CHLOE SMITH MP WELCOMES FIRST VICTORY IN THE GREATER ANGLIA RAIL CAMPAIGN

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, today celebrated the first victory for the Greater Anglia Rail Campaign which she has led.

Today, the Transport Secretary will announce approved funding for upgrade works at the Ely North Junction.  Chloe led MPs and partners from four counties to bring the Once in a Generation:  prospectus for East Anglian rail to Justine Greening before today’s announcement.

The junction sits on both the Kings Lynn-London and the Norwich-Cambridge lines. Its current single-track condition means lengthy and costly delays build up around the bottleneck.

Chloe has spearheaded the campaign to secure the much needed funding to improve East Anglia’s rail network. She has secured a unanimous voice coming from the four counties to press for the improvements, and that the region seeks a fair deal in rail investment compared to other parts of the country where journeys are faster, more modern and more reliable.

Chloe again emphasised the need for further concrete steps to be taken as the region prepares in the short term for the Olympic period, and in the long term for the next round of franchise negotiations, including the Norwich-London mainline.

Chloe is leading the call for the improvements, including:

• Improved infrastructure


• Higher quality rolling stock


• Increased reliability


• Faster journey times

Chloe comments: 

"The Ely North investment is a crucial early element of the East Anglian rail improvements which we need for the next twenty years.  It opens up many lines including for business investment, freight and leisure passengers.

"The campaign continues to secure accompanying longer term improvements on the other key lines through East Anglia, such as the Norwich-London mainline.  I led the political alliance across four counties for a full East Anglian prospectus because rail links places and rail demands long term thinking.  We speak with one voice across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex for improvements in addition to Ely North, which will gain us faster journey times, better quality trains, more reliable services and decent infrastructure."