfield - Derby Road - Trimley - Felixstowe 1x per hour

Goods facilities edit

Ipswich had a number of goods facilities and a myriad of private sidings as well as extensive railways in the docks. In 2021 only the Upper Yard is open.

Upper Yard edit

This is located between Ipswich and East Suffolk Junction on the east side of the line. The yard is still active (as of 2018) with Freightliner (container) trains recessing or running round before running to/from the docks at Felixstowe.

In the past a branch from this yard ran down and across Ranelagh Road, crossed the River Gipping to Ipswich Lower Yard and the eastern part of Ipswich docks but traffic ceased in circa 1990. The remains of the branch line are still visible today (2018).

In the main yard a transhipment shed existed for a number of years where small consignments were transferred between wagons; there was no public or road access to this facility, which closed in 1951.

Local and regional freight trains serving local stations as well as the other goods facilities in the Ipswich area were re-marshalled in this yard. Regional destinations included Goodmayes and Temple Mills in London and Whitemoor (March) in Cambridgeshire.

The yard was developed for longer trains during 2014 with improved access to and from the East Suffolk Line and longer sidings. The majority of trains are traffic to or from Felixstowe Docks.[35]

Further changes were made during 2021 with the construction of a new vehicle maintenance facility (VMF) which opened in August 2022 with freight locomotives now stabling in the Upper Yard/East Suffolk Junction area.[36]

 
Ipswich Upper Yard in 2009 with several container trains present

Ranelagh Road sidings edit

Another branch further to the north crossed over Ranelagh Road to a headshunt and then served a warehouse. This was built circa 1920 and was at one time going to be a new route into Ipswich docks avoiding the level crossing on the other branch. The warehouse served a number of companies including Boots, J Lyons & Co, McFarLanes Biscuits, and Swift and Co. The site was also used to dump redundant permanent way materials and in the 1970s travelling circuses used the site.

The bridge was demolished in 1967 and an abutment remains (in 2013). The rest of this site has been redeveloped with retail facilities.[37]

Lower Yard edit

This yard contained a wooden goods shed where goods for the town were loaded or unloaded. Cattle pens were also located close to this yard (traffic ceased in the 1960s) and there was a siding to Constantine Road power station. A small engine shed was located in this area for locomotives that worked in the docks (although they were officially allocated to Ipswich engine shed). At the east end of the yard the railway lines crossed over Bridge Street (which until the 1980s was the first road[38] crossing over the River Orwell) and from 1903 there was a tram line necessitating special signaling arrangements between the two systems.

In the latter part of the 20th century a construction terminal and a British Oxygen Company terminal were also located in this area. Most of the site has now been redeveloped into retail premises.[37]

Ipswich docks edit

The docks were served by a myriad of dockside lines which fell out of use during the 1990s and few remnants of the dockside lines are evident today.

This was built as a branch off the Bury line in 1848 crossing the River Gipping adjacent to the station and served the northern side of the docks area. The town corporation would not allow steam engines to pass over Stoke Bridge so the dockside tramway was worked by horses until the corporation relented in 1880. However even then the locomotives had to be fitted with animal guards and side valances, an arrangement that continued until 9 May 1969.[39]

An early customer of this line was a carriage building company called Quadling. Initially starting business as Catt and Quadling they built a number of carriages for the Eastern Union Railway at a works in Handford Road, Ipswich. This premises which had no railway access was blown down in a gale in February 1847 damaging several carriages under construction and after that Catt withdrew from the rail side of the business but continued making road carts. Quadling relocated to new premises (located in the modern day Quadling Street in Ipswich) and had a siding off the branch. The company built further carriages for the EUR and Great Western Railway as well as some coal wagons. However this premises also suffered significant gale damage in February 1863 leading to Quadling becoming bankrupt.[40]

Ipswich Lower Goods Yard was constructed by the ECR on this line in 1860.[41]

After 1880 the lines were worked by small locomotives with enclosed wheels such as J70 tram engines. The dockside tramways covered both sides of the dock and crossed the 1881 lock gates at the south end of the dock. Freight was switched between trains and ships on the dockside.

Sidings were provided for the following businesses (list not complete or date specific):[42]

Freight traffic to the docks ceased when freightliner (container) and grain traffic to Cliff Quay ceased in 1992.

East Suffolk Junction edit

This is where the main line for Norwich and the East Suffolk Line split. There were industrial sidings serving Eastern Counties Farmers, Petters (Ipswich) Limited and Manganese Bronze and Brass. These companies had their own locomotives which worked to and from the upper yard.

An extensive site with loading and unloading platforms was developed in 1934 to serve the needs of the 1934 Royal Agricultural Show which was held on 3–7 July 1934 at Chantry Park. A civil engineers depot was developed here afterwards.[43][44]

In 2013 it was suggested that this area will be the site of the locomotive fuelling point which will be relocated from the station. However no such move had materialised by the September 2018.[45]

Sproughton Sugar Beet Factory edit

A British Sugar Corporation owned facility (which traded as Ipswich Beet Sugar Factory until 1936) which had its own fleet of industrial locomotives although on occasion shunting locomotives from Ipswich engine shed were also hired out to the factory.[46] The sidings were established in 1925 and at times were used as an overflow when the upper yard at Ipswich was congested. Rail traffic ceased in 1982. [47]

West Bank edit

This branch still exists (as of 2018) but traffic has been sporadic over the last few years, In 2013 it was not until 20 August that traffic in the form of sea dredged aggregate was operated on the branch. It was hoped this would be a weekly trip and sand traffic to Watford was also expected.[48]

Originally known as the Griffin Wharf Branch it had sidings serving dockside sidings such as (note list not complete or date specific):

  • Ransomes & Rapier (Engineering works)
  • Cooksedge & Co Ltd
  • Christopherson
  • Watkins
  • Coal Depot (GER/LNER).[42]

A couple of shunting horses were based at this location during Great Eastern days (pre-1923).[49] The West Bank Ferry terminal was developed in 1973.

