Transport East

Happy new year! 🥳 As we welcome a brand new year, we also welcome the celebration of 200 years of railways! Throughout 2025, we'll be sharing how rail has shaped the region, and what the future of rail could look like in the East 🚅 Railway 200

❄ Season's Greetings from the Transport East team! ❄ On behalf of everyone at Transport East, we hope you enjoy the festive period and wish you a Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support over the past year, we look forward to working with you in 2025 to enhance transport and travel in the East! Please note that our last working day will be Friday 20th December, and we’ll be back on Thursday 2nd January. Any emails we receive during this time will be responded to in the new year.   This time of year sees an increase in the number of journeys taking place. Be safe, check your route for disruptions before setting off and keep an eye on the weather forecast. - For the latest road traffic: https://lnkd.in/esM_pYey - For the latest travel updates from Greater Anglia: https://lnkd.in/ezPegqpS - For the latest travel updates from C2C: https://lnkd.in/eRwxU-wt

The Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom has announced funding for 2025/26 to help maintain and improve local roads, lighting and cycle routes. This confirmation allows local transport authorities to plan their maintenance programmes for next year. The East is set to receive over £150 million, an increased level from this financial year, with the following allocations: Norfolk: £56.1m Essex: £45.8m Suffolk: £43.8m Thurrock: £3.8m Southend-on-Sea: £2.8m With a high number of journeys made by private vehicle and buses the most popular mode of public transport in the region, this investment is vital to ensuring our transport networks are safe, reliable, and well-connected for everyone. We are keen to see funding allocated over of longer period in the Spending Review next year, which would allow councils to be able to plan and deliver road maintenance more effectively and get better value from contracts.

📰 Our latest newsletter in now available! In this edition: - Building the case for the East West Rail expansion  - Call for Evidence launched for Integrated National Transport Strategy  - Transport Committee launches bus connectivity inquiry

The UK National Audit Office has shown how regional forecasting of EV chargepoint demand can be critical for supporting the transition to electric vehicles. It’s also key to understanding the unique needs of rural and urban areas. We’ve been working with local authorities across the East to provide this vital regional data. Through our EV:Ready and REVEAL projects, we’ve provided the insight to help understand the scale and types of public EV chargepoints needed to keep up with the rising number of privately owned EVs. More info is available here: https://lnkd.in/ghBbygZj

📣 Find out what's new in travel and transport across the East this week ⤵ - 10 Norfolk schools awarded £5,000 grants to support active travel initiatives The aim is to help more staff, pupils, and families adopt active travel options like walking, cycling, or scooting for school journeys. It also is hoped that they will encourage schools to review their policies and safety plans to foster a lasting culture of active travel and road safety: https://lnkd.in/eRDGWxHb | Norfolk County Council - Stowmarket rail station will be the first in the country to have an accessible "AVA" bridge which will include fully-operational lifts at the site where there are currently none. The AVA footbridge is a modular design that includes large sections manufactured off-site, that can be put together on-site in relatively shorter timeframes, the rail firm said: https://lnkd.in/ggJc4n8n

📣 Here’s the latest travel and transport news from the East this week ⤵ - London Stansted Airport published its long-term plan for sustainable growth over the next 20 years. The plans look at how passenger travel to and from the airport will evolve in the years ahead and how the airport will mitigate any impact of this, ensuring half of all journeys are by public transport: https://lnkd.in/eC5aYn9s>   - Southend-on-Sea City Council are asking women and girls to share where and why they're feeling safe or unsafe on an interactive map: https://lnkd.in/eT3j6vdk   - Suffolk County Council has released a draft proposal for the Beccles Area Transport Plan to implement changes and improve sustainable travel in Beccles and surrounding areas: https://lnkd.in/eaHRtFyK   - The rail line between Saxmundham and Leiston to be upgraded. In 2025, Network Rail is set to carry out engineering works on the line to support the Sizewell C project.... https://lnkd.in/e5vXQe_N   ...and initial work on a two-village bypass, around Farnham and Stratford St Andrew in Suffolk, has begun as part of wider plans for Sizewell C https://lnkd.in/ejuUkdA3

Transport East welcomes the confirmation of the timeline for c2c (Trenitalia c2c Ltd) and Greater Anglia transitioning into public ownership in 2025. The focus should now be a smooth transition for passengers and maintaining good standards and reliable services during this period of change. Looking ahead, we will continue to work closely with all partners involved to understand the plans for managing and improving these vital rail services, particularly enhancing East-West connections. Transport East remains steadfast in advocating for sustained investment in the region’s rail network to support economic growth, make it easier to choose rail, and meet the future needs of our communities. We look forward to engaging with the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom for Transport and other stakeholders to ensure that this transition delivers meaningful benefits for passengers and the region. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dq5pJ2AK

It was great to attend the House of Commons last night for the East of England APPG and East of England Local Government Association's annual reception. Cllr Graham Butland made a strong case for investing in the East to ensure the region continues to feed, power, and supply the nation, drawing on EELGA's Opportunity East report. He emphasised the importance of enhancing transport links to unlock growth. Gareth Thomas - Minister for Local Growth - recognised the opportunities for growth within the region, how they align with the Industrial Strategy and how devolved powers and stable funding can support the success of these. There was strong support for transport investments, particularly at Ely and Haughley rail junctions, and along core road corridors. A fantastic evening connecting with partners and strengthening the case for investment in the East!

Our Chair Will Quince has welcomed the new Secretary of State for Transport. Commenting on the appointment, Will said: "On behalf of Transport East I'd like to congratulate and welcome Heidi Alexander MP to the role of Secretary of State for Transport. She brings strong experience of the sector from her time as Deputy Mayor for Transport in London and we look forward to working with her to deliver the government's ambitions for transport in the East. I'm confident she will understand the importance of giving clarity on future infrastructure investment, enhancing bus networks and increasing integrated transport to make it easier for people to make day to day journeys more sustainably."