Latest News and Events

  • EEH welcomes EMR announcement to refurbish electric fleet

    Positive news this week as EMR has announced a £60 million programme to refurbish its electric Class 360 fleet which operates EMR Connect and Luton Airport Express services between Corby and London St Pancras stopping at Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton and Luton Airport Parkway.

    Improving the passenger experience is critical to ensuring more people choose to travel by train.

    We know the current quality of the provision has been an …

    March 22nd 2024
  • Shadow Rail Minister receives briefing on Ely

    The Shadow Minister of State for Rail, Stephen Morgan MP, was briefed on the importance of delivering the Ely Junction improvement works during a visit to Cambridge last month.

    Mr Morgan was joined by Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson and EEH managing director Naomi Green, alongside colleagues from Rail Freight Group, Freeport East and Network Rail.

    The meeting was an opportunity to highlight the importance of delivering …

    March 12th 2024
  • A busy day in Parliament as East West Rail features in both Budget and Transport Committee

    naomi transport committee

    It was a busy day in Parliament today (6 March), as EEH’s managing director Naomi Green gave evidence on East West Rail to the Transport Committee, just hours before the Chancellor gave the ‘green light’ for services from Oxford to Bedford to run by the end of the decade.

    Naomi appeared as part of the committee’s inquiry into strategic transport objectives, with East West Rail being used as a case …

    March 6th 2024
  • EEH Board Round Up- Friday 1 March

    EEH Board round-up: Friday 1 March

    MRT funding ‘falling through gaps’

    Our Strategic Transport Leadership Board agreed to write to government highlighting issues around funding to progress mass transit schemes.

    MRT schemes can have many benefits over more traditional ‘heavy rail’ solutions, including cost, delivery timescales and flexibility – boosting economic growth and lowering congestion and emissions.

    At a time when funding pressures on local authorities are well known, our …

    March 1st 2024
  • Minister responds to letter calling for urgency on Ely

    The Minister of State for Rail has responded to a joint letter from across the private and public sectors which welcomes government's commitment to upgrading Ely and urges funding to be released as soon as possible so that its benefits can be realised for the country.

    The letter, co-ordinated by EEH and …

    January 9th 2024
  • EEH Team looks ahead to 2024

    EEH Team

    The EEH team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    From our work to improve bus journeys and support the rollout of electric vehicles, through to successfully leading the case for investment in Ely junction and maximising opportunities from East West Rail , 2023 has certainly been a busy one for EEH.

    With 2024 on the horizon we asked the EEH team to give us their …

    December 21st 2023
  • EEH and East West Main Line Partnership joint response to NAO report

    Joint statement from the Chair of England's Economic Heartland, Cllr Liz Leffman and the Chair of the East West Main Line Partnership, Cllr Steven Broadbent on the NAO report.

    Due to the nature of its remit, the NAO report has a focus on the role of government and its agencies. It doesn’t capture the way businesses, universities, communities and local authorities in the region have – and continue to - …

    December 13th 2023
  • EEH welcomes Autumn Statement emphasis on science and technology-led growth

    England's Economic Heartland Chair, Cllr Liz Leffman, reflected on the Autumn Statement delivered today in government.

    Cllr Leffman said: 'Today’s Autumn Statement places significant emphasis on science and technology-led economic growth, which our region has a pivotal role in delivering.

    Last month commitments were made by government around the delivery of Ely Junction and several major road network schemes across the region. Given their importance, it is crucial major infrastructure …

    November 22nd 2023
  • EEH supports world class 5G investment

    Businesses and residents near East West Rail are set to benefit from world class 5G technology following a successful funding bid to government which was supported by England’s Economic Heartland and the East West Main Line Partnership.

    A consortium led by Oxfordshire County Council, including Buckinghamshire, Central Bedfordshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire councils, won £3.8m from the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) to establish a ‘5G Innovation Region’.

    The …

    November 16th 2023
  • Our response to National Infrastructure Assessment

    On Wednesday the National Infrastructure Commission published its ‘Second National Infrastructure Assessment’, providing government with advice on the UK's long-term infrastructure needs.

    England’s Economic Heartland welcomes its recommendation to give all county and unitary authorities devolved long-term transport budgets. This is something EEH’s Board has consistently asked for. It would give local authorities – who know their areas better than anyone else - the certainty to plan in a …

    October 19th 2023