Norfolk coast town Great Yarmouth has welcomed a new summer daytime bus service linking its railway station with the seafront, town centre and a holiday park.

The station is located some way from the beach and town centre, so the bus provides a convenient alternative to a long walk.

The Our Bus Wherry 100 service, which began on 24 July, will run every half hour on every day until Sunday 3 September.

Single fares are:

• adults £2
• children aged 5-19 £1.50
• under 5s free.

English National Bus Passes are accepted, and various discounted daily and family tickets are available from the driver.

The service is operated by Our Hire Ltd, which is based in Acle, halfway between Great Yarmouth and Norwich, and is sponsored by the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership.

The Wherry Lines’ sponsorship of the service includes printed timetables and posters which are promoting the service around the town, at Norwich station and at locations along the Wherry Lines rail routes, including Acle, Brundall and Reedham.

The bus service ran as a trial last summer, and is aimed at people visiting the area either for the day or for their summer holiday. It connects with other bus routes to destinations around Norfolk’s Coast.. The circular route includes stops at Vauxhall Holiday Park, Britannia Pier, Market Gates Bus Station, Trafalgar Road, Marine Parade and St Nicholas Road.

Chris Mitchell, Chair of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership welcomed the commencement of the service; “The Wherry Lines are delighted to have worked with Our Hire Ltd to help promote this service enabling rail passengers arriving in Great Yarmouth to reach key destinations within the town and providing an opportunity to connect with onward bus travel around the coast. With Great Yarmouth station being some distance from both the town centre and seafront we are pleased that the public are finding this a helpful aid to their onward travel and connectivity.”

Jerry Cushing, Owner of Our Hire Ltd which is running the new service said, “Following a successful pilot in 2022, we are pleased to be operating the Our Bus Wherry 100 service again this year and to have teamed up with the Wherry Lines to ensure that passengers arriving or departing the town by train can enjoy frequent connections with the railway station as well as reaching some of the towns important tourist attractions.”

Stephen Hewitt from the East Norfolk Travel Users Association said;  “We are very pleased to see the launch of this direct bus service linking Great Yarmouth railway station with the town centre and  seafront as it provides an opportunity for both those coming to the town on holiday to reach their destinations easily as well as providing communities in Norwich and along the Wherry Lines to utilise both the railway and connecting bus for a great day out on the coast.”

James Reeve, Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, said “Greater Anglia is pleased to be supporting this initiative helping to connect rail passengers at Great Yarmouth station with locations around the town. Many visitors arrive by train and being able to offer a seamless travel experience for onward journeys from the station is very important for our customers and helps to showcase Great Yarmouth as a great holiday destination.”