Date: 08 November 2007 21:35

RAIL FREIGHT INVESTMENT WELCOMED FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Campaigning County Councillors have welcomed the news that Government is set 
to improve rail freight between Peterborough and Nuneaton with an £80 
million investment.

The announcement made by the Department of Transport will lead to less 
freight being carried by lorries on Cambridgeshire's roads.

Cambridgeshire County Council has been campaigning for many years for the 
improvement to the line so that much more freight can be taken by rail.

The improvements represent the third phase of the Cambridge to Huntingdon 
Multi-Modal Study which called for an improvement of the A14, A guided bus 
service should run between Huntingdon and Cambridge and the rail freight 
improvements.

The Government announcement is part of a £132 million investment in support 
rail freight to get around 300,000 lorries off the country's roads.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Lead Member for Planning and 
Regional Matters, said: "We have been campaigning for years to see these 
improvements and I am pleased that the Government has listened and is 
investing in rail freight. The improvements will mean less lorries on our 
already congested roads, such as the A14. The County Council is committed to 
bringing forward a range of linked transport solutions from better rail 
links, public transport measures, roads, cycleways and pedestrian facilities 
to keep Cambridgeshire on the move."

 £80 million of funding is being awarded to enhance gauge and capacity for 
rail freight on the Peterborough - Nuneaton route, providing a crucial 
alternative to the busy rail routes via London. The £80m for the 
Peterborough-Nuneaton route will fund enhancement works to clear the line to 
W10 gauge. This will enable the route to carry 9ft 6" high cube containers, 
which otherwise require specialist rail wagons or have to be carried by 
road. The scheme will improve access to Felixstowe port and provide an 
alternative route to the West Coast Main Line, bypassing London. The scheme 
also provides funding for a new east to north chord at Nuneaton, allowing 
trains to continue northwards without conflicting with the West Coast Main 
Line, subject to legal consent.

John Reynolds