Places features

West Runton is one of the picturesque stops

A Norfolk train route which mixes the beauty of the Broads with a stretch of soaring coastline has been named as one of the world's top 50 railway journeys.

The Independent newspaper rated the Bittern Line in the same league as the Eastern And Oriental Express linking Singapore to Bangkok; the Glacier Express which helter-skelters Swiss mountains and the Cologne-Frankfurt line skirting the fairytale castle-lined banks of The Rhine.

The Bittern Line runs for 30 miles, connecting the cathedral city of Norwich with the bucket-and-spade resorts of Cromer and Sheringham.

Broadland scenes

The track follows the course of the River Yare to take in the picturesque scenes teeming with wildlife and stops in the heart of the world-famous Broads at Hoveton And Wroxham.

There are also stops at the market town of North Walsham, where Nelson went to school, and Gunton station so travellers can appreciate the beauty of rural north Norfolk.

The national broadsheet praised the line for its merging of pastoral and coastal views.

The Bittern Line ends at Sheringham

The Independent described how, "Rolling fields punctuated by Norfolk’s numerous church towers bring the train to Cromer and its wide beaches before the dogleg on to Sheringham."

Named after bird

The Bittern Line, named after the rare wading bird that can sometimes be spotted in the Broads' reedbeds, runs seven days a week with services almost every hour Monday to Saturday.

National Express' East Anglia Business director Andrew Goodrum is pleased that the route has been recognised as one of the globe's most pleasing.

He said: "It is fantastic that the Bittern Line has been named one of the best railway journeys in the world.

"We have worked with our partners in the Community Rail Partnership to promote the beauty and attractiveness of the Bittern Line, and this report reflects how important the line is as part of Norfolk’s community."