The Sunshine Coast Line

Liverpool Street to Clacton on Sea

The Sunshine Coast is the official name given to the railway from Colchester to Clacton on Sea, though all services begin at Liverpool Street in the heart of the City of London.

Our train is a recently introduced class 720 EMU (electric multiple unit). From the outset we run over the former Great Eastern main line to Norwich. Our first stop is the major interchange station at Stratford. From there we run non-stop alongside the additional tracks of the Elizabeth Line to Shenfield. Now, down to double line, our train takes us into rural Essex calling at the County Town Chelmsford and through the newly opened Beaulieu Park station. Our semi-fast service diverges at Colchester and heads south to the classic Essex seaside town of Clacton.

Running at speeds of up to 100 mph in sunshine throughout, we see the drivers (who change at Colchester), stations, trackside runbys and aerial views. The history of this early main line, dating from 1839, is in the accompanying narration.

The route is shown virtually in real time.