Latest News and Events

  • Opportunities for active travel across boundaries highlighted in new strategy

    Opportunities to improve cross-boundary active travel links are detailed in the second part of England’s Economic Heartland’s active travel strategy.

    Fifteen links which have the highest potential impact on modal shift were identified from a combination of stakeholder input and analysis of data, including demographics, network coherence, public transport hubs, planned housing and employment sites, educational establishments and propensity to cycle.

    Part two of the strategy also contains suggested targets …

    July 19th 2023
  • Benefits of Ely Junction enhancements recognised at Parliament meeting

    Cross party, cross industry and cross country support for upgrading Ely rail junction was demonstrated as the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group hosted the launch of EEH and Transport East’s brochure Keeping Trade on Track in Parliament on Monday 19 June.

    Co-chairs Peter Aldous MP and Daniel Zeichner MP were joined by Iain Stewart MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee and Tan Dhesi MP, Labour Minister for Rail, …

    June 23rd 2023
  • New report highlights Ely’s importance in keeping Britain’s trade on track

    Keeping Trade on Track was updated in autumn 2024. Latest version here.

    Nationwide business and political support for increasing rail freight capacity at Ely is showcased in a new report produced by England’s Economic Heartland and Transport East.

    ‘Keeping Trade on Track’ highlights the importance of delivering the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme, which would significantly increase the amount of rail freight heading to the Midlands and north from Felixstowe, …

    June 1st 2023
  • Government announces East West Rail route update

    The government has today announced its route update for East West Rail between Bletchley and Cambridge as part of an ambitious life sciences package to support economic growth across the UK. East West Rail is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our region and the UK – EEH will work to ensure it has a positive and lasting legacy for the places it serves.

    Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The cities of …

    May 26th 2023
  • Your chance to help shape upcoming connectivity studies

    England’s Economic Heartland has launched a ‘call for evidence’ to inform the development of our next two connectivity studies: ‘Thames Valley-Buckinghamshire-Milton Keynes-Northampton’ and the ‘southern east-west corridor’ covering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

    The connectivity studies are an important part of EEH’s work programme, developing an evidence base that shows what the most effective connectivity solutions are for key corridors across the region. The evidence captured will be used to shape …

    May 12th 2023
  • Expert advice on buses now available on our website

    Expert-led guidance and advice on all aspects of planning for and managing a local bus network, across a variety of formats such as webinars, one-to-one support, technical notes and toolkits, has today been published on EEH’s website. This included topics as varied as:

    ● Fares and ticketing
    ● Data analysis, monitoring and evaluation
    ● Low cost and quick wins
    ● Building a strong case for bus priority
    ● Bus infrastructure …

    May 5th 2023
  • EEH Managing Director Appears Before Transport Committee

    transport committee meeting

    Naomi Green gives evidence on strategic road investment.

    This morning Naomi Green, Managing Director of England's Economic Heartland, appeared before the Transport Committee.

    She gave evidence on the importance of strategic road investment from an STB perspective.

    EEH was joined by representatives from Transport for the North and Midland's Connect.

    To watch the discussion click here.

    March 29th 2023
  • England’s Economic Heartland providing leadership on mobility hubs

    The most in-depth guidance yet on how to develop business cases for mobility hubs – particularly in more rural areas – has been published by England’s Economic Heartland.

    The work will support local authorities in the region – and potentially across the country – as they plan visible, safe, and accessible spaces where public, shared and active travel modes are co-located.

    The guidance was developed with support from the charity …

    March 9th 2023
  • Region’s prowess in future mobility demonstrated by successful funding bids

    Region’s prowess in future mobility demonstrated by successful funding bids

    The region’s vital contribution to UK innovation has been demonstrated again after the government backed several ‘future mobility’ projects in the Heartland with millions of pounds in funding.

    Four projects in Cambridgeshire, Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire received funding to progress work associated with connected and autonomous vehicles, including a bid to support dedicated driverless space on the HERT rapid transit …

    March 9th 2023
  • Meeting with minister over electric vehicle charge points

    Leaders from England’s Economic Heartland met with Minister of State for Decarbonisation and Technology, Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, earlier this month to discuss how the region is planning the rollout of electric vehicle charge points.

    Charging infrastructure will be needed to support the exponential growth in electric vehicles over the next decade. For example, the government expects the number of public charge points to increase tenfold by 2030 – …

    January 20th 2023