Green transport on track
10th February 2008
The announcement in the autumn giving the go ahead to the Cross Rail project around North London highlights the need for improvements on the East Suffolk line between Lowestoft to Ipswich with the development of the Beccles Loop.
Such a project in Suffolk would increase the reliability of the line while enabling hourly services to be introduced. The Conservatives recognise the need to increase rail capacity and efficiency so that areas like Waveney do not become gridlocked and isolated pockets of activity, but genuine enterprise hubs with strong links to the entire country.
Peter Aldous says, "The upgrading of the East Suffolk line is of vital importance to the Waveney area. It would provide a high quality rail service to London and, in due course, to Europe via Stratford International. It could also reach the rest of the world via Cross Rail which will provide better links to Heathrow and Gatwick.
However, under Labour, transport spending per head in the Eastern Counties remains the lowest in the country, at £106.80 per head compared to £198.10 in the South East.
“The Conservatives will put rail at the heart of Britain’s transport policy. There is a tremendous opportunity here and it is vital to grasp it with both hands,” Peter comments.