Derby Road railway station and Westerfield railway station both had goods yards and a number of industrial facilities were located on the Felixstowe Branch Line.

Horse Box and Carriage truck traffic edit

A small set of sidings existed at the south end of Ipswich station on the up side of the tracks adjacent to the tunnel. Only one track was accessible from the main line the other sidings being accessed from a wagon turntable. Shunting horses were used in this location to position the vehicles and Ipswich had an allocation of around 30 horses in the 1890s. One track off the wagon turntable led to a small shed which housed a steam fire engine mounted on a flat truck.[50]

By the 1970s only a single siding remained which was used to occasionally stable locomotives and was lifted c1980.

Signalling edit

The following is a list of signal boxes found during the period during Ipswich was controlled by mechanical signaling. The last of these boxes closed in 1985 when the area was re-signalled and electrified. Currently all signals are controlled from Colchester Power Signal Box.

  • Halifax Junction (access from main line to West Bank/Griffin Wharf Branch and Ipswich engine shed)
  • Ipswich Station (south end of Ipswich station on platform 3/4)
  • Ipswich Goods Junction (120 levers for signals and points manned by 3 shifts of signalmen supported by two box lads)[51][52]
  • Ipswich Upper Yard (known locally as No.2 Box)
  • Ipswich East Suffolk Junction[53]
  • Sproughton (opened 1925 and replaced the signal box at Bramford).[54]
  • Westerfield Bank (1898-1926)[55]
  • Westerfield Junction
  • Derby Road
  • Ranelagh Road Crossing Box
  • Lower Yard [56]

Water troughs edit

Water troughs were installed at Halifax Junction in 1897[57] south of Ipswich tunnel. These were used by trains to pick up water using a scoop operated by the engine crew, although water cranes were located on the platforms at the station as well. Using the troughs was a quicker method of filling the tenders of steam locomotives and they were located between the rails in the centre of the tracks. These were heated in winter to prevent freezing. The Ipswich troughs fell out of use in the 1960s when steam locomotives were withdrawn from East Anglia.[58]

Ipswich tunnel edit

Ipswich tunnel was built by the Eastern Union Railway's engineer Peter Bruff and opened in November 1846. Trains from Bury St. Edmunds passed the existing station site (at that point undeveloped) and continued to Halifax Junction south of the tunnel where they then reversed into the original Croft street terminus. The tunnel was built as there was no room between the River Orwell and Stoke Hill to build a railway and is thought to be the first tunnel in the world to be built on a continuous curve. During its construction many fossils were found including those of a Woolly mammoth.[59] Further excavations in 1908 and 1919 were led by Nina Frances Layard revealed remains of mammoths, a turtle and lions. The latter excavation was as a result of the GER widening the cutting east of the tunnel to accommodate some additional sidings. Further bones were found in 1975 by archeologist John Wymer.[60]

There have been two accidents in the tunnel. On 5 May 1910 a wagon examiner was taking a short cut through the tunnel (this was forbidden) when it is believed he tripped whilst trying to get out of the way of an engine. On 21 August 1912 a platelayer (track worker) was hit by the engine of a troop train having failed to get out of the way.[61]

For many years the tunnel was regarded as an obstacle to electrification with insufficient clearance for the overhead wires. In 1985 however the tunnel was temporarily closed and the track bed lowered to accommodate the overhead electric lines. The tunnel was closed again in 2004 to allow for work to lower the track in order to enable larger containers to pass through on goods trains to and from the Port of Felixstowe.[62]

Ipswich Railway Chord edit

The Ipswich Railway Chord (or 'Bacon Factory Chord' in early documentation), officially the Bacon Factory Curve[63] is a short 1,415-metre (4,642 ft) section of track constructed to link the East Suffolk Line and the Great Eastern Main Line just north of Ipswich Goods Yard. This chord, which was opened to traffic in March 2014,[64] allows freight trains from the Port of Felixstowe to access the West Coast Main Line using the Ipswich to Ely Line and a cross-country route via Nuneaton, rather than via the Great Eastern Main Line and the North London Line. The chord was built on the site of an old Bacon Factory, hence its original name. Preliminary work for the chord started in August 2012,[65] and the Secretary of State for Transport granted full development consent on 5 September 2012, coming into effect on 26 September 2012.[66] Two new junctions were created by the scheme—Boss Hall Junction at the eastern end of the chord with the East Suffolk Line and Europa Junction with the Great Eastern Main Line located close to the site of the Sproughton sugar beet sidings.[45] The chord opened to regular traffic on 31 March 2014 although the first revenue earning train headed by Class 66 locomotive 66733 on a Felixstowe–Doncaster container train ran on 24 March.[67] The first, passenger train to have used the chord was on 11 November 2017, when Flying Scotsman used the chord to turn around her Norwich to Ipswich "Cathedrals Express" Railtour.[68]

