Volunteers from the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership were at Cromer railway station on Wednesday 19 August assisting passengers arriving for the town’s Carnival.
The annual Cromer Carnival is hugely successful and with the Wednesday one of the busiest days with the grand procession and a visit by the RAF Red Arrows, travelling by rail is becoming increasingly popular.
Train operator Greater Anglia retimed some services on the day and added extra trains enabling thousands of people to attend the event without the need to take the car.
As part of this Summer’s Day’s Out By Rail initiative, Bittern Line volunteers were at the station throughout the day, helping guide visitors to the Town Centre and Carnival Arena as well as handing out copies of the Bittern Line guide and timetable and copies of the special timetable for the day.
The volunteers joined with members of the newly formed railway events team and had an enjoyable day meeting people, railway colleagues and officers from Norfolk Police. Several hundred Bittern Line cotton tote bags were also given away which included guides to the line and sister routes along the Wherry Lines as well as free soft drinks and souvenirs.
Bittern Line Chair David Pearce said; “We are pleased to have been at Cromer station supporting passengers arriving by train for the Carnival. Each year organisers present a fantastic week of events and activities for all the family and with the Wednesday featuring both the Carnival procession and a visit of the Red Arrows, travelling by train is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people opt to avoid the perils of busy roads and finding somewhere to park, swapping the car for the train.”
Bittern Line volunteers will be attending the forthcoming Dilham Canal 200th Anniversary Festival (Sat 29th & Sun 30th August) and will be at Sheringham station for the town’s hugely popular 1940s Weekend in September.
