The Felixstowe to Ipswich branch line is operated by National Express East Anglia. It is a dedicated service at hourly intervals for most of the day. The timetable is based on meeting the trains to and from London. The route of 15 miles is covered in just 25 minutes with stops at Trimley, Derby Road (Ipswich) and Westerfield.

                                   Photograph by Graham Newman

Times:
Felixstowe to Ipswich			Ipswich to Felixstowe
WEEKDAYS		SUNDAYS	WEEKDAYS		SUNDAYS
Time	Notes	Time	Time	Notes	Time
0534	SX	1132 and then at 32 minutes past every hour until 2032	0504	SX	1102 and then 02 minutes past every hour until 2002
0638	SX		0604	SX
0656	SO		0627	SO
0750	SX		0713	SX
0756	SO		0727	SO
0856 and then at 56 minutes past every hour until 2056			0827 and then at 27 minutes past every hour until 2027
2256			2227

Notes
SO Saturdays only
SX Not Saturdays

On Bank Holidays, an increased Sunday service generally operates

There are no ticket offices at Felixstowe Town Station or at intermediate stations – all fares are sold by the train conductor with the ticket machine programmed to issue all walk-on tickets to most UK destinations and able to accept credit cards.
Railcard holders obtain 34% discount off most fares on production of their valid card to the Conductor.   Sadly, the Tourist Information Centre in Felixstowe no longer sells rail tickets.   For those who prefer to buy their tickets in advance, this can be done by contacting the Norwich Travel Centre on 0845 600 7245 or by visiting Ipswich Station.

Fares to Ipswich from Felixstowe - Railcard prices in brackets:

(Fares from Trimley are slightly lower than those from Felixstowe)

Single £3.20 (£2.10)

Day Return £4.60 (£3.05)

Off-peak (from 08.56) Day Return £3.80 (£2.50)

Anglia Plus One Day Ranger £13.00 (£8.60)

Saver Return to London £32.50 (£21.45)

Useful telephone numbers:

National rail enquiries 08457 48 49 50

National Express East Anglia Customer Services 0845 600 7245

National Express East Anglia Disabled persons helpline 0800 028 2878

Real Time train running information 020 7247 5488

Textphone service 0845 606 7245

Lost property 0845 600 7245

Click here to view the National Express East Anglia website to plan longer journeys, get fares and tickets and to book seats.

Your journey interests.

Felixstowe to Ipswich (15 miles)

Just four minutes after departing from Felixstowe, the first station you arrive at is Trimley. This station, although situated in the village of Trimley St. Mary serves both the villages of St. Mary and St. Martin. Take a look at the pretty station garden bordering the length of the ‘in use’ platform. This garden was resurrected by husband and wife volunteers some six years ago and is maintained by them under the Station Adoption scheme. Some five minutes later, on the left hand side, spot the building which was once Orwell Station, erected primarily for Colonel Tomline, the man who built the line in 1877. His house was just ½ mile from this point.

The next station is Derby Road on the outskirts of Ipswich.   This was once the terminus of Ipswich Tramways and brought many a resident here to board the train for Felixstowe seafront.
Just 2 minutes later we reach Spring Road Viaduct which is 80 feet hight and built with 80,000 bricks.   As the train crosses it, one has a superb view of the town to the left.

                                Spring Road Viaduct - photograph by Bryan Frost

With the arrival at Westerfield station just 5 minutes later we are back in the countryside again.   Here we join the line from Lowestoft coming in from our right.
A fast run downhill to Ipswich now ensues, passing the marshalling yard on your left where container trains from and bound for Felixstowe Docks are positioned awaiting right of way.

Ipswich to Felixstowe (15 miles)

Soon after leaving Ipswich, you will pass on your right the Marshalling Yard used by container trains to and from Felixstowe Docks where they stand awaiting right of way. The train then begins the steady climb out of Ipswich to the village of Westerfield, a distance of about 3 miles. Here, it forks right off the line to Lowestoft which it has shared so far, and heads back to Ipswich at a higher level to Derby Road on the outskirts of the town, a distance of about 2 miles. This was once the terminus of the Ipswich Tramways. This circuitous route is necessary to gain some 80 feet in height and adds 3 miles to the 12 miles road journey. Despite that, it takes only 25 minutes end to end.

The climb continues for about another half mile and then parallels the Felixstowe road. This is a long straight section of some 6 miles allowing the train to reach the line speed of 70 m.p.h. After some 10 minutes, the buildings in Trimley St. Martin appear on the left and, well before Trimley Station to your right, the cranes of the 1½ miles of quay of Felixstowe Docks, come into view.

The next station, Trimley, is well situated for the 1½ mile walk to Trimley Marshes, leased by Suffolk Wildlife Trust from the Port of Felixstowe. It is an exciting wetland reserve. At the entrance is the Information Centre. There are 3 Hides from which to watch the birdlife. There is no charge.

Immediately after leaving Trimley Station a ‘freight only’ branch line leaves to your right taking container traffic to the Port of Felixstowe’s North terminal, some 1½ miles distant. A mile or so further on, another ‘goods only’ branch line diverges to the right leading to the Port’s South terminal. Our train continues on for another mile to Felixstowe Town Station. 150 yards away is the main shopping street, Hamilton Road, named after Lord Claud Hamilton, Chairman of the former Great Eastern Railway. The railway’s arrival in Felixstowe produced rapid development as a seaside resort. Hamilton Road leads straight to the cliff top, with clear views of shipping to and from Felixstowe and Harwich. The promenade offers walks in both directions, whether west past the well-equipped Leisure Centre to the amusements end, or east through the attractive Spa Gardens. There are various buses from outside the station to help the visitor onwards towards the Nature Reserve at Landguard (Route 77), to Old Felixstowe (Route 76) and to the delightful Felixstowe Ferry hamlet at the mouth of the River Deben (Route 173/4).