Support improvements to the Great Eastern Main Line

Both Colchester and Ipswich Borough Council’s as members of Regional Cities East are seeking to persuade the Department for Transport to include a range of improvements to the Great Eastern Main Line railway.

We believe significant improvements can be delivered to the line which will make journeys into London more reliable, comfortable and potentially quicker. We know that improvements will not be immediate, but we need to provide the evidence to get the Government to recognise that our rail services are a priority.

Colchester and Ipswich Borough Councils want:

• Faster Journey times and more reliable services – significantly improving upon recent performance;

• Better quality travel experiences – including New Inter-City style trains and improvement to cleanliness;

• More carriage capacity;

• Greater investment in track infrastructure;

• Improved stations and facilities;

• Greater stability – through longer term franchises to ensure we see the improvements need.

The Government is beginning to look for a new franchisee to succeed National Express. We need you to sign this petition to demonstrate the public support that exists for improved services for our users. The more support we receive the easier it will be to make the case to Government for the improvements we need.

A shorter journey time in high quality trains, where we can sit comfortably would encourage more people to switch from cars to the railway. This will reduce road congestion and carbon emissions, as well as helping attract new business and jobs to the town and Essex more widely.

Please sign the petition and encourage others to do so. By signing you will help ensure that the Department for Transport listens to the commuters and train users in Colchester, and the communities along the Greater Eastern Main Line. We need to show that there is very strong support for the vital improvements our rail services need. If we don’t show strength – our railways will continue to lag behind other parts of the country.