Summary of services edit

Notes edit

References edit

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  53. ^ Hinson, John. "East Suffolk Junction signal box diagram". the Signal Box. The Signal Box. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  54. ^ Farrant, Roger; Bernard Walsh (October 1991). "Cover Photograph caption". Great Eastern Journal: 2.
  55. ^ Adderson, Richard; Kenworthy, Graham (2005). Ipswich to Saxmundham. Midhurst UK: Middleton Press. p. 19. ISBN 1-901706-41-9.
  56. ^ Adderson, Richard; Kenworthy, Graham (2015). Ipswich - Diss. Midhurst UK: Middleton Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-908174-81-9.
  57. ^ Challis, David; L Brooks; J Watling (July 2013). "Photographing passenger trains in the Stratford area". Great Eastern Railway Journal. 155: 42.
  58. ^ Pember, Geoff (January 1990). "Water troughs of the Great Eastern Railway". Great Eastern Journal. 61: 19.
  59. ^ Van Loon, Borin. . Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  60. ^ Markham, Bob; Merv Russen (January 2014). "Peter Bruff and the mammoth". The Ipswich Society Newsletter (194): 17, 18.
  61. ^ Voisey, Francis (October 1992). "Accidents on the Great Eastern Part 26". Great Eastern Journal: 11.
  62. ^ "Ipswich rail tunnel opens on time". BBC News. 6 September 2004. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  63. ^ Johnson, Marc; Bickell, David (1 May 2014). . Rail Engineer. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  64. ^ Ipswich Chord rail link opens for Felixstowe freight, BBC news website, 2014-03-29. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  65. ^ "Felixstowe: Work starts on new rail line to take containers off the A14".
  66. ^ . National Infrastructure Planning. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  67. ^ Johnson, Marc. . Rail Engineer UK. Rail Engineer. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  68. ^ Bartlett, Nick. "Cathedrals Express 2017". Six Bells Junction. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

External links edit

  • Train times and station information for Ipswich railway station from National Rail

