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Half-hour rail service gets boost at summit
HOPES of getting a half-hourly train service between Lynn and King’s Cross in London were boosted after an “extremely positive” rail summit at Westminster this week.
South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss organised Wednesday’s meeting to press for a £10 million upgrade to the Ely North junction, which is considered crucial if the Fen Line service is to be improved.
Several MPs attended and others present included representatives from Norfolk County Council, West Norfolk Council, Network Rail, Fen Line operator First Capital Connect and local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) covering this area.
Afterwards, Ms Truss said: “It was an extremely positive meeting and I was delighted to see the commitment by all the various parties.
“We have focused on and identified the main points that need to be presented to the Treasury and Department for Transport to secure the £10m required for the upgrade. I will be writing to the commercial secretary to the Treasury, Lord Sassoon, as soon as possible to ensure that he is fully aware of the benefits of investing in the Ely North junction.”
Ms Truss, who chaired the meeting, said there was a strong case for moving to a half-hourly service on the Fen Line by doubling the single track at the Ely North junction. This would cost an estimated £5 million to £10 million and would be at Network Rail’s discretion.
Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk county councils will work together to compile the business case for the improvements, with help from the LEPs and train operating companies.
Before Christmas, the Department for Transport agreed to seek a half-hourly service in the franchise for the Fen Line, which would open up economic opportunities in West Norfolk and boost business confidence in this area.
Fen Line Users’ Association secretary Andy Tyler said use of the railway line between Lynn and Cambridge was growing and it was vitally important to the area’s economic future.
He said: “We have been calling for a half-hourly service and are delighted that local MPs are pressing for it.”
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
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