83-549: Derby Road railway station (also known as Derby Road (Ipswich) ) is on the Felixstowe Branch Line in the east of England, serving the Rose Hill area and southern area of California on the eastern side of the town of Ipswich , Suffolk. It is 6 miles 8 chains (9.8 km) down the line from Ipswich station and 74 miles 67 chains (120.4 km) measured from London Liverpool Street ; It
166-632: A diesel multiple unit to work there and back within one hour. In 1967 the branch was converted to "Pay Train" operation, with all fares being collected by the guard so that no staff were needed at the stations other than a signalman. By the end of that year, passenger trains no longer continued beyond Felixstowe Town, but that part of the line was retained for a few freight services to Felixstowe docks, which had just started to handle shipping containers. By 1986 there were 12 to 13 container trains passing through Derby Road in each direction to and from Felixstowe. These lengthy trains could not pass at Derby Road as
249-559: A port chaplain based at Felixstowe port. In 2008, work began on the construction and reconfiguration of Felixstowe South terminal creating 1,300 m of quay served by 12 new ship-to-shore gantry cranes. Work will be carried out in two stages with 750 m of sea wall complete by the end of 2010 and stage which is expected to open in 2014. This new terminal will have a clearance of 16 m and gantries suited for extra large box carriers. The railway track between Felixstowe and Nuneaton has been upgraded to allow for more freight trains by clearing
332-507: A roll-on/roll-off terminal. There is a continuous quay of over 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi), equipped with 29 ship-to shore gantry cranes . The main navigation channel is dredged to 14.5 metres below chart datum , with a maximum depth of 15 metres alongside the quay. This allows Felixstowe to accommodate the world's latest generation of deep-draughted post-Panamax vessels and the much larger Maersk Triple E class , launched in 2013 and capable of carrying 18,000 TEUs . The A14 connects
415-470: A 92% yes vote on an 81% turnout. In August, dock workers walked out from the site in the first industrial action of its kind in 30 years. Coverage of the industrial action revealed that some Felixstowe dockers relied on the support of food banks and were struggling to make mortgage payments. Trade union communications by Unite used the hashtag #DockersDeserveBetter. In a press statement, General Secretary of Unite , Sharon Graham said: The bottom line
498-404: A W10 loading gauge but W9 rolling stock is excluded. Westerfield railway station is 3.51 miles (5.65 km) from Ipswich where the passenger trains to Felixstowe start their journey, although the milepost reads 72 + 1 ⁄ 4 as the line is measured from London. It has two platforms , both of which are accessed from the road that passes over the level crossing at the west end of
581-446: A community facility. Less than one mile further on another line diverges on the up side. This is the original route of 1877 which also carries freight trains to the port. The passenger line, however, passes beneath Garrison Lane to terminate at Felixstowe station, opened in 1898 and 12.13 miles (19.52 km) from Westerfield. The single platform is on the down side of the train and can accommodate six carriages. If we were to follow
664-606: A deal with Sea-Land Service . Because container shipping is much more economically efficient in bulk, this early start led to it becoming the UK's largest container port, despite its previous insignificance to the shipping market. By 1980, Felixstowe had become the largest container port in the UK. In April 1981, Dooley and Walton, two new terminals started operation. Walton was owned by the Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) and operated separately. The port
747-454: A fortnight. It left Liverpool Street at 11:00, took less than two hours to reach Felixstowe, and returned at 19:35. The fare was 5 shillings. In World War II Felixstowe once again became restricted area. From September 1940 an armoured train with a 12 inches (300 mm) Howitzer was stationed on the line with a modified Class F4 locomotive to power it. The gun was one of two with the other being allocated Wrabness Station and part of
830-568: A line branches off on the up side then runs parallel over the level crossing and through the station before it curves away from the branch. This is the Port of Felixstowe 's line to their North Freightliner Terminal which was opened in 1987. Passenger trains in both directions now use the former down platform. The derelict station building is on this, but the Trimley Station Community Trust want to see it repaired and used as
