Aldeburgh branch line

[1] The line was proposed by Samuel Morton Peto and supported by local agricultural machine manufacturer Richard Garrett.

The first station is Leiston (4+1⁄2 miles) which, in addition to having goods sidings, also had the branch line to the south serving the Richard Garrett & Sons works.

The terminus of the line at Aldeburgh consisted of a single platform with an attractive overall roof – quite an unusual feature for the Great Eastern.

In 1922, there were direct services to Aldeburgh from London Liverpool Street Station (journey time 3 hours 33 minutes).

[1] The final passenger train was worked over the branch by British Rail Metro-Cammell diesel multiple units numbers 79066 and 79282.

[10] In September 2011, Suffolk County Council investigated the possibility of running train services between Saxmundham and Leiston Stations using a Parry People Mover light railcar.

Up until 1914, there was a good trade in fish, but when Aldeburgh harbour became blocked by shingle banks this traffic ceased.

On 18 October 2010, the British government announced that Sizewell was one of the eight sites it considered suitable for future nuclear power stations.

During this time, the existing offloading gantry at the end of the current branch will be mothballed, but brought back into use when all construction works are completed.

As mentioned Aldeburgh had a small engine shed which was a sub-shed of Ipswich and used to stable the branch locomotive overnight.