Líneas de barcazas

Las líneas Wherry son ramales ferroviarios en el este de Inglaterra , que conectan Norwich con Great Yarmouth y Lowestoft . Hay 14 estaciones en las líneas, incluidas las tres terminales. Forman parte de la Ruta Estratégica 7 de Network Rail , SRS 07.11, y están clasificadas como línea rural. ^{[ 1 ]}

Las líneas ferroviarias atraviesan los Broads de Norfolk y Suffolk. El nombre proviene de las barcazas de Norfolk , que desempeñaron un papel importante en el transporte de mercancías y personas alrededor de los Broads antes de que el transporte por carretera y ferrocarril se generalizara.

Los servicios de pasajeros en las líneas Wherry son operados actualmente por Greater Anglia .

La ruta fue inaugurada en 1844 por el ferrocarril Yarmouth and Norwich Railway , desde Norwich hasta Great Yarmouth , pasando por Reedham . La línea de Reedham a Lowestoft fue añadida en 1847 por Samuel Morton Peto como parte del Norfolk Railway . Finalmente, la ruta norte de Norwich a Great Yarmouth vía Acle fue añadida en 1883 por el Great Eastern Railway , inaugurada desde Breydon Junction hasta Acle el 12 de marzo y hasta Brundall el 1 de junio. ^{[ 2 ]}

El servicio típico de lunes a sábado fuera de las horas punta en las líneas Wherry es el siguiente: ^{[ nb 1 ] [ 3 ]}

In 2007, the route was designated as having community rail services as part of the Community Rail Development Strategy; this aims to increase patronage and income, improve cost control and develop a greater sense of community involvement.^[4][5]

The line from Norwich to Lowestoft is double-tracked throughout; the two branches to Great Yarmouth that diverge from Brundall, the route via Acle and from Reedham via Berney Arms, are single-tracked, although the former was once double-tracked throughout.

The Wherry Lines are not electrified, hence services are formed by bi-mode multiple units. The route has a loading gauge of W8, except between Lowestoft and Oulton Broad North where it is W6; there is a maximum line speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).

Of the lines' 14 stations, two are lightly served; these are:^[3]

• Berney Arms, which typically sees four trains call on weekdays and Saturdays, with eight on Sundays
• Buckenham, which sees two trains call on weekdays and Saturdays, with thirteen on Sundays.

At most of the stations on the Wherry Lines, service frequencies are increased during the summer months.

The signalling system was modernised in 2018–19. The line between Reedham and Great Yarmouth was closed from 20 October 2018 and was scheduled to open again in April 2019; a bus replacement service was available during the works.^[6] In January 2019, it was reported that the project was overrunning and that the line between Reedham and Great Yarmouth would not reopen in April 2019 as scheduled. No firm date was initially given as to when the line would reopen,^[7] but the Great Yarmouth-Reedham line finally reopened on 24 February 2020.^[8]

Passenger services are operated by Greater Anglia, typically using Class 755bi-mode multiple units.

• The Wherry Lines
• YARMOUTH AND NORWICH RAILWAY – Parliamentary debate – 1842 Hansard
• A Map with the locations of the stations

52°33′56″N1°33′36″E / 52.5656°N 1.5599°E / 52.5656; 1.5599