Framlingham Branch facts for kids

The Framlingham Branch was a railway line in Britain. It was about six miles (10 km) long and had a single track. This line connected Wickham Market railway station on the East Suffolk Line to the town of Framlingham. Along the way, it stopped at three other stations: Parham, Hacheston Halt, and Marlesford.

Building the Railway

Work on the Framlingham Branch railway was approved in 1854. At the same time, another railway line was being built from Halesworth to Woodbridge. The Framlingham Branch officially opened for trains on 1 June 1859. This new line helped people and goods travel more easily to and from Framlingham.

Who Owned the Line?

Over the years, the Framlingham Branch was owned by different railway companies.

• In 1923, it became part of a larger company called the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). This was a big railway company that operated many lines across eastern England.
• Then, in 1948, all the railways in Britain became part of a new national company called British Railways. So, the Framlingham Branch was then run by British Railways.

Why the Line Closed

The Framlingham Branch was very busy and well-used until the 1930s. However, during this time, more and more people started using cars and buses. This meant fewer passengers were riding the trains. Because of this change, the railway line eventually closed.

• Passenger trains stopped running on 1 November 1952.
• The line continued to carry goods, like farm products, for a few more years.
• Finally, the line closed completely for freight services on 19 April 1963.

Images for kids

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  The former railway station at Framlingham, after the line closed.