52°03′04″N 1°08′38″E / 52.051°N 1.144°E / 52.051; 1.144

  • Abellio Greater Anglia website

ipswich, railway, station, this, article, about, station, england, other, uses, disambiguation, great, eastern, main, line, east, england, serving, town, ipswich, suffolk, miles, chains, down, line, from, london, liverpool, street, main, line, situated, betwee. This article is about the station in England For other uses see Ipswich railway station disambiguation Ipswich railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line in the East of England serving the town of Ipswich Suffolk It is 68 miles 59 chains 110 6 km down the line from London Liverpool Street 1 and on the main line it is situated between Manningtree to the south and Needham Market to the north IpswichGeneral informationLocationIpswich IpswichEnglandGrid referenceTM156437Managed byGreater AngliaPlatforms4Other informationStation codeIPSClassificationDfT category BHistoryOpened1860Passengers2017 183 352 million Interchange 0 571 million2018 193 416 million Interchange 0 633 million2019 203 292 million Interchange 0 621 million2020 210 727 million Interchange 0 108 million2021 222 126 million Interchange 0 428 millionNotesPassenger statistics from the Office of Rail and RoadIpswich is also the terminus of the East Suffolk Line to Lowestoft a branch line to Felixstowe and a branch line to Ely Cambridgeshire Its three letter station code is IPS The station is operated by Greater Anglia which also operates all trains serving it as part of the East Anglia franchise Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Services 3 1 Historic overview 3 2 Current timetable 4 Goods facilities 4 1 Upper Yard 4 2 Ranelagh Road sidings 4 3 Lower Yard 4 4 Ipswich docks 4 5 East Suffolk Junction 4 6 Sproughton Sugar Beet Factory 4 7 West Bank 4 8 Horse Box and Carriage truck traffic 5 Signalling 6 Water troughs 7 Ipswich tunnel 8 Ipswich Railway Chord 9 Summary of services 10 Notes 11 References 12 External linksHistory editSee also Transport in Ipswich The Eastern Union Railway EUR opened its first terminus in Ipswich called Ipswich Stoke Hill in 1846 on Station Road at the other end of the current tunnel close to the old quay for the steamboats and the aptly named Steamboat Tavern The Ipswich Steam Navigation Company had been formed in 1824 25 during a period of steamship mania and briefly offered services from the quay between Ipswich and London calling at Walton on the Naze 2 The current station is just to the north of Stoke tunnel which was constructed by the Ipswich amp Bury Railway as part of the Ipswich to Ely Line opening as far as Bury St Edmunds in late 1846 3 The station was re sited to its present location in 1860 Some sources suggest that the main building was thought to be principally the work of Peter Bruff who had certainly started the structure 4 Architect Sancton Wood 1816 1886 won a competition to design the new station and it may have been his design 5 However the architectural series started by Nikolaus Pevsner states 6 The present station opened in 1860 By Robert Sinclair the Eastern Counties Railway s engineer although Gordon Biddle suggests the design may have been Peter Bruff s Called graceful and pretty in the Handbook of 1864 Perhaps it struck people as that when it was new White and red brick with round arched windows low and spreading The buildings on the island platform added in 1883 are much more ornate with carved keystones terracotta roundels and ironwork by Matthew T Shaw amp Co Millwall nbsp Early photograph of Ipswich Railway Station ca 1865As built in 1860 the station had a single main through platform with some shorter bay platforms at the north end When the new station was completed a new road Princes Street linking the station to the town was also opened 7 By the 1860s the railways in East Anglia were in financial trouble and most were leased to the Eastern Counties Railway ECR Although they wished to amalgamate formally they could not obtain government agreement for this until 1862 when the Great Eastern Railway GER was formed by the amalgamation 8 The island platform at Ipswich was added by the GER in 1883 9 In 1883 an island platform was opened today s Platform 3 and Platform 4 to improve operations at the station Many of the original platform buildings exist today and close inspection reveals the heads of what are believed to be Greek Gods incorporated into the design 10 Ipswich engine shed later shed code 32B opened in 1846 and was at the south end of Stoke tunnel It was the third largest shed in the Great Eastern area during the steam era after those at Stratford and Cambridge At the beginning of World War I soldiers of the Norfolk Yeomanry regiment were deployed to Ipswich to guard key railway bridges in the area They were relieved by the 9th field company Royal Engineers 11 In 1923 the GER amalgamated with other railways to form the London and North Eastern Railway LNER On 30 April 1932 the LNER arranged an exhibition of railway stock at Ipswich The show was opened by Sir Arthur Churchman of tobacco family fame and over 16 000 visited the show The proceeds were divided between the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital and railway charities The exhibits were class wheel arrangement number name Hush Hush W1 class 4 6 4 No 10000 A1 Class 4 6 2 No 4476 Royal Lancer with corridor tender and Flying Scotsman headboard Class D49 4 4 0 No 201 The Braham Moor This last locomotive was brand new and had not been in service The show also included a sleeping car and a new composite corridor coach 12 In 1948 following nationalisation of the railways Ipswich became part of the British Railways Eastern Region By the late 1970s the costs of running the dated mechanical signalling systems north of Colchester was recognised and in 1978 a scheme for track rationalisation and re signalling was duly submitted to the Department of Transport This was followed by a proposal to electrify the Great Eastern Main Line in 1980 13 The early 1980s saw track rationalisation and signalling work carried out in the Ipswich area and on 9 April 1985 the first electric train consisting of two Class 305 electric multiple units EMU worked into Ipswich station The previous year another member of the class had been dragged to Ipswich by a diesel locomotive and was used for crew training The first passenger carrying train was formed of British Rail Class 309 EMUs which ran on 17 April 1985 The plan was for most trains to be formed of British Rail Class 86 locomotives which until the line to Norwich was electrified would changeover with the Class 47s at Ipswich and this arrangement commenced from 1 May 1985 During 1985 87 the line to Norwich was electrified and through electric working commenced in May 1987 14 The station s original lifts were removed in 1983 when the line was