The Taskforce view
On August 10, the day that the Government announced new trains as Abellio was awarded the East Anglia franchise, Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce co-Chairman Mark Pendlington said: “To have secured new state-ofthe-art rolling stock is a massive win for all those who depend on a reliable and high-performing railway here in the East. Businesses, commuters, and students at universities and colleges are among many who have worked tirelessly to support our GEML campaign.
“Today we have been rewarded with the guarantee of transformational change to our rail services in years to come. And as we set about growing our economy, winning new investment and securing new jobs, we can say with growing confidence that the East is a modern, mobile and accessible economy, fit to compete and win in the UK and global marketplace.
“We presented the Government with a compelling case for transformational improvements to our main line railway. We provided solid evidence for the potential £4.5 billion boost to the economy and 50,000 new jobs across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The award of the franchise to Abellio marks the beginning of realising that ambition. It brings the promised ‘Norwich in 90 (minutes)’, ‘Ipswich in 60’ and ‘Colchester in 40’ within reach, and our work continues to secure a consistently high standard of rail service for everyone.”
Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, who co-chairs the GEML Taskforce, said: “We have now succeeded in getting huge investment into our rail line in the form of new trains. These trains are finally what we deserve in the East, giving a more pleasant journey for passengers and most of all giving reliability back to all the people who use the trains for work and jobs.
“Together with investment in the track and other infrastructure, this is what our campaign has achieved. It will deliver ‘Norwich in 90’, along with benefits to all three counties as expected over the next eight years. It means East Anglia is open for business and will bring thousands more jobs to the region, which means a massive boost for the economy and for households.
“Our campaign is reinvigorated, as is our relentless pursuit of a better, faster more efficient rail service.”