The reinstatement of double track, which was removed in the 1980s, at Beccles station means passengers on the Lowestoft to Ipswich route can now take advantage of an hourly service along the increasingly busy line.
The £4 million scheme, which was jointly funded by Network Rail (£3m) and Suffolk County Council (£1m), has seen a long loop installed, allowing trains to pass at Beccles station and increasing services from two hourly to hourly.
Prior to this, as a result of the single track between Halesworth and Oulton Broad, trains could not pass each other for more than 16 miles meaning it was impossible to increase the service frequency.
Network Rail is also looking at how it can reduce the number of level crossings on the route which have also limited capacity due to trains having to pass them at reduced speed.
Mark Bee, Suffolk County Council leader and Beccles councillor, said: “It will open up the east coast in a way that has not been for some time and I personally am looking forward to using it on my trips to Ipswich, as you can get more work done on a train than in the car.”
Beccles station, which once had two signal boxes, numerous sidings and large station buildings, was the junction for the long-closed branches to Tivetshall and Yarmouth.