913-524: A locomotive to run back into a rake of carriages after it had uncoupled from them. 13 people were injured. On 14 March 2018, a freight train collided with a car at the Routs crossing off Felixstowe Road near Nacton . One person, the driver of the car, was seriously injured. The driver of the train had no injuries. When the line was opened the trains on its single line were regulated by a staff and ticket signalling system. This ensured that only one train at
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#1732775709036996-593: A number of enhancements between Felixstowe and Nuneaton which are designed to allow trains to reach the West Coast Main Line without travelling over congested lines in the London area. In October 2017 final approval was given for a £60.4m project which includes doubling between Trimley station and Grimston Lane foot crossing. Work started on 7 April 2018 and was predicted to end in Autumn 2019. However,
1079-606: A number of occasions in recent years: A new container terminal opened on 6 June 2013 located below Fagbury Cliff at the north east end of the port. This is known as the North Terminal; the original North Terminal opened in the 1980s has been renamed the Central Terminal. The new terminal is reached from Trimley via a new junction at the north end of the Central Terminal. The nine sidings are served by three gantry cranes and will be able to handle 35-wagon trains;
1162-529: A part of the new London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). Passenger traffic regained its pre-war volumes; Derby Road station being especially popular as it connected with the Ipswich tram system and many extra trains started there. In 1938 the LNER received new powers to double the line from Westerfield to Felixstowe Town and enlarge the station there. While an additional platform was provided at Felixstowe in 1939,
1245-581: A relative of Queen Victoria , arrived on a train at Felixstowe Beach station. She and five of her children stayed in the town on holiday until 6 August. This gave the town a boost as a holiday resort. Although the population of the town in 1891 was only 3,507 development was increasing along the higher ground north of the Beach station. In order to better serve this end of the town, the GER obtained powers in June 1893 for
1328-466: A short deviation to the line. A terminus station was built on what is now Hamilton Road. This was opened on 1 July 1898 and named Felixstowe Town station . The direct line from Trimley to Felixstowe Beach was closed and all trains therefore had to reverse at the Town station before continuing their journey. A new 'Orwell Hotel' was opened at the same time opposite the station entrance. More hotels opened in
1411-678: A time was on each end of the line; a loop at Orwell allowed two trains to pass. An additional section was created between Felixstowe Pier and Beach stations when the latter opened. Tyers Electric Train Tablet was in use on the line by 1891 and trains could pass at Felixstowe Beach. An additional passing loop came into use in May 1891 when Trimley station opened, and another one was created at Derby Road in November that year. Signal boxes were provided at every station and at Felixstowe Dock Junction which
1494-650: Is a railway branch line in Suffolk , England, that connects the Great Eastern Main Line to Felixstowe and its port . The line is 12 miles 5 chains (19.4 km) in length from Westerfield to Felixstowe. The stations and all passenger services are operated by Greater Anglia . The passenger services originate at Ipswich but the branch itself starts one station further along at Westerfield. The line also carries freight trains operated by DB Schenker , Freightliner and GB Railfreight , to
1577-493: Is situated between Westerfield and Trimley and is managed by Greater Anglia , which also operates all passenger trains that call. The station was opened by the Felixstowe Railway & Pier Company in 1877 and takes its name from the street on which it is located in Ipswich. It used to be a popular station for people travelling from the eastern side of Ipswich to the seaside at Felixstowe due to its connection to
1660-584: Is the United Kingdom's largest container port, dealing with 48% of Britain's containerised trade. In 2017, it was ranked as 43rd busiest container port in the world and 8th in Europe, with a handled traffic of 3.85 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). In 2019 it was ranked the UK's 7th busiest port. The port is operated by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, which
