A consultation exercise in under way on what the next train operator of the Greater Aglia franchise should offer.

An ESTA working party has been considering what our response should be, and will present an interim report at our spring meeting on Saturday March 13th in the URC Church Hall, Quay Street, Halesworth.

Their initial thoughts are that all East Suffolk Line services should be operated by 3-coach diesel trains on an hourly frequency with some through trains to London.

This does depend on a loop at Beccles (which is not yet guaranted) and we want to see lifts and other measures to make it easier to change at Ipswich. Latest indications are that the lifts will not be ready in time for the December 2010 timetable. We have impressed on Network Rail the importance of this facility.

The meeting at Halesworth starts at 14.00 and will also be addressed by Councillor Guy MacGregor. All are welcome.