electrified 15 Following the privatisation of British Rail services from Ipswich were operated by Anglia Railways from 1997 until 2004 after which the franchise was won by National Express East Anglia operating under the one brand including one Great Eastern and one Anglia until February 2008 16 In the five years between 2004 05 and 2008 09 patronage rose by 50 from 2 million per year to 3 million per year 17 Ticket barriers were installed in the station building in 2009 and the exit gate on platform 2 was closed permanently New lifts which had been promised for many years since they were removed in 1983 15 were opened in June 2011 18 19 In October 2011 the Department for Transport awarded the new franchise to Abellio the services formerly operated by National Express transferring to Greater Anglia in February 2012 Abellio then became responsible for the operation of Ipswich station 20 21 22 Description edit nbsp Westward view with the new lifts almost complete nbsp Eastward view showing Stoke tunnelPlatform 1 is a bay platform for trains to from Lowestoft and Felixstowe as well as some Cambridge and Peterborough services Platform 2 is used for through trains to London from Norwich as well as most Felixstowe services Platform 3 is used for through trains to Norwich from London as well as some Cambridge services Platform 4 4A 4B and 4C is used for services to Cambridge Lowestoft and Peterborough and stopping services to London There is an avoiding line between the lines that serve the main through platforms 2 and 3 23 Prior to electrification there were two short sidings at the London end of the up platform which were used for locomotive changes on up trains when required 24 Platforms 3 and 4 can be accessed via the footbridge or lift Opposite platform 4 is a stabling point used by Freightliner diesel and electric locomotives Classes 66 70 86 and 90 are the most common although locomotives of other companies have been known to use the point in the past In July 2019 Freightliner was granted planning permission to build a maintenance depot within the yard 25 26 The station has extensive facilities including self service ticket machines ticket counters a convenience store two cafes a multi storey car park taxi stand bus station and ATMs The whole stations is now fully accessible with lifts having been installed in 2011 The entrance to the station was remodelled during 2015 in a 1 million scheme 27 Services editHistoric overview edit Passenger train services to and from Ipswich have always been dominated by the main line to London Liverpool Street but traffic to the north serves lines to Bury St Edmunds Norwich and also the East Suffolk Line for Great Yarmouth South Town and later to Lowestoft where through trains operated until the 1980s and were briefly revived in the early part of the 21st century although the need for more commuter seats south of Colchester saw these terminating at Ipswich with two daily services extended to Harwich International as of December 2019 update Many minor local stations closed during the 1960s as did branch lines to Framlingham and Aldeburgh Branch services on the Felixstowe line have with the exception of the first few years of that line s existence started from Ipswich as have local stopping services on the East Suffolk Norwich and Cambridge lines One interesting working in the 1920s and 1930s was a train that operated from Sheffield via Worksop Spalding March and Ely to Felixstowe during the summer months 28 By far the most interesting working was the Boat Train which operated between Harwich Parkeston Quay and various destinations until the 1990s The privatisation of British Rail in the 1990s saw this service terminated at Peterborough Another long distance working was from Colchester to York via Lincoln which ran for a number of years 29 Throughout the steam era trains were predominantly hauled by Great Eastern Railway locomotives and indeed when steam ended in Suffolk in 1960 some of these locomotives were still operated After the grouping of 1923 LNER designed locomotives were also employed in the area with the B17 4 6 0 class working many main line services After nationalisation in 1948 British Railways introduced the Britannia class 4 6 2 class which worked main line services until succeeded by diesels in the late 1950s nbsp Ipswich station in 1951 with a Liverpool Street express arriving behind a B17 class locomotiveEast Anglia was the first area to be worked completely by diesel trains with Class 40s taking over main line express workings The first one of these ran in June 1958 complete with a headboard with the wording First Diesel Hauled train on the GE in public service 30 These were succeeded by Class 37 and Class 47 up until electrification in the mid 1980s when Class 86 took over followed by Class 90 locomotives from 2003 Local services in the diesel era were worked by Diesel Multiple Units although smaller diesel locomotives such as Class 31 worked local trains such as Ipswich Birmingham and Ipswich Cambridge 31 during the 1980s Former train operating company Anglia Railways ran services known as London Crosslink from Norwich to Basingstoke via Stratford This service started in 2000 and ended in 2002 employing British Rail Class 170 DMUs In January 2020 the Class 745 FLIRT multiple unit sets began entering service to replace the Class 90 hauled sets 32 Following the introduction of these units the loco hauled sets have all been withdrawn from service with the last Class 90 running passenger services on 24 March 2020 33 Class 90s are still operating Freightliner services along with Class 66 and Class 70 diesels and Class 86 electrics Current timetable edit The following services typically call at Ipswich 34 Operator Route Rolling stock FrequencyGreater Anglia London Liverpool Street Colchester Manningtree Ipswich Diss Norwich Class 745 1x per hourLondon Liverpool Street Stratford Chelmsford Colchester Manningtree Ipswich Stowmarket Diss Norwich 1x per hourLondon Liverpool Street Stratford Shenfield Chelmsford Hatfield Peverel Witham Kelvedon Marks Tey Colchester Manningtree Ipswich Class 720 1x per hourIpswich Stowmarket Bury St Edmunds Soham Ely March Manea Whittlesea Peterborough Class 755 Every 2 hours Harwich International Ipswich Needham Market Stowmarket Elmswell Thurston Bury St Edmunds Kennett Newmarket Dullingham Cambridge 1x per hour Harwich International Ipswich Woodbridge Melton Wickham Market Saxmundham Darsham Halesworth Brampton Beccles Oulton Broad South Lowestoft 1x per hourIpswich Westerfield Derby Road Trimley Felixstowe 1x per hourGoods facilities editIpswich had a number of goods facilities and a myriad of private sidings as well as extensive railways in the docks In 2021 only the Upper Yard is open Upper Yard edit This is located between Ipswich and East Suffolk Junction on the east side