with conductor guards. In reality, this was no more than a pay train serving weed-infested and vandalised stations. The stations at Gorleston-on-Sea, Hopton, Corton and Lowestoft North were also made unstaffed. In the following year the line was singled and the daily goods pick-up at Lowestoft Central and Yarmouth South Town was discontinued. The last Norfolk and Suffolk signal box at Lowestoft North was also closed, those at Gorleston, Hopton and Corton having already been switched out. By this time, the line was losing £34,000 a year (equivalent to £ in ) and with no through services served only local interests. In the absence of any realistic prospect of traffic improvement, closure came on 4 May 1970. An attempt was made by a local group to purchase the line with a view to running year-round commuter services and summer steam-hauled tourist trains, but this came to nothing. Present day The site of Yarmouth South Town has disappeared beneath new roads, superstores and industrial units, whilst that of Gorleston-on-Sea was swept away in 1991 to make way for a roundabout on the A47 Gorleston inner relief road. The road follows the former railway alignment from the bridge at Yarmouth Vauxhall to a point to the south of the former Gorleston station, and includes a new drawbridge near the site of Breydon Viaduct. The site of Gorleston Links Halt is similarly unrecognisable and have disappeared under residential development. A housing estate has been built across the track at the site of Hopton-on-Sea station; the stationmaster's house still stands as do the gates to the goods yard to the right of the house. Corton is the only former station on the line still standing; it is in use as a private residence, although the platform canopy is very rundown. Lowestoft North has disappeared under residential development and a road named "Beeching Drive" occupies the former alignment; to the west a section of the line has become a non-vehicular right of way. The absence of a direct rail connection between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft remains keenly felt today. References Sources Closed railway lines in the East of England Railway lines opened in 1903 Rail transport in Norfolk Rail transport in Suffolk