Cambridge MP says Ely rail upgrades "must happen"

The government confirmed funding for improvements to the bottleneck after scrapping the HS2 project.

The Ely rail junction has long been considered a bottleneck on the UK's train network.

It links five lines connecting Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich, King’s Lynn and Peterborough.

There has been much support locally for the junction to be upgraded, including from Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson and East Cambridgeshire District Council leader Anna Bailey.

On Wednesday 4 October, the Prime Minister announced plans to scrap the HS2 project, and instead divvy out the cash to many other transport schemes.

Among them, the Ely rail junction, as well as the Haughley rail junction near Bury St Edmunds, and the A10 between Ely and Cambridge.

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner:

“This is welcome news - many have been pressing the Government to do this for many years. Dr Nik Johnson, the East of England All Parliamentary Group, and on numerous occasions I have personally pressed the rail minister Huw Merriman on his visits to the region. The announcement is good - now it needs to happen!”

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson:

"This is a major investment in vital infrastructure that we have campaigned long and hard for. It's a huge opportunity, not just for our region's residents and local economy, but also nationwide. Locally, it means greater rail connectivity across the East of England, boosting travel for leisure, tourism, and industry. Nationally, upgrading this out of date junction will connect major international ports in Felixstowe and London with distribution hubs in the Midlands, the North, and beyond.

Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council Anna Bailey:

"The project will remove an expected 98,000 lorry journeys each year from roads in the region, particularly the A14, cutting down massively on CO2 emissions and reducing congestion. I am also confident this will pave the way for improving rail services through Soham."