Lives On The Lines

Greater Anglia and the East Anglia Community Rail Partnerships•www.greateranglia.co.uk

Take an audible journey by train and meet fascinating people living and working across our Great Anglian landscape.

We’ll explore majestic coastlines, the phenomenal wildlife of broads and fens, breathtaking cathedral cities and magical market towns, meeting the people that make East Anglia such a unique and special place to live and visit.

The Community Rail Partnerships invite you to travel six of Greater Anglia’s rural branch rail lines across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire in this audible adventure.

The railways have connected communities and counties across Britain for nearly two centuries, and that time has seen enormous innovation in the trade, work opportunities and lifestyles of the British people. Rail has tracked our lives through innovation, migration, boom and bust, and today the Greater Anglia rural branch lines connect communities here for work, days out and enjoying the beautiful East Anglian landscape.

Settle in for a listen and enjoy a journey through history, culture, art and nature…. it might just inspire a few adventures of your own!

Lives on the Lines is created on behalf of the Community Rail Partnerships with Greater Anglia.

https://www.greateranglia.co.uk

@greateranglia

Presented and produced by Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Production.

You can explore travel along the branch lines and the brilliant work of Community Rail Partnerships

https://herewardcrp.org

https://www.esscrp.org.uk

https://eastsuffolklines.co.uk

https://wherrylines.com

https://bitternline.com

Last refreshed: June 29th, 2025 at 11:05 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Folklore, Fossils and Fishing along the Bittern Line

In the final leg of our journey we uncover the secrets of Norwich, explore leisure on the water, walk in the footsteps of mammoths and uncover an age-old knitting tradition amongst fishing families. It’s all to be discovered, and so much more, along the Bittern Line. Norwich tour guide John takes us on an olfactory adventure in the market, through an art deco arcade to castle ramparts on high with stories and secrets from Norfolk’s unofficial capital. Find out how Norwich had its own great fire ...

Feb 10, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Fens, Bears and Eels along the Hereward Line

From a famous Anglo-Saxon rebel fighter, to slippery eels and a dancing bear,there’s plenty to explore along Greater Anglia’s Hereward Line. In the first episode of Lives on the Lines, the adventure begins with a railway journey across the Cambridgeshire fens. Starting in historic Peterborough, local history buff Trevor explains how generations worked to build the epic cathedral here, and what it means to be a true Peterborian. Travelling along the Hereward Line we stop at Whittlesea to meet Geo...

Feb 10, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Kings, Country and Concertos along the East Suffolk Lines

What unites romantic sea mists, Green Men, haunting musical scores and Anglo-Saxon Kings? It’s Greater Anglia’s East Suffolk Lines! Get comfy for a tour through one of England’s most magical and diverse landscapes by train. From Felixstowe pass through Ipswich and on to Melton, a rural spot on the River Deben over which Sutton Hoo presides. Excavations at this burial ground revolutionised our understanding of history, giving a precious insight into the beliefs, rituals and society of the Anglo-S...

Feb 10, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Saltwater, sails and saving nature along the Wherry Lines

Beginning our journey in Lowestoft in this episode we head North to explore the chain of lines known as the Wherry Lines. Find out about the wild animals returning to nature and “The Switzerland of Norfolk”: a paradise garden that once attracted 60,000 visitors a year to a mystery location we’ll reveal! We first stop off at the village of Somerleyton to hear about an innovative new project taking place in the grounds of Somerleyton Hall. Beginning with a rewilding scheme across the once manicure...

Feb 10, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Steam, Dragons and Landscape Painting along the Gainsborough Line

Meet beautiful steam trains, traverse ancient orchards and find out how a dragon – or alligator – found its way to an East Anglian village! We’ll hear about local life and legend in the landscape that inspired one of England’s most influential painters. It’s all to be discovered along Greater Anglia’s Gainsborough Line. The Gainsborough Line may be the shortest line in our series, but its history is long! We begin our adventure crossing a magnificent viaduct – and one of the largest brick-build ...

Feb 10, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Artists, Witch hunts and Puritans along the Mayflower Line

Join a haunting journey along the River Stour in Essex and find out about a wicked ‘witch’ murderer, and extraordinary holiday home and a port town’s vital connection to modern democracy. This episode’s adventure follows Greater Anglia’s Mayflower Line. Local guide Bob takes us for a walk around a village with a distinctive scent! From under Mistley’s malt towers we hear how a village and a grand country house grew up together here. We take a walk past the former home of Matthew Hopkins, the Wit...

Feb 10, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Lives On The Lines Trailer

Take an audible journey by train and meet fascinating people living and working across our Great Anglian landscape. We’ll explore majestic coastlines, the phenomenal wildlife of broads and fens, breathtaking cathedral cities and magical market towns, meeting the people that make East Anglia such a unique and special place to live and visit. The Community Rail Partnerships invite you to travel six of Greater Anglia’s rural branch rail lines across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire in thi...

Feb 04, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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