of the line The yard is still active as of 2018 with Freightliner container trains recessing or running round before running to from the docks at Felixstowe In the past a branch from this yard ran down and across Ranelagh Road crossed the River Gipping to Ipswich Lower Yard and the eastern part of Ipswich docks but traffic ceased in circa 1990 The remains of the branch line are still visible today 2018 In the main yard a transhipment shed existed for a number of years where small consignments were transferred between wagons there was no public or road access to this facility which closed in 1951 Local and regional freight trains serving local stations as well as the other goods facilities in the Ipswich area were re marshalled in this yard Regional destinations included Goodmayes and Temple Mills in London and Whitemoor March in Cambridgeshire The yard was developed for longer trains during 2014 with improved access to and from the East Suffolk Line and longer sidings The majority of trains are traffic to or from Felixstowe Docks 35 Further changes were made during 2021 with the construction of a new vehicle maintenance facility VMF which opened in August 2022 with freight locomotives now stabling in the Upper Yard East Suffolk Junction area 36 nbsp Ipswich Upper Yard in 2009 with several container trains presentRanelagh Road sidings edit Another branch further to the north crossed over Ranelagh Road to a headshunt and then served a warehouse This was built circa 1920 and was at one time going to be a new route into Ipswich docks avoiding the level crossing on the other branch The warehouse served a number of companies including Boots J Lyons amp Co McFarLanes Biscuits and Swift and Co The site was also used to dump redundant permanent way materials and in the 1970s travelling circuses used the site The bridge was demolished in 1967 and an abutment remains in 2013 The rest of this site has been redeveloped with retail facilities 37 Lower Yard edit This yard contained a wooden goods shed where goods for the town were loaded or unloaded Cattle pens were also located close to this yard traffic ceased in the 1960s and there was a siding to Constantine Road power station A small engine shed was located in this area for locomotives that worked in the docks although they were officially allocated to Ipswich engine shed At the east end of the yard the railway lines crossed over Bridge Street which until the 1980s was the first road 38 crossing over the River Orwell and from 1903 there was a tram line necessitating special signaling arrangements between the two systems In the latter part of the 20th century a construction terminal and a British Oxygen Company terminal were also located in this area Most of the site has now been redeveloped into retail premises 37 Ipswich docks edit The docks were served by a myriad of dockside lines which fell out of use during the 1990s and few remnants of the dockside lines are evident today This was built as a branch off the Bury line in 1848 crossing the River Gipping adjacent to the station and served the northern side of the docks area The town corporation would not allow steam engines to pass over Stoke Bridge so the dockside tramway was worked by horses until the corporation relented in 1880 However even then the locomotives had to be fitted with animal guards and side valances an arrangement that continued until 9 May 1969 39 An early customer of this line was a carriage building company called Quadling Initially starting business as Catt and Quadling they built a number of carriages for the Eastern Union Railway at a works in Handford Road Ipswich This premises which had no railway access was blown down in a gale in February 1847 damaging several carriages under construction and after that Catt withdrew from the rail side of the business but continued making road carts Quadling relocated to new premises located in the modern day Quadling Street in Ipswich and had a siding off the branch The company built further carriages for the EUR and Great Western Railway as well as some coal wagons However this premises also suffered significant gale damage in February 1863 leading to Quadling becoming bankrupt 40 Ipswich Lower Goods Yard was constructed by the ECR on this line in 1860 41 After 1880 the lines were worked by small locomotives with enclosed wheels such as J70 tram engines The dockside tramways covered both sides of the dock and crossed the 1881 lock gates at the south end of the dock Freight was switched between trains and ships on the dockside Sidings were provided for the following businesses list not complete or date specific 42 Fisons fertiliser Packards fertiliser Esso Shell National Benzole BP Oil Tolly Cobbold Brewery Cliff Quay Power station which closed in 1983 Ipswich Gas works Cranfields Mill William Brown Timber Freight traffic to the docks ceased when freightliner container and grain traffic to Cliff Quay ceased in 1992 East Suffolk Junction edit This is where the main line for Norwich and the East Suffolk Line split There were industrial sidings serving Eastern Counties Farmers Petters Ipswich Limited and Manganese Bronze and Brass These companies had their own locomotives which worked to and from the upper yard An extensive site with loading and unloading platforms was developed in 1934 to serve the needs of the 1934 Royal Agricultural Show which was held on 3 7 July 1934 at Chantry Park A civil engineers depot was developed here afterwards 43 44 In 2013 it was suggested that this area will be the site of the locomotive fuelling point which will be relocated from the station However no such move had materialised by the September 2018 45 Sproughton Sugar Beet Factory edit A British Sugar Corporation owned facility which traded as Ipswich Beet Sugar Factory until 1936 which had its own fleet of industrial locomotives although on occasion shunting locomotives from Ipswich engine shed were also hired out to the factory 46 The sidings were established in 1925 and at times were used as an overflow when the upper yard at Ipswich was congested Rail traffic ceased in 1982 47 West Bank edit This branch still exists as of 2018 but traffic has been sporadic over the last few years In 2013 it was not until 20 August that traffic in the form of sea dredged aggregate was operated on the branch It was hoped this would be a weekly trip and sand traffic to Watford was also expected 48 Originally known as the Griffin Wharf Branch it had sidings serving dockside sidings such as note list not complete or date specific Ransomes amp Rapier Engineering works Cooksedge amp Co Ltd Christopherson Watkins Coal Depot GER LNER 42 A couple of shunting horses were based at this location during Great Eastern days pre 1923 49 The West Bank Ferry terminal was developed in 1973 Derby Road railway station and Westerfield railway station