The Great Eastern Linear Park

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 26 Jul 2022

St Margaret's road bridge from the Yarmouth side. The park runs from near Fieldview Drive, north of the postal delivery office in the south to Yarmouth Road near the Ormiston Denes Academy in the north and just over one mile (1.75 km) in length. The park is the remains of the old Lowestoft to Gt Yarmouth railway track and is very long but also very narrow for a park. It is in a cutting and there are few locations for activities, there is limited lighting and a lack of visibility over or along it. The park is generally used as a transit route rather than a place to spend time and enjoy. It does however provide a key wildlife corridor through the town. History: Built in 1903, the Lowestoft to Yarmouth Railway ran from Great Yarmouth Beach Station across the Bure Railway Bridge and five-span Breydon Viaduct, serving stations at Yarmouth Southtown, Gorleston North, Gorleston On Sea, Hopton, Corton, Lowestoft North and Lowestoft Central. By 1970 the route was deemed uneconomic to run and despite a local effort to keep the line running as a tourist attraction, full closure came on May 4 that year, the final passenger train running on May 2.

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