1743-492: Is this is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to give its workers a pay rise. Instead it chose to give bonanza pay outs to shareholders touching £100 million. On 24 August footage and photographs recorded a port worker carrying a Unite the Union flag surfed in front of an Evergreen Marine Corp container ship. The footage was published on Twitter by trade unionist and Labour councillor Lauren Townsend and included
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#17327757090361826-567: The Copdock interchange (J55) between the A14 and the A12. The dispute followed the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company offering a pay increase of 5%. Unite reported that this equated to a real-terms pay cut with retail price inflation at 11.9%. In 2021, dock workers received a below inflation pay increase of 1.4%. In July 2022, Unite members at Felixstowe voted on industrial action and workers recorded
1909-460: The local tram system . The Act of Parliament for the Felixstowe Railway and Pier was granted on 19 July 1875. It was soon built and opened, along with the station at "Derby Road (Ipswich)", on 1 May 1877. The Suffolk Chronicle described its location as "the most inconvenient and out-of-the way spot which could have been selected" and during the line's pre-opening inspection by the Board of Trade ,
1992-498: The 10:00 service from London (which had been introduced the previous year as a non-stop service to Lowestoft ) called at Westerfield to detach carriages for Felixstowe. It was only allowed two minutes to do this (reduced to a single minute in 1908), and the Felixstowe portion continued on its way just three minutes later. A non-stop train each way between Liverpool Street and Felixstowe Town was introduced in 1906. Another fast train
2075-439: The 1990s British Rail was privatised and the ownership of the line passed to Railtrack . When that company was wound up it was transferred to Network Rail . Passenger services were franchised, first to Anglia Railways on 5 January 1997, then to One on 1 April 2004 (which was rebranded National Express East Anglia on 22 February 2008), and then to Abellio Greater Anglia on 5 February 2012. Railtrack initiated an upgrading of
2158-445: The 27th Army Field Regiment (although by October the 9th Super-Heavy Battery Royal Artillery. The unit was initially based at Derby Road (and the headquarters function remained there) but the gun soon moved to Orwell. It patrolled lines in the area and sidings were provided for it at Levington Bridge and Trimley. Some of the crew was at one point billeted in the waiting room at Orwell, as well as various converted rail vehicles. A gun shed
2241-508: The Central and South terminals can only handle trains of between 21 and 24 wagons so longer trains have to be split into smaller units by shunting locomotives. To make sufficient space for such long trains, the new North terminal has been equipped with a locomotive traverser at the north east end. Once an incoming locomotive has uncoupled from its train it can move onto the traverser which then moves it to an empty track where it can then move to
2324-431: The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company to reflect its main interests. In May 1887 an Act of Parliament was granted for a 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (5.6 km) line from Felixstowe to Felixstowe Ferry but this was never built and the scheme was abandoned in 1892 due to lack of capital. From October 1879 some trains to Felixstowe ran through from Ipswich where connections with the GER main line were more convenient. and
2407-521: The Felixstowe branch line in 1997, the first time that it had done this speculatively in anticipation of it receiving increased revenue from freight train operators. The passing loop at Derby Road was extended so that two container trains could pass, the signalling replaced and transferred to the control of Colchester Power Signalling Box, and the line speed was increased. The aim was to allow an hourly passenger train service to operate while accommodating more freight trains. The line as far as Felixstowe Beach
2490-522: The GER station at Westerfield to Hog Lane in Felixstowe. In 1873 a tramway was proposed from Ipswich station to Landguard Common (near the mouth of the River Orwell ) and Fagborough Cliff where it would connect with the ferry to Harwich . One of the tramway's promoters, Colonel George Tomline , suggested instead that a proper railway should be built instead, running from Westerfield to a pier to be constructed at Landguard Common. An Act of Parliament
2573-533: The North Curve we would find it passes through the old Felixstowe Beach station (12.62 miles (20.31 km) from Westerfield) which was closed in 1967. After passing over a level crossing the line splits into a group of sidings known as Felixstowe Creek. At the far end of these is Felixstowe Dock Junction where Network Rail 's tracks end and those of the Port of Felixstowe start. Here most trains curve around into
