principals). A total of of railway was involved, so that the M&GNJR network was the longest joint railway in the United Kingdom, by mileage. Further projects Saxby and the Spalding avoiding line opened to passengers On 1 May 1894 the Bourne to Saxby line was opened to passengers, with additional platforms at Saxby. The formation was made for a southward connecting curve there, but track was never laid on it. The boundary with the Joint Line was at Little Bytham as planned, and the formation of the connection to the GNR was also made, and here too track was never laid on it. The Spalding avoiding line was opened to passenger traffic on the same day, 1 May 1894. Mundesley to Cromer An Act of 7 August 1896 authorised the M&GJR to build on from (not yet open) to Cromer, passing south of the town and curving back to approach it from the west. The Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway Both the GER and the M&GNJR wanted to build a direct coastal line between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft; the coastal area and Lowestoft itself were developing and offered the M&GNJR much potential. At the same time the GER wished to develop its access to Mundesley. Notwithstanding the friction between the two companies, a sensible accommodation was finalised on 18 March 1897 by which the GER bill for the Yarmouth to Lowestoft line and a Mundesley to Happisburgh line would not be opposed by the M&GNJR. The M&GNJR would simply build a connecting curve from its line swinging round the north and west of Yarmouth and connecting in to the new GER line, and have running powers to Lowestoft. A Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway company would be created, and would control the Yarmouth to Lowestoft line (from Gorleston), the North Walsham to Mundesley line, Mundesley to Cromer, and Mundesley to Happisburgh. The M&GNJR Bill for the curve at Yarmouth passed in Parliament on 6 August 1897, and the establishment of the Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Railway was enacted on 25 July 1898. The Lowestoft line opened on 13 July 1903. Opening to Mundesley The Mundesley branch opened for goods traffic on 20 June 1898, and to passengers on 1 July 1898. As a joint line (from Antingham Road Junction) it had passenger trains of both companies: nine GER and seven M&GNJR daily. Goods services alternated month by month. From 1900