Suffolk & Norfolk: New Rail Firm Reveals Plans

13 December 2011, 17:00 | Updated: 13 December 2011, 17:09

Heart's been finding out what rail passengers in Suffolk and Norfolk can expect when Abellio starts operating here in February 2012.

The Dutch firm will take over from National Express East Anglia after winning the 29-month contract.

It is promising more reliable, safer, cleaner trains, punctual services and improvements at stations across the region.

That includes:

    * Trains will have a deep clean ahead of the Olympics
    * 141 stations will get 'refreshed'
    * A new cycle point at Chelmsford
    * More parking - at least a further 600 across the region
    * At least 20 stations will have points for electric cars
    * An additional 92 carriages to help ease over-crowding

It is also looking at bringing in mobile ticketing and 'print at home' options - like you can do with plane tickets - to make it easier to buy train tickets.

There have also been campaigns, such as Norwich in 90 and Ipswich in 60, as well as campaigns by local MPs to get faster trains on the Norwich, Ipswich to London line. However, Ruud Haket who is from Abellio, is telling Heart we won't see that happen in during this contract:

Ruud Haket From Abellio Speaks To Heart

The company will be responsible for around 3,000 staff and says numbers could be increased slightly to provided additional security on trains to make people feel safer and catch fare dodgers.