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Railway Closure

1961 , Leiston (Suffolk)

Cat no. 269

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BBC East report on the planned closure of the Leiston to Ipswich Branch Railway and the reactions of local people

Reporter Ted Chamberlain visited the Suffolk village of Leiston to gauge reaction to the announced closure of the Leiston to Ipswich Branch Railway. The opening shots are of a derelict railway, showing a derelict station, line and wagons, on the Midland and Great Northern Railway. There are shots of Saxmundham Station and a sequence showing Aldeburgh. There are scenes showing the town and the beach as well as shots of the signal box. The next shot shows the construction of Sizewell Nuclear Power Station Heavy earth moving plant is at work on the foundations.In Leiston there are shots of the street. Ted Chamberlain talks to the Clerk to the Council, Stanley Bond, who condemns the closure of the line. He explains that the bus journey to Ipswich, where many Leiston people work and study, takes two hours. Mrs. Purdy, woman of Leiston, raises the issue of road safety from increased traffic. There are shots of an interior of a public house. Ted Chamberlain interviews some of the customers. One stresses that the railways are a nationalised industry offering a service to which the people of Leiston were entitled. Mr. Stornaway, the publican, points out that the early morning train and the evening train back are always full. More people are interviewed at Leiston Station as they leave the evening train.To finish the report, Ted Chamberlain visits the private railway at Garrett's in Leiston where the engine Sirapite is at work. Chamberlain round up the report by stressing that many will be inconvenienced by the closure of the line

Featured Buildings

Leiston Town Hall; Leiston Railway Station; Saxmundham Railway Station

Other Places

Aldeburgh; Saxmundham; Sizewell

Background Information

The Railway closed on 12th September, 1966.

Manifestations

Railway Closure

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