Government to upgrade railway plans

Government officials are set to revisit stalled plans for the revamp of Ely junction, a critical railway bottleneck affecting Norfolk and Suffolk. Peter Hendy, the new minister of state for rail, will engage with Network Rail regarding the project, which was initially announced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the cancellation of the HS2 northern leg. The Ely junction connects five important railway lines but is currently operating at full capacity, hampering freight and passenger service growth. The last cost estimate for the project was £500 million in January 2020, but rising construction costs and inflation may affect this figure. Local MPs, including Labour's Ben Goldsborough, have been vocal in their support for the enhancements, emphasizing the need for improved rail services in their constituencies. Ministers have acknowledged the scheme's potential benefits for the region's transport infrastructure.