Ely Junction

Ely Junction is where five major rail lines from as far as Scotland meet and converge into one, single, Victorian track on their way to the UK’s busiest port of Felixstowe. It’s a congested bottleneck which is unable to handle the demand for both freight and passenger services.

It was a bottleneck in 2002 when the first business case for upgrading the junction was made, and has continued to stifle growth across the UK ever since. This is despite offering remarkably high value for public money, returning £4.89 for every £1 spent. 

Nationally it will: 

• Boost productivity in the Midlands, North and Scotland by allowing for an extra 2,900 freight services from Felixstowe every year and enabling businesses to import and export their goods faster and cheaper. 

• Remove 98,000 lorry journeys a year reducing hours stuck on congested roads by 5.6 million

Locally it will open up an extra 277,000 passenger journeys a year across the East of England.

Ever wondered why it takes longer to get the train from Peterborough to Cambridge than it does from Peterborough to London?

Ely Junction. Upgrading Ely junction will provide the East of England faster and more reliable services, as well as opening the possibilities of connecting new growing towns and cities.  

The first business case for Ely Junction was developed back in 2002, since then cross-party and multi-sector partners have worked together to make the case to Government. Since its inception in 2017, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has joined the calls for investment.

Within his first month of taking post as Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow has written to the Treasury to reaffirm my support for the Ely Junction scheme, offering to work with them to leverage even more benefits for residents than those estimated 23 years ago. 

Want to know more about Ely Junction? Visit: Keeping trade on track