Network Rail has put back plans to double-track a section of railway between Ely and Soham until funding for the scheme can be arranged.

The Ely to Soham capacity-enhancement scheme is one element of a wider programme of improvements between Felix-
stowe and Nuneaton, called F2N.

John Smith — the managing director of GB Railfreight, which operates services out of the Port of Felixstowe — said that the industry needs to know what the scope of F2N will be.

“While Network Rail’s decision to put the Ely to Soham scheme on hold is disappointing, what is now required is a clear understanding of what F2N will look like when it is completed. This includes recognising the capacity it can offer and the individual investments needed to deliver such capacity, including that at Soham. These can then be planned and funded through the CP6 Control Period.”

Network Rail Control Periods are the five-year time-spans in which Network Rail (which owns and operates most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain) works for financial and other planning purposes.

Each Control Period begins on 1 April and ends on 31 March to coincide with the financial year. CP5 covers 2014 to 2019; CP6 covers 2019 to 2024.

Mr Smith continued: “With regard to CP5, double-tracking of the Felixstowe branch line remains the best value for money of all schemes on the route, and it’s vital that the Government completes the project in this Control Period.”