Derby Road railway station - Misplaced Pages Continue
2656-479: The Secretary of State for Transport approved the 'Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard Improvement Order'. This empowered the rebuilding of Ipswich Yard and the laying of a second track for 7,150 metres (4.44 mi) from Trimley westwards to Levington. During the 2012 Summer Olympics Freightliner diverted ten Felixstowe trains each day through either Cambridge or Ely to free up capacity at Stratford which
2739-580: The South Freightliner Terminal but lines also diverge on the up side to the older part of the docks. It is possible to follow these to the North Freightliner Terminal and then back to Trimley, but this would involve crossing numerous level crossings on the way through the dock area. The first railway proposed for the small coastal town of Felixstowe was the Ipswich and Felixstowe Railway in 1865, to run from
2822-425: The additional capacity a number of level crossings were either abolished or upgraded to improve safety. New Class 755 trains from Swiss manufacturer Stadler Rail were introduced to the line on 19 November 2019. On 1 September 1900, there was a collision at Felixstowe station. An up passenger train started off for Ipswich despite the signal not being set to permit this move. There was a freight train arriving at
2905-434: The branch being transferred to Colchester Panel Signal Box. Colour light signals and motor-driven points are fitted throughout, while level crossings at Trimley and Felixstowe Beach are monitored by CCTV . Signal passed at danger (SPAD) indicators were fitted at several places to act as a warning to drivers should they pass a red signal. The following list provides a snapshot of timetables to show how they have changed over
2988-563: The branch. The first of these was operators was GB Railfreight which started a service to Selby in February 2002. On 1 October 2011 it introduced its sixth service from Felixstowe (this one running to Trafford Park in Manchester) which brought the total number of freight trains running over the branch to 29 each way each day. The number of containers that are handled by rail at Felixstowe has been growing, with new records reported on
3071-456: The branch. The train now enters a section of double track through Derby Road station (6.10 miles (9.82 km) from Ipswich station by train, but only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) on the map) where trains can pass. The line now leaves Ipswich for the last time. Just beyond milepost 78 the train passes the site of Orwell station which was closed in 1959. As the train slows for the approach to Trimley (10.55 miles (16.98 km) from Westerfield)
3154-407: The closure of Felixstowe Town Signal Box, the electric signals and junction with the line to Felixstowe Beach being operated from Trimley. The passing loop at Trimely was taken out of use in 1986 when it was altered to become the connection to the Port of Felixstowe's new branch line. In 1999 the remaining signal boxes at Westerfield, Derby Road, Trimley and Felixstowe Beach were closed, control of
3237-410: The completion of a new container terminal at the docks which was served by Freightliner trains. This helped to contribute to the docks handling 2,019,270 tons in 1969 which was more than nine times the traffic of ten years earlier. On 13 May 1970 a new direct line to Felixstowe Docks was opened. This used the same alignment as in 1877 to 1898 and removed the need of trains to reverse at Felixstowe Town. At
3320-472: The completion of the new line to the North Freightliner Terminal and additional ship berths on the new Trinity Quay in 1987 were expected to boost this to 18 to 20. The privatisation of British Rail saw the Freightliner services transferred to a new Freightliner (UK) company, but other freight operators have now added their own services to Felixstowe which has added to the number of trains running over
3403-516: The goods train and 791 (a GER Class M15 ) on the passenger train. A postcard showing the post-accident scene was produced. On 25 September 1900, at 08:45, GER Class Y14 0-6-0 locomotive 522, which was then just a year old, stopped at a signal on the Ipswich side of the level crossing at Westerfield awaiting a route to the Felixstowe branch. Shortly afterwards the boiler exploded killing driver John Barnard and his fireman William Macdonald, both of whom were based at Ipswich engine shed . The boiler
Derby Road railway station - Misplaced Pages Continue
