The East of England APPG has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, to highlight the Urgent need for Government commitment to progress Ely and Haughley junction improvements. Read the full letter here.

Urgent need for Government commitment to progress Ely and Haughley junction improvements

The 2025 Spending Review for the period 2026 to 2029 should begin by recognising the critical importance of the Ely and Haughley rail junction upgrades in delivering the Government’s Plan for Change — powering economic growth, sustainable transport, and housing development across every UK region.

Ely and Haughley junctions are long-standing barriers to progress, restricting freight and passenger capacity on one of the UK’s most important trade corridors. Rail freight from the Port of Felixstowe — serving the Midlands, North, and Scotland — is being throttled by these bottlenecks. Investment would release 2,900 additional freight services a year, boosting international trade flows and supporting growth in cities across the North and beyond.

These upgrades would also enable the development of at least 310,000 new homes across fast-growing economic corridors by 2040 — providing the skilled workforce needed for the high-growth sectors flourishing across the East of England, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex.

Increased rail capacity would relieve pressure on the UK’s congested roads, removing 98,000 HGV journeys annually and saving 5.6 million hours lost to congestion each year. Ely is already highlighted in strategies from Transport for London, Transport for the North, and Midlands Connect, reflecting the national impact of its upgrade.

The economic case is overwhelming: for every £1 invested, the upgrades would return £4.89 in benefits, alongside at least £60m in wider economic gains. Private sector investment — in port capacity, logistics hubs, vessels, and rail terminals — is already transforming this corridor, and Government action now would capture even greater private investment to accelerate growth.

Critically, the upgrades would drive a greener, cleaner transport future — cutting 1.7 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over 60 years through modal shift to rail.

These schemes are ready to go. A relatively small funding commitment is now urgently needed to complete the Full Business Case for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements and to deliver the Haughley Junction upgrade.

Delaying further will delay national growth, productivity gains, and the transition to a greener economy. The Government must seize this opportunity in the Spending Review — to remove barriers, unlock investment, and grow the whole of the UK.