Ipswich is served by train operator National Express, and has its main railway station on Burrell Road, a 10-15 minute walk from the town centre, or a short bus or taxi ride away.
Buses run regularly to the town centre and full information is displayed in the timetable display unit at the bus stop on the railway station forecourt. Taxis are also available from the forecourt.
The station is on the InterCity main line to London, and has 3 direct services per hour running to the capital Monday - Saturday daytimes, as well as direct links to Colchester, Stratford, Bury St.Edmunds, Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Norwich, Felixstowe, Lowestoft and a large number of other places as well.
It is possible to get to almost all major towns and cities in the UK from Ipswich with no more than two changes of train (in most cases only one). Ipswich also has another, smaller, unstaffed railway station called 'Derby Road', on the Felixstowe branch line.
For railway timetable information and general enquiries:
National Rail Enquiry Service on: (08457) 484950
Website: www.nationalrail.co.uk (opens in a new window)
National Express Customer Services can be contacted on: (08456) 504090
Website: www.nationalexpress.com (opens in a new window)
East Suffolk Line Community Rail Partnership (ESCRP)
Ipswich Borough Council is a member of the ESCRP, a group consisting of local authorities, train operator 'one' and the East Suffolk Travellers Association, set up to promote the railway line between Ipswich and Lowestoft, and now including the line between Ipswich and Felixstowe. The ESCRP has funded improvements to stations on the line, and pays for flower displays and other improvements. It has also commissioned technical work and surveys to help lobby for the installation of the 'Beccles Loop', which if implemented would allow for an hourly service between Ipswich and Lowestoft.
The ESCRP have also produced a line guide showing the timetables and fares for the lines, together with details of things to see and do along the line. The ESCRP have also produced a walks booklet showing details of walks that can be taken from station to station on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line. Both of these publications are available FREE OF CHARGE from local tourist information centres and libraries, or upon request from:
ESCRP
12 Kemps Lane
BECCLES
Suffolk
NR34 9XA
Or you can download it from: www.eastsuffolklinewalks.co.uk (opens in a new window)
Why not take a trip on the East Suffolk Line and visit any one of a number of great local churches, pubs, shops and other scenic attractions, or take a walk from one station to another and get the train back? There are a number of excellent value tickets available (details in the line guide).
Website: www.eastsuffolkline.com (opens in a new window)