both had goods yards and a number of industrial facilities were located on the Felixstowe Branch Line Horse Box and Carriage truck traffic edit A small set of sidings existed at the south end of Ipswich station on the up side of the tracks adjacent to the tunnel Only one track was accessible from the main line the other sidings being accessed from a wagon turntable Shunting horses were used in this location to position the vehicles and Ipswich had an allocation of around 30 horses in the 1890s One track off the wagon turntable led to a small shed which housed a steam fire engine mounted on a flat truck 50 By the 1970s only a single siding remained which was used to occasionally stable locomotives and was lifted c1980 Signalling editThe following is a list of signal boxes found during the period during Ipswich was controlled by mechanical signaling The last of these boxes closed in 1985 when the area was re signalled and electrified Currently all signals are controlled from Colchester Power Signal Box Halifax Junction access from main line to West Bank Griffin Wharf Branch and Ipswich engine shed Ipswich Station south end of Ipswich station on platform 3 4 Ipswich Goods Junction 120 levers for signals and points manned by 3 shifts of signalmen supported by two box lads 51 52 Ipswich Upper Yard known locally as No 2 Box Ipswich East Suffolk Junction 53 Sproughton opened 1925 and replaced the signal box at Bramford 54 Westerfield Bank 1898 1926 55 Westerfield Junction Derby Road Ranelagh Road Crossing Box Lower Yard 56 Water troughs editWater troughs were installed at Halifax Junction in 1897 57 south of Ipswich tunnel These were used by trains to pick up water using a scoop operated by the engine crew although water cranes were located on the platforms at the station as well Using the troughs was a quicker method of filling the tenders of steam locomotives and they were located between the rails in the centre of the tracks These were heated in winter to prevent freezing The Ipswich troughs fell out of use in the 1960s when steam locomotives were withdrawn from East Anglia 58 Ipswich tunnel editIpswich tunnel was built by the Eastern Union Railway s engineer Peter Bruff and opened in November 1846 Trains from Bury St Edmunds passed the existing station site at that point undeveloped and continued to Halifax Junction south of the tunnel where they then reversed into the original Croft street terminus The tunnel was built as there was no room between the River Orwell and Stoke Hill to build a railway and is thought to be the first tunnel in the world to be built on a continuous curve During its construction many fossils were found including those of a Woolly mammoth 59 Further excavations in 1908 and 1919 were led by Nina Frances Layard revealed remains of mammoths a turtle and lions The latter excavation was as a result of the GER widening the cutting east of the tunnel to accommodate some additional sidings Further bones were found in 1975 by archeologist John Wymer 60 There have been two accidents in the tunnel On 5 May 1910 a wagon examiner was taking a short cut through the tunnel this was forbidden when it is believed he tripped whilst trying to get out of the way of an engine On 21 August 1912 a platelayer track worker was hit by the engine of a troop train having failed to get out of the way 61 For many years the tunnel was regarded as an obstacle to electrification with insufficient clearance for the overhead wires In 1985 however the tunnel was temporarily closed and the track bed lowered to accommodate the overhead electric lines The tunnel was closed again in 2004 to allow for work to lower the track in order to enable larger containers to pass through on goods trains to and from the Port of Felixstowe 62 Ipswich Railway Chord editThe Ipswich Railway Chord or Bacon Factory Chord in early documentation officially the Bacon Factory Curve 63 is a short 1 415 metre 4 642 ft section of track constructed to link the East Suffolk Line and the Great Eastern Main Line just north of Ipswich Goods Yard This chord which was opened to traffic in March 2014 64 allows freight trains from the Port of Felixstowe to access the West Coast Main Line using the Ipswich to Ely Line and a cross country route via Nuneaton rather than via the Great Eastern Main Line and the North London Line The chord was built on the site of an old Bacon Factory hence its original name Preliminary work for the chord started in August 2012 65 and the Secretary of State for Transport granted full development consent on 5 September 2012 coming into effect on 26 September 2012 66 Two new junctions were created by the scheme Boss Hall Junction at the eastern end of the chord with the East Suffolk Line and Europa Junction with the Great Eastern Main Line located close to the site of the Sproughton sugar beet sidings 45 The chord opened to regular traffic on 31 March 2014 although the first revenue earning train headed by Class 66 locomotive 66733 on a Felixstowe Doncaster container train ran on 24 March 67 The first passenger train to have used the chord was on 11 November 2017 when Flying Scotsman used the chord to turn around her Norwich to Ipswich Cathedrals Express Railtour 68 Summary of services editPreceding station nbsp National Rail Following stationManningtreeGreater AngliaGreat Eastern Main LineStowmarketHarwich InternationalLimited serviceGreater AngliaIpswich to Ely LineNeedham MarketTerminusGreater AngliaFelixstowe Branch LineWesterfieldHarwich InternationalLimited serviceGreater AngliaEast Suffolk LineWesterfield Future Services Bury St Edmunds East West RailOxford Ipswich TerminusHistorical railwaysBentleyLine open station closedGreat Eastern RailwayEastern Union RailwayBramfordLine open station closedColchesterAnglia RailwaysLondon CrosslinkStowmarketNotes editReferences edit GE RailRef Line Codes Great Eastern Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 30 August 2015 Promotion speculation and their outcome The steamship mania of 1824 1825 Archived from the original on 8 March 2010 Retrieved 16 January 2010 Ipswich Steam Navigation Company Amongst all the companies promoted in 1824 25 The Ipswich Steam Navigation Company at least went into operation It established a service between Ipswich and London calling at Harwich and Walton on the Naze Moffat Hugh 1987 East Anglia s First Railways Lavenham Terence Dalton ISBN 0 86138 038 X Moffatt Hugh John Watling January 1992 Ipswich Station Great Eastern Journal 69 12 Norman John Heritage icons Ipswich station Ipswich Society Retrieved 8 October 2021 Pevsner Nickolaus Bettley James 2015 Suffolk East Yale University Press p 333 ISBN 978 0300196542 Norman John 23 September 2013 Italianate design that proved a winner East Anglian Daily Times 45 Vaughan Adrian 1997 Railwaymen Politics and Money London John Murray pp 134 135 