3486-483: The guard so that staff were no longer needed at the stations other than signalmen. In 1964 it was reported that freight traffic on the branch included agricultural machinery, bricks, chocolate, coal and coke, custard and jelly, explosives, glassware, grain, motor cars scrap metal, sugar beet, and timber. Public freight facilities had been withdrawn from Westerfield and Trimley on 13 July 1964, and from both stations at Felixstowe on 5 December 1966. The following year saw
3569-496: The home of Colonel Tomline near Nacton ), Felixstowe (not today's station, but one near the pier at Landguard Common). Tomline was criticised in the Suffolk Chronicle for building the stations where he "thinks people ought to be, rather than where people actually live". When a station was opened nearer to Felixstowe it was at Felixstowe Beach , close to land Tomline was looking to develop but not well placed to serve
3652-482: The line extended to Trimley station. When it opened on 16 February 1987 it allowed trains to reach the new terminal without crossing a series of level crossings in the dock area and also the public level crossing at Felixstowe Beach. The line to Trimley involved heavy earthworks and cost £2,000,000 but the company received a 40% grant under Section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 as it would reduce road traffic. In
3735-449: The loop was too short, and the large number of these trains was causing disruption to the passenger service which was running less frequently than in the past. To resolve these issues the loop was extended in 1999. At the same time the signal box was closed and control of the line transferred to Colchester Panel Signal Box. The Derby Road bridge over the railway was rebuilt in 2003 to take the higher containers from Felixstowe docks. When
3818-405: The main line from Liverpool Street to Ipswich, although this failed to be completed north of Colchester at the time. Instead an accelerated diesel-powered service was introduced on 15 June 1959. Orwell station was closed, but the time from Ipswich to Felixstowe Town was reduced from 35 to 24 minutes which allowed a diesel multiple unit to work there and back within an hour. At the end of the year it
3901-473: The mayor of Ipswich unsuccessfully made representations for an additional station a half-mile to the north between Spring Road and Woodbridge Road. On 1 September 1879 the Great Eastern Railway took over operation of the line, although the original Felixstowe company retained ownership until 5 July 1887, when it sold the railway to the GER. In October 1879 the "Ipswich" suffix was dropped from
3984-589: The more established part of town. It is claimed that it was also sited here to be away from the Ordnance Hotel, owned by his rival John Chevalier Cobbold. On 1 September 1879 the Great Eastern Railway (GER) took over operation of the line, although the Felixstowe company retained ownership until 5 July 1887 when it sold the railway to the GER while retaining the dock (which had opened for traffic in April 1886 ) and associated railway lines, changing its name to
4067-503: The newer high-cube containers to be carried by train - and the percentage of these containers is expected to increase from 30% in 2007 to 50% in 2012. Network Rail completed the gauge enhancement from Ipswich to Peterborough in 2008. Work should be completed by 2014 at an estimated cost of £291 million. As part of the Felixstowe South development, Hutchison Ports will provide financial support intended to increase capacity at
4150-450: The opening of a second route to the port in 1987. As of December 2016 passenger service frequency on the line is typically one train per hour in each direction between Ipswich and Felixstowe. The timetabled journey time from one terminus to the other is 26 minutes. The Felixstowe branch is an unelectrified, single track secondary line with a maximum line speed of 75 mph (121 km/h), although lower limits apply at some places. It has
4233-858: The other end of a train ready for departure. The line was initially worked by three 2-4-0 side tank locomotives built by the Yorkshire Engine Company . They had 4 ft 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (1,410 mm) driving wheels and 14 by 20 in (360 by 510 mm) cylinders. They were transferred to the Great Eastern Railway and moved to London where they worked as shunting locomotives until withdrawn in 1888. Locomotives were kept in an engine shed at Felixstowe Beach. The railway also possessed 19 passenger carriages and 15 goods wagons. Port of Felixstowe The Port of Felixstowe , in Felixstowe , Suffolk ,
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#17327757090364316-460: The port of Felixstowe. The line was opened by the Felixstowe Railway & Pier Company in 1877, although the first station in Felixstowe was not in the town but at the company's pier on the River Orwell . The railway was sold to the Great Eastern Railway in 1887. A station near Felixstowe town centre was opened in 1898 and this has been the only station in the town since 1967. Freight traffic has increased significantly since that time, leading to
