Improvements to Ely and Haughley rail junctions are key to unlocking economic growth across the country, supporting net zero, and providing better passenger services.
That’s the message from MPs and peers on the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, which reformed last week following the General Election.
The upgrades would unlock thousands of extra freight trains from Britain’s busiest container port at Felixstowe to serve distribution centres in the Midlands, North and Scotland, while increasing the frequency of passenger services at places such as King’s Lynn, Peterborough, and Ipswich.
In October 2023, the previous government confirmed funding would be made available to deliver the Ely and Haughley junction improvements. In a letter to new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, the group has asked that the schemes are prioritised, including the early release of funding so detailed planning for their delivery can commence.
It comes as sub-national transport bodies, England’s Economic Heartland and Transport East, released an updated report on the benefits of Ely and Haughley, which showcases the unprecedented support for the schemes from across the country, including cross-party MPs, freight and logistics sector, businesses and local and combined authorities.
Keeping Trade on Track highlights how the upgrades will directly contribute to the Secretary of State’s strategic priorities for transport:
• Improving the performance on the railways: By increasing capacity and reducing bottlenecks, unlocking 2,900 extra freight services to and from the Port of Felixstowe every year, and stimulating 277,000 extra rail passenger journeys per year. The scheme has a remarkably high benefit-cost ratio, returning £4.89 of benefits for every £1 invested.
• Transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country: The new freight services will primarily serve freight terminals in the Midlands and North, and reduce congestion by 5.6 million hours per year. Ely is referenced in the strategies of both Transport for the North and Midlands Connect sub-national transport bodies.
• Delivering greener transport: By supporting modal shift to rail, Ely will remove the need for 98,000 HGV journeys every year, reducing carbon emissions by 1.7m tonnes of C02 over 60 years
James Wild MP said:
“After campaigning from MPs, businesses, and other groups the last government commitment to the vital upgrade of Ely junction. This would mean more frequent passenger services from Lynn as well as boosting freight. Now we are urging the new government to stick to this pledge and provide the funding to unlock the huge benefits from this scheme.”
