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Improvements to Ely and Haughley rail junctions are key to unlocking economic growth across the country, supporting net zero, and providing better passenger services.

That’s the message from MPs and peers on the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, which reformed last week following the General Election.

The upgrades would unlock thousands of extra freight trains from Britain’s busiest container port at Felixstowe to serve distribution centres in the Midlands, North and Scotland, while increasing the frequency of passenger services at places such as Peterborough, Ipswich and King’s Lynn.

In October 2023, the previous government confirmed funding would be made available to deliver the Ely and Haughley junction improvements. In a letter to new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, the group has asked that the schemes are prioritised, including the early release of funding so detailed planning for their delivery can commence.

It comes as sub-national transport bodies, England’s Economic Heartland and Transport East, released an updated report on the benefits of Ely and Haughley, which showcases the unprecedented support for the schemes from across the country, including cross-party MPs, freight and logistics sector, businesses and local and combined authorities.

Keeping Trade on Track highlights how the upgrades will directly contribute to the Secretary of State’s strategic priorities for transport:

• Improving the performance on the railways: By increasing capacity and reducing bottlenecks, unlocking 2,900 extra freight services to and from the Port of Felixstowe every year, and stimulating 277,000 extra rail passenger journeys per year. The scheme has a remarkably high benefit-cost ratio, returning £4.89 of benefits for every £1 invested.
• Transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country: The new freight services will primarily serve freight terminals in the Midlands and North, and reduce congestion by 5.6 million hours per year. Ely is referenced in the strategies of both Transport for the North and Midlands Connect sub-national transport bodies.
• Delivering greener transport: By supporting modal shift to rail, Ely will remove the need for 98,000 HGV journeys every year, reducing carbon emissions by 1.7m tonnes of C02 over 60 years

Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough and Co-Chair of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “Improvements to Ely and Haughley are key to realising the Transport Secretary’s strategic priorities: improving the performance of our railways, transforming infrastructure right across the country; and delivering greener transport. Alongside allowing more goods to be moved more efficiently right across the UK, improvements to Ely Junction will also unlock capacity for better rail services in Peterborough, supporting the regeneration of our city and helping to realise its significant economic potential.”

Jess Asato, MP for Lowestoft and Co-Chair of the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “The upgrading of Ely and Haughley junctions will benefit people and businesses right across East Anglia – including Lowestoft, the most easterly town and base for our essential off-shore energy industry. These schemes will enable increased passenger services, shift freight from road to rail, and will help achieve our ambitious decarbonisation targets. These projects must be funded as a priority.

Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, said: “Ely means business. Open up Ely, and you open up a world of opportunity for Global Britain. Unblocking Ely will enable passengers and freight to move freely not just through the East but through the Midlands and the North, with benefit surging throughout the UK.  There’s tremendous public backing for this high-reward and climate-friendly investment which would make life better for hundreds of thousands of people in many parts of the country. For too long, UK growth has been fettered by this problem and now is the time for action. Open Ely and open all the world.”

Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair of England’s Economic Heartland sub-national transport body, which includes Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Our conversations with the freight industry have only reinforced that there is significant unmet demand for increased levels of rail freight. The rail capacity improvements needed at Ely are of national significance. The scheme is an important connector for the economies of the Midlands and North and provides significant potential to relieve congestion on strategic roads while reducing emissions caused by HGV journeys which could more appropriately be made via rail.”

Will Quince, Chair of Transport East, which includes Haughley and the Port of Felixstowe, said: “Upgrading Ely and Haughley junctions are immediate priorities for the region. Solving these rail pinchpoints would help connect our growing places, energise our rural and coastal communities, and unblock our international gateways. All while helping achieve net zero transport and bringing into the Treasury five times the required investment. We must get these moving.”