New images show roof reinstatement at Lowestoft rail station

Improved facilities feature as part of proposals to create a quality multi-use concourse space that could see a roof return to Lowestoft station for the first time in more than 30 years.

The images show how the town’s railway station could look with a reinstated concourse roof enabling better facilities for rail passengers and creating of what is hoped will be a tourist attraction.

A view from the platforms of what the proposed station roof could look like at Lowestoft. Image: Wherry Lines CRP/Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

The Lowestoft Central Project and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP) commissioned leading railway architects to produce the designs which draw upon the station’s Victorian heritage and similar railway structures in the region.

The designs show a double apex roof over the main station concourse with additional canopies situated over the station’s three platforms.

A view of how a canopy on platforms 3 and 4 could look at Lowestoft rail station. Image: Wherry Lines CRP/Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

For a number of years the Lowestoft Central Project and Wherry Lines CRP have worked with rail industry partners to rejuvenate and restore Lowestoft station.

Initiatives have included the restoration of the former Parcels Office into a public exhibition and meeting space, events and giant interpretation panels, reopening doorways closed for over 50 years to better connect the station to the town centre and opening a volunteer-led Community Rail shop and tourist information office in 2020.

The original station roof is believed to have been badly damaged by fire shortly after the current station opened in 1855 and was rebuilt using large Baltic timber beams.

Rain pours through the roof at Lowestoft rail station in years gone by. Image: David Pearce (Image: David Pearce)

Despite being propped up in 1938 the structure survived more than 130 years despite near destruction during both world wars.

But by the late 1980s parts of the roof needed substantial refurbishment and eventually British Rail decided to demolish the roof in 1992.

Demolition of the roof at Lowestoft rail station. Image: David Pearce (Image: David Pearce)

Fundraising has taken place over several years to enable the new roof design concepts to be produced.

Now, the next stage is to raise further funds for additional work to create full architectural plans which can then be fully costed before potential large-scale funding opportunities can be investigated.

‘A tourist attraction in its own right’

Chris Mitchell, chairman of the Wherry Lines CRP, said: “We are at the beginning of a very long journey in our efforts to reinstate a roof at Lowestoft station.

“Our plan is to create a self-supporting structure that fully complements the remaining Victorian architecture, provides much-needed shelter for rail passengers and has a dual purpose in making the station an attraction in itself.”

A view of what the station concourse looking west at Lowestoft rail station could look like. Image: Wherry Lines CRP/Lowestoft Central Project (Image: Wherry Lines CRP)

The Wherry Lines CRP and Lowestoft Central Project team studied other stations around the country, including Tynemouth where regular events take place attracting thousands of people by rail and in turn boosting the local economy.

A reinstated roof will also provide additional protection for original station buildings and potentially serve as a catalyst in attracting sympathetic regeneration of the former buffet building on the eastern side.

Martin Halliday, for the Lowestoft Central Project, said: “Over the past 10 years we have worked hard to rejuvenate much of the station.

“Should we be able to take our plans for the roof further, we believe it will not only provide much needed cover for passengers, it will also allow us to further extend our community work and by making the station a tourist attraction in its own right, be able to host a variety of events attracting visitors to the town supporting both the local economy and driving regeneration in the area.”

The concept proposal, produced by Fain Redfern in association with Oxford Architects, provides for a self-supporting structure that has minimum impact on the historic original buildings.

The scheme has been developed following the historic architectural designs used by the Great Eastern Railway at terminal stations such as Southend Victoria and Felixstowe.

The Lowestoft Central Project and Wherry Lines CRP are currently in discussions with train operator Greater Anglia about the creation of enhanced public toilet facilities for Lowestoft station and other improvements that could bring more underutilised buildings back into use during 2026.

The proposed roof and canopy images will be on public display at Lowestoft station at the end of January.