Ely Junction Upgrade unlikely to happen for next five years

Regional leaders across East Anglia have put more pressure on the Department for Transport to not forget about the Ely Junction Upgrade after it was overlooked in the last spending review and infrastructure announcements made last month.

A Department for Transport (DfT) Spokesperson didn’t rule out the possibility of funding for Ely Junction Upgrade in the future, although RAIL understands that is unlikely going to be before the next spending review period in five years.

They told RAIL: “There is a strong case for Ely Junction, and we are committed to working with a broad range of stakeholders to support its inclusion in the future pipeline.”

The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) programme, expected to cost £500 million if fully completed was initially proposed by Network Rail in 2014 but has never had the green light.

Work on the junction would be designed to increase capacity in the area, relieving a current bottleneck on the route – allowing for up to 12 trains per hour in each direction.

Despite it not being included on the list of infrastructure projects originally announced, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor Paul Bristow has continued to push the Government into committing to the scheme.

Now, along with eight cross-party MPs from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area, Bristow has written an open letter to the Transport Secretary.

In the letter, Bristow says: “The government’s recent transport infrastructure announcements were a missed opportunity for our region.

“It is deeply disappointing that they failed to include a commitment to the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) scheme; despite its exceptional benefit-cost ratio and its clear potential to deliver faster, more frequent rail services between Peterborough, the Fens, Ely, and Cambridge.”

The initial Cost:Benefit ratio when conducted in 2020 showed a return of nearly £5 against a spend of £1.

However, in a recent Transport Select Committee before the Spending Review announcements, Rail Minister Lord Hendy said recent decisions may have affected that score, whilst also admitting that there was still a need.

Hendy said: “Some infrastructure will need to be provided, although there are changes in the market and we need to reflect those. For example, the move of one shipping operator from Felixstowe to London Gateway will produce a change in freight traffic in that part of East Anglia. We will see what that does, for example, for the business case for Ely.”

He also admitted in a later Transport Select Committee, when asked about the Ely Junction Upgrade, that the Spending Review had been tough and “difficult choices had to be made”.

The letter also warns that “Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must not be taken for granted.

“This issue remains as pressing as ever, and I look forward to continuing our collective efforts to secure the government backing needed to deliver EACE.”