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Mayor meets with Office of Rail and Road in a bid to improve transport across the region

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Mayor meets with Office of Rail and Road in a bid to improve transport across the region

As part of an ongoing mission to improve residents experience of transport across the region and give people more choice over the way the travel, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson has last week met with the Office of Rail and Road.

The meeting took place on 10th January 2025 between Mayor Dr Nik Johnson and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Assistant Transport Director Tim Bellamy with Steve Helfet, Deputy Director, Rail Operations and Jennifer Webber, Head of External Engagement.

The Office of Rail and Road are an independent organisation charged with regulating performance and efficiency on England’s railways and roads.  They play a crucial role in making sure roads and railways are safe, cost effective and reliable for passengers.

It was a positive meeting and the start of a relationship between the Combined Authority and the Office of Rail and Road, an organisation that helps drive improvements to rail services and road networks across the region.

This follows a recent government announcement in the English Devolution White Paper, which put forward proposals for Mayoral Authorities to gain more control over rail services in the coming years.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson shared Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority priorities on improving rail services with the Office of Rail and Road.

Items discussed included proposals to upgrade Ely Junction, which would increase the frequency of passenger services at places such as Peterborough, Ipswich and King’s Lynn, giving people more options on their journey of choice.

The proposed improvements to Ely Junction would also unlock thousands of extra freight trains from Britain’s busiest container port at Felixstowe to serve distribution centres in the Midlands, North and Scotland, bringing a huge return for both the local and national economy.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said:

“It was a motivating meeting and the start of a positive relationship with the Office of Rail and Road, a key player in achieving the improvements we want to see in both rail and road that will give residents more choice over the way they travel.”

Going forward, the Combined Authority will look to arrange a further meeting with the Office of Rail and Road on roads to discuss road projects and how experience can be improved for road users.