'Norwich in 90': New faster services between Norwich and London to start in May

Greater Anglia has announced that its first 'Norwich in 90' services will start in the spring.

As parts of the improvements, four extra services will be laid on between Norwich, Ipswich and London Liverpool Street on weekdays and Saturdays.

Fastest journey times between Norwich and London will be cut to 90 minutes, while it will take around 55 minutes to get from Ipswich to the capital.

The first services are due to start on Monday 20 May, with the trains leaving Norwich at 9am and 5pm, and departing London Liverpool Street at 11am and 7pm.

It's expected that the new services will shave 12 minutes off the current fastest journey between Norwich and London, while journey times between Ipswich and Liverpool Street would be reduced by four minutes.

However, the trains won't stop anywhere in Essex and they will also miss out other stations on the Norwich to London mainline such as Diss and Stowmarket.

Services between Ipswich and the capital would take 55 minutes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

“We’re very excited to be making these improvements from the start of our May timetable," Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director said.

“For many years, stakeholders, including MPs and businesses, have been calling for faster journey times between East Anglia and London and now we’re launching the first quicker services with our new May timetable.

“Faster journey times and thousands of extra seats will provide a boost to people who live and work in East Anglia, as well as supporting the regional economy.

“These improvements will be followed in the summer by the first of our brand-new trains coming into service, so it really is going to be a great year for Greater Anglia customers.”

Bosses at Greater Anglia have also revealed that there will be additional services between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London Liverpool Street over the summer as well as between Norwich and Lowestoft, Ipswich and Peterborough, Ipswich and Felixstowe, and Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

Commuters have also been promised "slightly quicker" Sunday services between Norwich and London when the new timetable comes into force on May 19.