Railway 200 is a year-long celebration marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway and how it has shaped national life. The anniversary commemorates the launch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.
Railway 200 events are taking place across Norfolk and East Anglia, particularly at heritage railways, to mark this significant year.
2025 is a momentous year for the whole railway industry and for the North Norfolk Railway in particular as Railway 200 coincides with their own 50th Anniversary.
There is no mainline train station at Wells-next-the-Sea. The old train station linking Wells to Fakenham closed in 1964. The closest train stations are at Sheringham (17 miles) and King’s Lynn (30 miles). Slightly further afield is Norwich (34 miles).
Find out more about Train Travel in Norfolk.
The Bittern Line (run by Greater Anglia) connects the city with the coast, running from Norwich to Sheringham, where it terminates. The journey travels through beautiful North Norfolk scenery and takes approximately an hour.
The terminus at Sheringham is just across the road from the original Sheringham Station, home to the superbly restored North Norfolk Railway (the ‘Poppy Line’) where steam and diesel locomotives take passengers from Sheringham to Holt.
At Sheringham (opposite the NNR Station) you can catch the Coasthopper bus (CH1) to Wells-next-the-Sea which will drop you off at The Buttlands. The journey takes around 45 minutes. The bus continues along the North Norfolk coastline all the way to Hunstanton.
The Bittern Ranger ticket offers one day’s unlimited travel on the Bittern line, taking you from Norwich to the coastal towns of Cromer and Sheringham, and other stops along the way including the northern part of the Norfolk Broads.
Dogs can travel with you free of charge provided they do not occupy a seat.
Plan Your Journey on the Bittern Line. Times and prices are available from Greater Anglia.
Explore all the stops on the Bittern Line (pdf file).
The main train service for King’s Lynn is Great Northern which has a direct connection to London King’s Cross via Ely and Cambridge.
At King’s Lynn you can catch the Coastliner bus service (route 36), to Wells-next-the-Sea which will drop you off at The Buttlands. The journey takes nearly 2 hours.
The Coastliner service is operated by Lynx and runs seven days a week. It picks up and drops off at King’s Lynn Bus Station, a 5 minute walk from the train station.
Visit Trainline or National Rail for train tickets to and from King’s Lynn.
The North Norfolk Railway, affectionately known as the ‘Poppy Line’, is a heritage steam railway that runs between Sheringham and Holt via Weybourne. The scenery is stunning as you travel along the coast and through the countryside.
It is called the ‘Poppy Line’ after the eminent theatre critic, poet and travel writer Clement Scott coined the term ‘Poppyland’ in 1883. He visited the area around Sheringham, where poppies grow in abundance, and wrote about it in the Daily Telegraph.
Lovingly-restored steam and heritage diesel trains transport passengers (including dogs) on a 5.5 mile journey between the two towns. Travel time between Sheringham and Holt is 25 minutes (one way). All Day Rover tickets allow you to hop on and off all day and explore the restored stations.
Operated almost entirely by volunteers, the line is East Anglia’s premier heritage railway.
The North Norfolk Railway is celebrating its 50th year in 2025.