Now the new and improved station will feature an original 1950s interior and is hoping to attract younger generations to visit
An old railway station is reopening for the first time in 60 years.
Corpusty Station has been abandoned for over six decades, but now is set to reopen after restorations have taken place. The station, a 40 minute drive from Norwich, with a 100-metre long platform in Norfolk has been closed since 1969, first opened in 1883 and provided transport between Melton Constable and Yarmouth Beach.
It closed as part of the Beeching Cuts which saw a number of closures of hundreds of railway lines and stations across the UK in the 1960s and became vandalised over the years. Small stations were closed down to try and improve efficiency across the UK rail network, leading to local and rural areas losing their rail links.
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Now the new and improved station will feature an original 1950s interior and is hoping to attract younger generations with activities such as workshops, tours and educational programmes. There will also be events and exhibitions to show the history of the station too.
There is also a hope to add a vintage carriage at the station for a dining experience and it comes after volunteers have raised funds over the past decade to reopen the station and restore the structure and create a new space for the community.
According to North Norfolk News, David Bates, one of the volunteers, said: “It’s a lovely building, and it’s very much part of the social history of the area. We want people to come, see the history, and enjoy it as a community space.”
However since the 90s, smaller railways have reopened due to increased interest in transport and passenger numbers increasing, and there will be an opening day for Corpusty Station on September 20 from 2-4pm. In the village, visitors can also head to The Duke’s Head, a local pub to grab a drink and enjoy some live music.
It comes as Jersey Western Railway are hoping to bring trains back on the Channel Island, making it easier for people travelling around. JWR has expressed interest which will provide “affordable, comfortable and sustainable transport for Jersey”, and the trains will follow most of the same original routes.
It would run from its capital St Helier with branches to both La Corbière and the airport. Then in the long run will roll out a dedicated beach service, a direct service from Trenton Square to Jersey Airport, and even a steam train.
There will be free passes for the over-65s and people with a medical or mobility issues, but while there are no solid plans in place, according to the BBC, Alexander Sparrow, founder of JWR, said if the plans were backed, trains would run every seven-and-a-half minutes with a journey costing £4.90.