Wisbech Rail project chugs along with news it could involve 'light rail' option

The long-awaited Wisbech Rail Project could move to public consultation later this year and is likely to be some sort of 'light rail' option.

Fenland councillors heard that the main problems with any scheme between the two towns is the interaction between rail and road at the large number of crossings that dot the route.

The crossings are currently disused and Rowland Potter, head of transport for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, told the recent meeting of Fenland's overview and scrutiny committee that opening these raised "many technical issues".

However, he said the Combined Authority is ready to go to the next stage, which if given the go-ahead and if land was available would see a 'heavy rail' scheme with full-barrier crossings, running alongside some form of 'light rail' scheme with automated half-barrier crossings, as well as segregated cycle and pedestrian pathways included.

Councillor Gavin Booth asked when we are likely to see a ‘Wisbech Rail Project’, bearing in mind, he said, this idea was originally put forward well over 10 years ago.

Mr Potter replied: “I really do appreciate the frustration councillors must be feeling, but the simple fact is that rail projects take time – full stop.

“Certainly, reopening a rail scheme that is classed as ‘out-of-use’, as opposed to ‘disused’ creates greater challenges unfortunately."

However, he told councillors the business case for a 'heavy rail' scheme was strong despite the problems associated with the many crossings and the significant cost of those to the £230million project.

An application for funding from the DfT via its ‘Restoring Railways Fund’ had failed because the cost was greater than the Government had envisaged.

However, he said during that process there had been some "lengthy positive conversations" culminating in a meeting with the then Rail Minister Chris Heaton- Harris.

Mr Potter said the issues with capacity at Ely North junction meant there was not the ability to accommodate the anticipated two trains per hour from Wisbech to Cambridge, but that should be resolved towards the end of this year.

He said they had since asked the Combined Authority Board for more money to produce a renewed business case.

Mr Potter said:“We were hoping to come back to the Board with a report in early January, but there has been a slight delay for feedback on what commercial demand there will be for the project, and so it is our intention to come back to the transport committee in March with all the information we need.

“If we get approval for next-steps proposals, I’m expecting us to enter into public consultation with the people of Fenland, March and Wisbech later this year."

He said it could take up to eight months to fully know what scheme can be put forward, and he warned that even then there will be possible problems with funding.

He said: "We have to be open and honest about how any of these solutions may or may not be funded.”

Mr Potter concluded: “Once I have more detail I’m more than happy to come back before this committee, but respectfully we’re still building up that detail with the transport and infrastructure committee in early March, then a Combined Authority Board meeting in late March.”

Members noted the receipt of the report stating that they were looking for more detailed information either at their meeting on March 7 or May 9.