4399-672: The port to the English Midlands and the M6 , the north via the M1 and M6 and A1 and via the A12 to London. The port (as simply "Felixstowe") is signed from as far away as M6 junction 1 for Rugby . Each terminal has its own rail terminal which connects to the Felixstowe Branch Line . Seafarers' welfare charity Apostleship of the Sea , which provides practical and pastoral support to seafarers, has
4482-455: The railway stopped using them. They were listed Grade II on 23 December 1980. In 1981 the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company obtained an Act of Parliament to allow it to construct 2,591 metres (1.610 mi) of new railways. The first part to come into use was an extension of the existing dock lines to a new Northern Freightliner Terminal. Work on the remainder started in March 1986. This saw
4565-435: The railway. Felixstowe trains curve to the right at Westerfield Junction as they leave the station to join the Felixstowe branch line. The line climbs for a short distance at 1 in 85 and swings towards the south, coming back into the suburbs of Ipswich. At milepost 73 (4.75 miles (7.64 km) from Westerfield) the line starts to drop down towards the three-arch Spring Road Viaduct, the only significant engineering feature on
4648-491: The route to W10 loading gauge , allowing 'Hi-cube' shipping containers to be carried between the Port of Felixstowe and the West Coast Main Line at Nuneaton. The West Coast Main Line had previously been cleared to W10 and the route from Nuneaton to Birmingham was already cleared to W12. This work will accommodate additional freight traffic as a result of 'Felixstowe South' expansion at the Port of Felixstowe. It will also allow
4731-498: The same time the station was reduced to just a single platform and the 1898 line from there towards the docks was closed. In February 1975 there were three freightliner trains running to the docks on weekdays and two on Saturdays. Two of these went to Parkeston which also had a freightliner terminal, to be formed into longer trains whilst the other train went direct to Stratford and Willesden in North London. Steel coil traffic
4814-524: The second track along the branch again failed to materialise due to the outbreak of World War II . Fewer through trains were run from London than before World War I, but from 1929 until 1939 there was a regular 'Eastern Belle' Pullman service . This train had been operating as the 'Clacton Pullman' but in 1929 was rescheduled to run from London to different LNER resorts in East Anglia resorts each weekday, which resulted in it coming to Felixstowe once
4897-487: The station name and some trains now continued beyond Westerfield to the main Ipswich station. This allowed better connections with trains on the main line, but that station, like Derby Road, was outside the commercial centre of the town. People living on the eastern side of the town generally preferred to use Derby Road when travelling to Felixstowe and the station could be very busy on sunny weekends with day trippers to Felixstowe Beach and Felixstowe Pier . They could reach
4980-507: The station on the Ipswich Tramway which terminated outside the entrance. Consequently, many trains from Felixstowe turned around here instead of continuing to Ipswich. The station was rebuilt with a second platform in 1891. An accelerated diesel-powered service was introduced to the branch on 15 June 1959. Orwell station was closed, but the journey time from Ipswich to Felixstowe Town was reduced from 35 to 24 minutes, which allowed
5063-406: The station opened it had a single platform on the north side of the line (despite the town centre being on the other side). Sidings on both side of the line were accessed from the Felixstowe end of the station; a two-arch bridge carried the road over the line at the other end. A passing loop was added in 1891 which allowed another platform to be added on the south side of the line where a signal box
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#17327757090365146-421: The station. Both up and down Felixstowe trains today share the up platform with East Suffolk Line trains towards Ipswich; the down platform is used by East Suffolk Line services to Woodbridge and beyond. When the Felixstowe line first opened the trains terminated in another track on the southern side of the up platform, alongside which is the old Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company building, now no longer used by
