Network Rail is announcing the first phase of public consultation for proposals to upgrade the railway in and around Ely which opens on 21 September and will run for six weeks.
The Ely area capacity enhancement (EACE) programme is a proposal to upgrade the railway to allow more trains to run through Ely. The aim is to improve connectivity and reliability for passenger services and meet the demand for more rail freight between the Port of Felixstowe the West Midlands and the north to support sustainable, long-term economic growth.
Residents and businesses in and around Ely are being invited learn more about the programme as it will be an opportunity for communities around Ely to understand:
- what the benefits are
- the challenges that will have to be addressed to increase capacity
- current funding position of the EACE programme
- how the public will be consulted as options are progressed
- Future rounds of public consultation are being planned for 2021 to present options being considered to help inform the
- design work as it progresses. Future dates will be announced in due course.
How the public can have their say
Owing to the current Coronavirus situation and following Government guidance, we are conducting this first phase of public consultation remotely to maintain the safety of the public and our staff.
The consultation will be run through an online web-portal which will be live for six weeks from 21 September until 1 November. There will also be opportunities to speak to project representatives via webchats at specific times throughout the consultation period as well as by phone.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “It is important that we provide opportunities to engage with the communities that are impacted by our work as it develops.
“It is even more important that we listen to people and gather their views to help inform our development and design process.
“By starting these discussions early, we hope to embark on this journey with the community and progress these proposals together, finding the right solution for the railway and for Ely.”
More information about the consultation will be available via:
- online webpage networkrail.co.uk/ely
- flyers at local stations
- Twitter feed @networkrailLST using the hashtag #ElyRail
- Hardcopies of our consultation material can be requested (available from 21 September) by contacting 03457 11 41 41 or emailing ElyAreaCapcityEnhancements@networkrail.co.uk
Photo credit: Network Rail
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