The Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) which promotes the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft rail lines unveiled a Class 156 No. 156407 branded in the Wherry Lines CRP theme of  ‘Ride the Wherry Lines’ in a ceremony held at Great Yarmouth station on Wednesday 25 July.

The Class 156 train is rebranded with Wherry Lines logos and decals to promote the success of the Partnership, when National Express Group’s ‘one’ railway and representatives of Norfolk County Council and the Wherry Lines CRP unveiled the specially branded Class 156 local train just in time for this year’s Lowestoft Seafront Airshow taking place on 26 and 27 July. The Airshow days are traditionally some of the busiest on the route as thousands of visitors use the Wherry Lines trains to visit Lowestoft.

The '156' is part of the ‘one’ railway fleet operating on the Wherry Lines also features new seat covers, carpets and Wherry Lines table designs, jointly funded by Norfolk County Council and ‘one’ railway.

Peter Lawrence, Chairman of the Wherry Lines said: “As we see the continual growth in passenger numbers using local rail services, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership are delighted to play their part in promoting and expanding rail services between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.  We believe that passenger numbers on local rail services will continue to increase and bring benefits to the local community. There is a good future for local rail travel.”

Clive Morris, Business Director, Rural for ‘one’ railway said: "We are delighted to celebrate the success of the Wherry Lines Partnership by dedicating one of our local trains in a special livery. The support of Norfolk County Council in promoting the Wherry Lines’ train services with initiatives such as this continues to improve the attractiveness of rail travel, and will help in raising, still further, the profile of these important routes.”