ISBN 0 7195 5150 1 Biddle Gordon 2003 Britain s Historic Railway Buildings Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 866247 5 Russen M R October 2020 Ipswich Railway Stations Part 2 Ipswich Society Newsletter 223 Moss Chris July 2015 GER and mobilization Great Eastern Journal Vol 163 p 21 Long M J January 1982 The LNER Exhibitions of the 1930s letter Great Eastern Railway Society Journal 29 19 Cowley Ian 1987 Anglia East Newton Abbot UK David amp Charles p 14 ISBN 0 7153 8978 5 Cowley Ian 1987 Anglia East Newton Abbot UK David amp Charles pp 43 47 ISBN 0 7153 8978 5 a b Autumn Winter 2008 Newsletter PDF Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association MARPA Retrieved 30 March 2010 The original lift was demolished when the line was electrified one Railway to vanish as National Express begins major rebranding exercise Railway Herald 17 November 2007 p 9 Retrieved 25 February 2016 Station usage Office of the Rail Regulator Archived from the original on 4 July 2012 Retrieved 30 March 2010 Home Greater Anglia Nationalexpresseastanglia com Archived from the original on 14 July 2011 Retrieved 17 March 2013 Ipswich New railway station footbridge opened News East Anglian Daily Times Eadt co uk Archived from the original on 27 February 2014 Retrieved 17 March 2013 Better services for East Anglian passengers under new franchise Press release Department for Transport 20 October 2011 Abellio awarded Greater Anglia franchise Railway Gazette International London 20 October 2011 Abellio has been awarded the Greater Anglia Franchise Press release Abellio 20 October 2011 Archived from the original on 25 October 2011 Retrieved 14 October 2013 Brodribb John 1985 Steam in the Eastern Counties Shepperton Ian Allan Ltd p 31 ISBN 0 7110 1558 9 Brodribb 1985 p 30 Freightliner plans new Ipswich maintenance facility Genesee amp Wyoming Rail work near Ipswich Station to begin as freight train depot gets approval Ipswich Star 2 July 2019 Geater Paul 1 million facelift on the timetable for Ipswich station EADT Archet Retrieved 24 June 2015 King Bill Wells Pask Toon Hart Autumn 2013 156 035 Great Eastern News 17 British Railways 1948 Passenger Services Eastern Region London British railways p Table 3 Wilby Percy January 1998 The coming of the diesels to Ipswich Great Eastern Journal 93 3 Webster Neil Greaves Simon Greengrass Robert 1985 Loco hauled travel 1985 6 Bradford Metro Enterprises p 8 ISBN 0 947773 02 9 Abellio wins East Anglian rail franchise for nine years in 1 4bn deal Archived 25 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine East Anglian Daily Times 10 August 2016 Geater Paul End of the line for traditional trains on Greater Anglia routes East Anglian Daily Times Retrieved 31 March 2020 Table 11 13 amp 14 National Rail timetable May 2016 Upgraded Ipswich Yard fully operational after 12 week delay pressreader Rail Express magazine Retrieved 10 July 2023 Freight doubles up at Ipswich Yard Rail Technology Magazine Cognitive Publishing Ltd Retrieved 12 September 2018 a b Freestone Jill Richard W Smith 1998 Ipswich Engine and Ipswich Men Ipswich Over Stoke History Group p 69 ISBN 0 9532257 0 4 Barton David July 2008 Letter Ipswich Wet Dock Great Eastern Railway Society Journal 135 46 Nugent A D July 1995 Animal guards and side valances Great Eastern Journal Vol 83 Great Eastern Railway Society p 43 Moffat Hugh 1987 East Anglia s first railways Lavenham Terence Dalton Limited pp 118 119 ISBN 0 86138 038 X Moffat Hugh 1987 East Anglia s first railways Lavenham Terence Dalton Limited pp 151 152 ISBN 0 86138 038 X a b Freestone Jill Richard W Smith 1998 Ipswich Engine and Ipswich Men Ipswich Over Stoke History Group p 63 ISBN 0 9532257 0 4 Adderson amp Kenworthy Richard amp Graham 2000 Ipswich to Saxmundham Midhurst Middelton Press pp 5 21 ISBN 1 901706 41 9 Adderson Richard Kenworthy Graham 2015 Ipswich Diss Midhurst UK Middleton Press p 33 ISBN 978 1 908174 81 9 a b Scotchman Iain C September 2013 Bringing home the bacon Modern Railways 20 Fisher C 1993 Industrial Locomotives of East Anglia London Industrial Railway Society p 104 map and 120 ISBN 0 901096 75 X Freestone Jill Richard W Smith 1998 Ipswich Engine and Ipswich Men Ipswich Over Stoke History Group p 69 70 ISBN 0 9532257 0 4 railway Observer Oct 13 review Great Eastern News 157 10 Winter 2013 Bloom A J 1974 Horse shunting at Ipswich Docks Ipswich amp District Historical Society Bulletin 76 Watling John January 2016 Classic Camera Great Eastern Journal Vol 165 Great Eastern Railway Society p 3 Pumfrey Ken July 2001 Ipswich Goods Junction signal box lad Great Eastern Journal 107 10 Hinson John Ipswich Goods Junction signal box The signal box John Hinson Retrieved 2 December 2018 Hinson John East Suffolk Junction signal box diagram the Signal Box The Signal Box Retrieved 2 December 2018 Farrant Roger Bernard Walsh October 1991 Cover Photograph caption Great Eastern Journal 2 Adderson Richard Kenworthy Graham 2005 Ipswich to Saxmundham Midhurst UK Middleton Press p 19 ISBN 1 901706 41 9 Adderson Richard Kenworthy Graham 2015 Ipswich Diss Midhurst UK Middleton Press p 14 ISBN 978 1 908174 81 9 Challis David L Brooks J Watling July 2013 Photographing passenger trains in the Stratford area Great Eastern Railway Journal 155 42 Pember Geoff January 1990 Water troughs of the Great Eastern Railway Great Eastern Journal 61 19 Van Loon Borin The Eastern Union Railway Archived from the original on 17 November 2014 Retrieved 14 October 2013 Markham Bob Merv Russen January 2014 Peter Bruff and the mammoth The Ipswich Society Newsletter 194 17 18 Voisey Francis October 1992 Accidents on the Great Eastern Part 26 Great Eastern Journal 11 Ipswich rail tunnel opens on time BBC News 6 September 2004 Retrieved 30 March 2014 Johnson Marc Bickell David 1 May 2014 Ipswich chord and freight yard Rail Engineer Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 4 September 2015 Ipswich Chord rail link opens for Felixstowe freight BBC news website 2014 03 29 Retrieved 2014 03 29 Felixstowe Work starts on new rail line to take containers off the A14 National Infrastructure Planning National Infrastructure Planning Archived from the original on 23 August 2012 Retrieved 5 September 2012 Johnson Marc Ipswich chord and freight yard Rail Engineer UK Rail Engineer Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 24 June 2015 Bartlett Nick Cathedrals Express 2017 Six Bells Junction Retrieved 18 January 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ipswich railway station Train times and station information for Ipswich railway station from National Rail52 03 04 N 1 08 38 E 52 051 N 1 144 E 52 051 1 144 Abellio Greater Anglia website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ipswich railway station amp oldid 1180323069 Ipswich Railway Chord, 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