1877
Felixstowe Railway & Pier Company opens first station
On the 1st of May, 1877, Felixstowe’s first station opened, near what is now the Port of Felixstowe.
Over time, it expanded to connect to Ipswich and Trimley. In 1879, a contract was signed with the Great Eastern Railway and they took over the running of the line. By1898, the G.E.R. built the Felixstowe Town Station, boosting the tourism industry in the town, and in the early 1900s Felixstowe promenade and pier developed. The town’s population expanded rapidly – from 673 in 1861, to 3,507 in 1891.
Today, the railway remains busy, transporting passengers to Ipswich in just 25 minutes and facilitating the movement of goods across the UK. The Port of Felixstowe is now the busiest container port in the UK and a significant local employer. Felixstowe owes much of its growth and prosperity to the enduring impact of its railway.