Railfuture members wondering about the Ipswich meeitng in June are advised that the branch committee decided to cancel the meeting because of a problem that prevented editions of the Rail East newsletter arriving in time to give adequate notice of the date and venue of the meeting.

The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has produced a new guide to promote rail services in Suffolk. It provides information about the National Express East Anglia train services and places to visit for a great day out, such as Sutton Hoo.

On 6th July the Friends of Brandon Station will be holding a a car boot sale in Brandon station car park in order to raise funds. This is their first boot sale and they hope it will become a regular event.

RAIL STATIONS

Needham Market station revitalised to improve passenger experience

National Express East Anglia's rural buildings has carried out renovation work at Needham Market station (between Stowmarket and Ipswich) over a number of weeks to improve the ambience at the station. Work included repainting of the building windows and doors plus the fencing, redecoration of the subway and improved lighting. Completion of the work was announced by NXEA in early June.

PRESERVED RAILWAYS

Mid-Norfolk Railway engineering train reaches Hoe level crossing

The Mid-Norfolk achieved another milestone on 4th May when a works train reached Hoe, which is about two miles north of Dereham station, the furthest north that a train has been since 1989 when British Rail closed the line. This visit was to test the quality of the track in preparation for a return in a few weeks' time in order to rebuild the level crossing at Hoe.