The news that the Ely North rail junction upgrade may now not be complete for another ten years is a major blow to rail users, and to campaigns to move more freight off the roads and onto rail.

The £35 million scheme will not be carried out until at least 2019, says Network Rail, who had previously intended to complete the work by 2019.  The project will now be included in the next spending period, which runs from 2019 to 2024.

The news is a major blow to rail users travelling from King’s Lynn to Cambridge and London, and for cross-country services through March to Peterborough.

It was also hoped that this upgrade would help shift more Felixstowe freight from congested roads like the A14 to the rail networks.

Network Rail has sweetened the pill by suggesting that the length of peak-time trains between Cambridge and King’s Lynn could be doubled, rather than trains splitting in two at Cambridge.