5229-426: The time and the two trains collided at relatively low speed resulting in 12 injuries. The investigation was undertaken by Lt Colonel P G Donop for the Board of Trade . After interviewing all the staff involved (train crew, signalman and station master) concluded that the fault lay with the driver (which he readily admitted) who had passed the signal at danger. The locomotives involved were GER 474 (a GER Class T19 ) on
5312-529: The town around this time including the luxury Felix Hotel on the sea front in 1903 which, in 1919, was purchased by the GER and operated as a railway hotel until it was sold in 1952. A promenade was built along the seafront in 1903 and a pleasure pier opened in 1905. Lord Claud Hamilton , the Chairman of the GER, was invited to open the new Spa Pavilion in 1909. The developing resort was by now served by direct trains from London Liverpool Street station . In 1905
5395-460: The typical Monday-Saturday service at Derby Road was one train in each direction each hour. The line also carries substantial freight traffic to and from the Port of Felixstowe operated by Freightliner , DB Cargo and GB Railfreight but there are no sidings nowadays at Derby Road. 52°03′04″N 1°10′59″E / 52.051°N 1.183°E / 52.051; 1.183 Felixstowe Branch Line The Felixstowe branch line
5478-411: The work was completed by May 2019 and saw changes to the infrastructure at Trimley station where trains from the Felixstowe direction could now access the disused platform road and the establishment of a double track as far as a new junction called Gun Lane Junction just over a mile west of Trimley station. Both lines can be worked bi-directionally and with the increase in freight traffic that resulted from
5561-577: The years. Up trains are those going to Ipswich and down trains are those towards Felixstowe. At the end of 1967 there were 2 "Mini-Liner" trains from Felixstowe Freightliner Terminal to Harwich where they were combined with other Freightliner wagons for the remainder of their journey. By 1977 there were 2 regular trains working via Harwich, one to and from Coatbridge near Glasgow and the other to and from Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. A third train ran directly to and from Stratford in London. By 1986 this had grown to 12 to 13 trains each way each day, and
5644-424: Was a prohibited area and the local population was encouraged to leave the area, hotels were converted into military hospitals, and additional sidings were laid in the docks to handle the increased freight traffic. It is known that a 9.2" coastal howitzer was based in the area between 1914 and 1915. Its precise location is unknown but believed to be in the pier station area. In 1923 the Great Eastern Railway became
5727-412: Was also operating over the branch at this date as one of these trains was recorded hitting the level crossing gates at Trimley on 7 February 1975. Freight traffic to Derby Road continued into the 1980s serving a domestic coal depot and a scrap yard. Rail traffic to Cranes finished in mid-1970s and to Ransome, Sims and Jefferies in 1980. The station buildings at Felixstowe were converted to shops after
5810-499: Was amalgamated and OOCL became a 25% shareholder. In June 1994, Hutchison Whampoa's Hutchison International Port Holdings bought out Orient Overseas International's 25% stake in Felixstowe for £50m. On 21 August 2022, the first strike in thirty years occurred when about 1,900 Unite members walked out in a dispute over pay. The port has its own Port of Felixstowe Police , fire , and ambulance services. The port has two main container terminals, Trinity and Landguard , as well as
5893-426: Was built in 1941 and still exists at Levington and the top part of the building used to slide back to allow the gun to fire. The three LNER C14 Class locomotives that were based at Felixstowe (numbers 6123, 6128 and 6130) were put into store at Westerfield for most of the year so that traffic could be concentrated into heavier trains behind larger locomotives. Passenger trains were withdrawn from Felixstowe Pier; it
5976-483: Was granted for this scheme on 19 July 1875 under the name of the Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company. Two years later the name was changed to the Felixstowe Railway and Dock Company when a new Act authorised the construction of a dock at Languard Common close to the pier with an access channel and railway lines. The railway was opened on 1 May 1877. Starting from Westerfield railway station , it served stations at Derby Road (Ipswich) , Orwell (built primarily to serve
6059-543: Was introduced in 1907 with a single stop at Colchester . Traffic increased to such a degree that in August 1912 powers were obtained by the railway company to double the line from Westerfield to Felixstowe Town. The railway had been built wide enough for this back in 1877 except for the Spring Road Viaduct in Ipswich which would need to be rebuilt. This work did not happen as World War I broke out. Felixstowe
