Ely Junction to be upgraded as part of Prime Minister’s plan to redirect vast HS2 savings into unprecedented transport investment across the country, a vital part of East Anglia’s rail network where 5 busy rail lines converge.
This will boost passenger services to and from King’s Lynn.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech and transport announcements, James Wild MP said:
“The Prime Minister has taken tough decisions on HS2 and by doing so is backing transport projects across the country. I’m delighted as a result of this announcement the government has committed to upgrade Ely Junction which I have campaigned for.
This important scheme will unlock more passenger services to King’s Lynn and extra freight trains across the region delivering significant economic benefits.”
An enhanced spine route for rail freight will be delivered, allowing an extra 6 freight trains per day to run to and from the Port of Felixstowe – the equivalent of 98,000 lorry journeys off the road each year, including across the Midlands and the North.
There will also be a doubling of passenger services on the Ely-King’s Lynn and Ipswich-Peterborough routes, helping commuters and leisure travellers alike.
Further benefits for East Anglia will include:
- £610 million in funding to ensure the delivery of 39 road schemes across East Anglia, the South East and South West, including the A10 between Ely and Cambridge. Thirteen of these schemes will be in the East of England with a funding pot of £180m million
- a further £1 billion fund will be launched for new road schemes in the East, South West and South East
- access to a £2.8 billion roads resurfacing fund for the East, South East and South West of England to combat the potholes causing misery for drivers
- the popular £2 bus fare will also be kept and extended until the end of December 2024 instead of rising to £2.50 as planned
