Norfolk & Suffolk: Rail Improvements 'Worth Billions'

18 December 2012, 06:00

A new study is spelling out how much Suffolk and Norfolk could benefit from a better railway line to London, and what needs to be done to achieve it.

Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex county councils have worked with Greater Anglia the New Anglia and South East Local Enterprise Partnerships to put the report together.

The study suggests that a major upgrade for the route would be expected to generate £2.5 billion worth of economic benefits.

What does study recommend?

• The remodelling of Bow Junction near Stratford - to provide additional capacity in/out of London
• A new three-tracked section at Boreham, north of Chelmsford.
• Raising line speeds between London Liverpool Street and Norwich to a maximum of 125 mph, with associated infrastructure improvements
• Refurbishing or replacing the intercity rolling stock on the Norwich - London intercity services
• Refurbishing or replacing commuter rolling stock

What happens next?

The next step for the campaign is to ask Network Rail to review the study and discuss the best ways of achieving better journey times and extra passenger capacity.  The three councils will then look to make a strong case to Government for infrastructure improvements  to be in place by the end of the next Network Rail funding period in April 2019.

Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia said : "We are committed to working with our partners in the region to secure significant upgrades for train services in East Anglia. We have already delivered a number of enhancements in the ten months since our franchise began, including some notable initiatives (such as better weekend services on the GEML) achieved through closer working from our alliance with Network Rail. It is clear that this collaborative approach, allied with a strong, evidence-based business case is the best way to try and ensure we gain the investment necessary to realise passengers and stakeholders' future aspirations."