6142-401: Was maintained to passenger standard in case a service to there is resumed in the future. Electrification was again considered as most Freightliner trains were by then being worked by electric locomotives to Ipswich where they had to be changed to diesel for the short trip to Felixstowe, but the cost of this could not be justified. The work cost £8,000,000 and was completed by June 1999. In 2008
6225-591: Was next to the main venue for the games. In 2011 Network Rail submitted plans for a new double track curve at Ipswich to be known as the Bacon Factory Curve. This avoided the necessity of any train running between Felixstowe and the Ely Line having to reverse in Upper Yard. Work started early in 2013 and was completed in March 2014 with the first train running on 24 March 2014 This is one of
6308-506: Was purchased by the P&;O Group in 1987. Felixstowe is owned by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group and has always been privately owned. In 1951, Gordon Parker, an agricultural merchant, bought the Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company, which at the time was handling only grain and coal. In 1976, Felixstowe was bought by European Ferries . In June 1991, P&O sold Felixstowe to Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong for £90m. Walton terminal
6391-469: Was reopened on 3 June 1946. In 1948 the LNER became the Eastern Region of British Railways . The docks were badly silted after the war and were damaged further by the fatal flood on 1 February 1953. Passenger trains to Felixstowe Pier had been withdrawn completely from 2 July 1951. The British Railways Modernisation Plan of 1955 proposed to electrify the branch in connection with similar work on
6474-441: Was reported that the new service had increased the number of passengers carried by 70%. A further change was introduced on 2 November 1959 when daily services were withdrawn between Felixstowe Town and Felixstowe Beach, thereafter they were run only during the summer until the end of the 1967 season when it closed never to reopen. Earlier that year the branch had been converted to "Pay Train" operation, with all fares being collected by
6557-424: Was running trains through to Ipswich. An additional station was opened at Trimley on 1 May 1891. Three years later the old Felixstowe engine shed near the Beach station was reopened as a carriage painting depot; about 2,000 carriages were painted here each year until it was destroyed by a fire in the 1930s. On 13 July 1891 Princess Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , wife of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and
6640-558: Was set up under an Act of Parliament , the Felixstowe Railway and Pier Act 1875, and so is one of the few limited companies in the UK that do not have the word "Limited" in their name. Much of the land on which it sits is owned by Trinity College, Cambridge , which in the 1930s bought some land near Felixstowe which included a dock that was too small to be included in the National Dock Labour Scheme . In 1967, it set up Britain's first container terminal for £3.5m in
6723-613: Was situated. More sidings were added over the years, including ones serving coal merchants and a scrap yard. Today both platforms are still in use. The station offices on the eastbound platform are still standing but unused; on the westbound platform there is a waiting shelter. When the railway opened in 1877 there were six trains to and from Felixstowe and four to and from Westerfield. By 1939 this had increased to 20 Felixstowe services, most of which continued through to Ipswich. In 1973 this had been reduced to just 13 trains each way, all of which now ran through to Ipswich. As of December 2023
6806-471: Was the boundary between the branch and the lines of the dock company. This was closed in 1928 and replaced by a ground frame. When a train ran down to the pier it needed the signalman from Felixstowe Beach to accompany it to operate the signals. In 1969 the section from Felixstowe towards the dock was converted to staff and ticket working so to provide more flexibility to cope with the increasing number of freight trains. The remodelling of Felixstowe in 1970 saw
6889-471: Was thrown 40 yards (37 m) over the level crossing and ended up on the down platform . The locomotive was reported to have had a history of boiler problems although in the official report the Boiler Foreman at Ipswich was blamed. The victims were buried in Ipswich cemetery and both their gravestones have a likeness of a Y14 locomotive carved onto them. On 19 July 1933, a signalling error caused
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