The award-winning Bittern Line which promotes the Norwich to Sheringham rail line celebrated 10 years of the Community Rail Partnership (CRP) on Friday 29 June 2007, when ‘one’ railway and representatives of Norfolk County Council and the Bittern Line CRP unveiled a specially branded Class 156 No. 156417 marking the 10th anniversary of the successful Partnership.

The train was unveiled at Norwich station at 11.30 the set also features new seat covers, carpets and Bittern Line table designs, as well as the branding to highlight the 10th anniversary of the line which has seen an unprecedented 190% growth in passenger numbers over the past 10 years!

Peter Twiss, Chairman of the Bittern Line and Councillor Heather Bolt, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Rail Policy Group officially welcomed the train at Norwich station on the 10th birthday of the Partnership which was launched on 29 June 1997.

Clive Morris, Business Director, Rural for ‘one’ railway said:"We are delighted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Bittern Line Partnership by dedicating one of our local trains in a special Bittern Line birthday livery. It is especially appropriate that our partners from Norfolk County Council are joining us for this celebration, as the County Council has been a real driving force behind the success of the Partnership which in 10 years has transformed the route into one of the most successful branch lines in the country.”

Councillor Heather Bolt, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Rail Policy Group said:"As the leading partner in the Bittern Line, Norfolk County Council would like to thank the train operators who have immeasurably improved the services for the public since the conception of the Partnership. In the last 10 years we have seen many improvements at stations, complete re-signalling of the railway, with a total investment of over £15m by infrastructure owners to improve the route for future generations.
Councillor Bolt continued: “The Partnership has quite rightly won National and International awards for its work with the local community, and is nationally acknowledged as a sample of best practice in a Rail Partnership. By working in Partnership with the railway industry we can achieve far more than by working alone and this is a true example of how it can makes things better for all. Norfolk County Council will continue to work to improve access to public transport for the benefit of the whole County."