Network Rail has put back plans to double track a section of railway between Ely and Soham until funding for the scheme can be identified.
The project, known as the Ely to Soham capacity enhancement scheme, is one element of a wider programme of improvements between Felixstowe and Nuneaton, called F2N.
The managing director of GB Railfreight, which operates services out of the Port of Felixstowe, John Smith, said that the industry needs to now understand what the scope of F2N will be.
He said: “While Network Rail’s decision to put the Ely to Soham scheme on hold is disappointing, what is now required is a clear understanding of what F2N looks like when it is completed. This includes recognising the capacity it can offer and the individual investments needed to deliver such capacity, including that at Soham. These can then be planned and funded through CP6.
“With regards to CP5, double tracking of the Felixstowe branch line remains the best value for money of all schemes on the route and it’s vital that the Government completes the project in this Control Period.
“Double tracking will also ensure that benefits from other investments by Network Rail, such as the Nuneaton Chord and the Bacon Factory Curve, are fully exploited.”
Absolutely pathetic ! So much for all the rhetoric of removing freight from roads and making Felixstowe to Nuneaton a super freight corridor ! When you think of all the projects in Germany and the rest of the EU to improve rail infer structure that go ahead with no problems , Network rail cannot improve a relatively short stretch of the rail network in the UK! Pathetic!
Further to Chris Green’s piece, not only cannot they, ridiculously, progress this short piece of track-work, but the line from Felixstowe to Ipswich, carrying tonnes and tonnes of freight traffic all over the country is still serviced by a single track, unelectrified line!!! Ye gods. Hand it over to the French – or anyone in Europe; it would have been done years ago! One really has to work hard to be proud of Britain, let down constantly by its Bureaucrats and Politicians.