Ely remodelling could advance Wisbech-March reopening plans

Network Rail’s upgrade of the railway around Ely could act as a catalyst for passenger trains returning to the March-Wisbech route.

The Combined Authority Transport & Infrastructure Committee for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was told on March 10 that Rail Minister Chris HeatonHarris has agreed to consider funding plans to restore the route, as soon as the remodelling of Ely

North Junction and the city’s station has been completed.

It’s planned that the Wisbech route will form part of a joined-up operation that could eventually feature trains running between Wisbech and Cambridge.

The committee unanimously agreed to recommend drawing £300,000 of capital funding from the CA’s Medium-Term Financial Plan to move to the next stage.

This involves working with

Network Rail to help deliver a business case that will assess options for the Wisbech-March route, as well as finding significant cost savings. This is expected to take seven months, with findings to be published in November.

“Connecting Wisbech and unblocking Ely will get the whole of Cambridgeshire moving and also the wider East Anglia region,” said James Palmer, Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.

“We’ve demonstrated the good value and good sense of taking forward these plans in a considered, joined-up way where projects dovetail and methods of working are time-efficient and cost-effective.”

Palmer added that the NR partnership puts CA “inside the team”, meaning that everything can be aligned and streamlined with no wasted resources or doubling up on workstreams.