EEH reacts to launch of East West Rail statutory consultation
East West Railway Company has launched its third non-statutory consultation for East West Rail, seeking feedback to inform its updated proposals.
Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair of England's Economic Heartland said: “East West Rail will transform the way people can sustainably access jobs, skills, leisure and housing across the region. Our world class universities, science parks and knowledge-intensive businesses will finally be linked together: fuelling innovation, attracting inward investment, creating prosperity …
EEH working with SMEs on innovation project
England's Economic Heartland is working with two SMEs as they develop innovative solutions to better understand travel behaviours, as part of Connected Places Catapult's 'Local Authority Transport Decarbonisation Accelerator'.
The six-month programme is designed to trial disruptive new innovations aimed at reducing transport emissions. Connected Places Catapult will assist the SMEs by providing a bespoke programme of commercial support.
As part of the programme, EEH set a challenge to develop …
Budget: EEH responds as Chancellor commits to East West Rail
At today's Budget, the Chancellor committed to the delivery of East West Rail to Bedford and Cambridge. She said work on the Marston Vale line would be 'accelerated' with East West Rail services by 2030, and that a consultation on next stages would launch in November.
England's Economic Heartland Chair, Cllr Liz Leffman, said:
"Our region and its concentration of knowledge-intensive businesses, world class universities and highly talented workforce are …
EEH publishes rail main line priorities study
Opportunities to unlock substantial economic and environmental benefits by investing in rail are being taken forward by England’s Economic Heartland, following expert analysis of the region’s long-term rail needs.
EEH’s Rail Main Line Priorities Study, published today, provides a comprehensive baseline of rail in the region post-covid, considering not just the network itself, but the quality of door-to-door connectivity and interchange. It then highlights nine ‘packages for investment’ across the …
East West Main Line Partnership elects new Chair
Cllr Katie Thornburrow has been elected the new Chair of the East West Main Line Partnership at its annual general meeting in Milton Keynes on Thursday (17 October)
The Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, succeeds Cllr Steven Broadbent, of Buckinghamshire Council, who had served his full three-year term in the role.
The partnership, for which England's Economic Heartland provides the secretariat, brings together local …
EEH Bus Symposium 2024
- Our Delivering Better Buses report produced alongside the 2024 Bus Symposium provides updates on our work on bus and potential next steps
- Read our response to the government's consultation on franchising
England's Economic Heartland hosted its second Bus Symposium in Northampton on 10 October.
Delegates and speakers included local leaders and officers, operators, innovators and industry experts. Local transport minister Simon Lightwood recorded a video address for symposium (see below), …
Brochures highlight key interventions and economic rationale
- For more information, see our Connecting Economies page
The strategic transport interventions which would help realise the region’s immense economic potential are showcased in a series of brochures published by England’s Economic Heartland.
The Connecting Economies documents provide an accessible compendium of both evidence and asks to government, which England’s Economic Heartland, its local and combined authority partners, MPs, private sector and others can use to make the case for …
MPs urge government commitment to Ely as EEH publishes updated Keeping Trade on Track document
Improvements to Ely and Haughley rail junctions are key to unlocking economic growth across the country, supporting net zero, and providing better passenger services.
That’s the message from MPs and peers on the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, which reformed last week following the General Election.
The upgrades would unlock thousands of extra freight trains from Britain’s busiest container port at Felixstowe to serve distribution centres in the Midlands, …
Interventions identified in latest two connectivity studies
Potential interventions to improve the transport system along two key corridors in the region are identified in England’s Economic Heartland’s two latest connectivity studies.
The Thames Valley-Northampton and Southern East-West Movements (Buckinghamshire across to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) were produced after extensive stakeholder engagement. They have been developed in line with DfT transport appraisal guidance and provide clarity on investment opportunities which EEH and its local authority partners can now seek …
Spending Review submission highlights importance of East West Rail, Ely and bus to the region
England's Economic Heartland used the recent Spending Review call for evidence to ensure key messages about our Board’s priorities for investment were submitted directly to Treasury.
Building on recent Board discussions, EEH’s submission set out the huge economic potential of the region that can only be achieved if our infrastructure and connectivity priorities are realised, including delivering of East West Rail (in full), Ely Junction and investing in improved bus …
