Rail campaigners from Suffolk, are set to meet with the shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh MP, on Tuesday, 21 May. With a general election soon in the UK, they are approaching the official opposition Labour Party. Campaigners advocate critical improvements to the rail network in the East of England. Any improvements would have substantial benefits for rail freight operations, particularly the intermodal traffic serving the port of Felixstowe.
With Labour leading in opinion polls, the party is very likely to form the next UK government. The East of England campaigners aim to make the Ely Area and Haughley Junction upgrades a priority for any future Labour government. These schemes were approved in principle during last year’s Autumn Statement budget by the currently ruling Conservative Party. They are vital for increasing the number of daily freight movements, as well as significantly enhancing passenger traffic flows say the group.
Make the case for EACE
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of this campaign. They have brought together a range of stakeholders from across the region and beyond. “Over many years, Suffolk Chamber has worked with partners to make the case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) and Haughley Junction programmes” said Stephen Britt, chairman of Suffolk Chamber’s Transport & Infrastructure Group.
EACE, and the lesser known Haughley Junction project, have massive implications for the region, say the Chamber. “These are catalytic schemes which would massively boost the number of daily freight movements in and out of the strategically vital Port of Felixstowe”, explained Britt. “As well as increasing passenger traffic flows, [they would make] significant contributions to both economic efficiency with benefits to businesses in the Midlands and the North of England, and the country’s decarbonisation ambitions.”
Haul more through Haughley
The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) project is a significant aspect of these upgrades. It aims to improve rail capacity through the Ely area, which is a bottleneck for both passenger and freight services. The project includes various infrastructure enhancements to increase train frequency and reliability, crucial for supporting the UK’s busiest container port at Felixstowe.
Another major constraint in the region is Haughley Junction, which connects the regional centre at Ipswich with the fan of routes emanating from Ely. The layout is currently limited to a single leading point with a crossover. Campaigners advocate upgrading this to a double turnout to significantly improve capacity and operational efficiency, particularly for longer freight trains. Characteristically, some current satellite imagery of Haughley Junction has captured a Maritime Transport intermodal service heading for Ely.
Secure the necessary powers to commence
According to research by Suffolk Chamber, the combined projects are likely to have an economic benefit of five times the cost of the installation, and consider both projects to be a robust investment. They have expressed concerns that the projects have not already been implemented. The Chamber has been actively lobbying for the release of development funds from the Department for Transport to allow Network Rail to progress with a full business case and secure the necessary powers to commence work at Ely.
The meeting, called for Tuesday, 21 May, has been facilitated by the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Ipswich, Jack Abbott. Mr Abbott will be hosting representatives from around the region, including the Port of Felixstowe, and the national representative body, the Rail Freight Group.
Straightforward schemes left gathering dust
Communications corridors through the East of England have a significant importance for the whole UK. Rail freight, particularly from Felixstowe, which is also Britain’s busiest rail freight terminal, serve the whole country. Reflecting that importance, the meeting will be attended by stakeholders from across the UK.
“We are all so frustrated that two comparatively straightforward schemes have been left gathering dust after nearly a decade and a half of government indecision”, said a Chamber statement. If the case is made, then the outcome of this meeting could positively impact the future of rail freight operations and regional economic prosperity. The Chamber has also made the same case to the sitting Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, and his junior minister for rail, Huw Merriman MP, urging them to instruct a full business review.