Poppy Line kicks off new season with win at Heritage Rail Awards  

The North Norfolk Railway has today announced its success at this year’s Heritage Railway Association Awards, held in Newcastle earlier this week. The evening saw the popular East Anglian line’s Hannah Drury take home the prize of “Rising Star”, the award specifically designed for those relatively new to the industry but already making their mark. Since her arrival in 2022 Hannah has been key to the development of Railway events and has also increased both the impact and cost-effectiveness of the line’s marketing, resulting in her promotion to the Senior Management Group within two years. The Poppy Line were also recognised as “Highly Commended” in the categories of Station of the Year, Railway of the Year and Innovation of the Year for their newly-established Peer Support Group.

General Manager, Graham Hukins, said “It is wonderful that Hannah’s progress and hard-work has been recognised on a national stage – her award is very well deserved. We are also delighted to have been Highly Commended in a further three categories, including Railway of the Year. The awards attracted a record number of entries this year and it was clear from the ceremony that the standard was exceptionally high so this is a real accolade for our fantastic team of volunteers and staff.”

The heritage line is set to kick off its new season with a triple celebration over February half term, from February 15 – 23. Throughout the week they will be celebrating the 100th birthday of locomotive 53089 alongside a preservation “first” in the running of newly recreated “lightweight” heritage railcar of the type that ran on the line in the 1950s. The line also marks its own 50th anniversary this year and has many exciting celebrations planned to mark the occasion. Advance booking is strongly recommended for half term activities and passengers doing so receive a generous 15% discount on their fares. More details are available via the line’s website www.nnrailway.co.uk.