England's Economic Heartland

Work on buses will accelerate in 2025 as EEH publishes expert advice produced during 2024 EEH's will further expand its work on improving bus journeys in the region during 2025, following publication of a series of documents produced as part of our work in 2024. Following our Bus Symposium in October, EEH's Strategic Transport Leadership Board has agreed the 2025 work programme which includes: >A deep dive into 'total transport' working with West Northamptonshire Council and Cambridgeshire County Council > Building a compelling case for the routes within the 'Heartbeat' regional bus network > Commissioning in-depth and localised evidence on the economic value of buses per local authority area. The Board also agreed to the publication of the technical outputs from our 2024 programme, designed to arm members and officers with the evidence and information they need to make informed decisions about future opportunities. Read this expert advice here: https://lnkd.in/esffnadw

Passengers and businesses are set to benefit from enhanced broadband connectivity along the section of East West Rail between Bicester Village and Bletchley. On behalf of England’s Connected Heartland, Oxfordshire County Council has selected AWTG Ltd, a 5G mobile private network supplier, to install infrastructure along the route following a public procurement exercise. AWTG will begin work on the project over coming weeks. Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (following a bid formally supported by EEH), the project aims to enhance rail passenger connectivity and bring benefits to businesses and residents along the route. There will be an extension of fixed wireless broadband to rural communities and trackside business parks, and to farms to support agritech applications. The 5G rail project aims to develop a combined revenue commercial model for delivering enhanced passenger connectivity through onboard WiFi. Train companies will also be able to offload data collected onboard their services for operational purposes.

East West Rail will transform the economic geography of the region. It is vital the scheme leaves the best possible legacy, not just for the UK economy, but for the communities and businesses throughout the region. This work, including around door-to-door connectivity and the scheme's legacy in terms of areas such as tourism, will be a major part of EEH's work in 2025. EEH's Strategic Transport Leadership Board, which met earlier this month, agreed the broad principles which will guide our response to the East West Railway Company's consultation on the scheme. This includes ensuring it is delivered in line with EEH's transport strategy, addressing issues such as decarbonisation; maximising door-to-door connectivity; and integration with other opportunities, for example around broader rail connectivity, active travel links, digital fibre and bus services. Following a request from a number of our leaders, to coincide with the consultation EEH collated an information booklet which sets out the positive case for East West Rail from the perspective of a potential user. For example, this includes around access to new jobs and leisure opportunities. Read the booklet below.

Importance of Ely Junction upgrades highlighted to new Secretary of State MPs on the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group have written to the new Secretary of State for Transport urging the improvements to Ely Junction go ahead as part of the forthcoming Spending Year. The letter to Heidi Alexander was also signed by EEH Chair, Cllr Liz Leffman, and Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson. It included the revised Keeping Trade on Track document, produced by EEH and Transport East, which highlights the overwhelming case for the scheme to: > Improve the performance on the railways - By increasing capacity and reducing bottlenecks, and stimulating 277,000 extra rail passenger journeys per year. The scheme has a remarkably high benefit-cost ratio, returning £4.89 of benefits for every £1 invested. > Transform infrastructure to work for the whole country - The new freight services will primarily serve freight terminals in the Midlands, North and Scotland, reduce pressure on London’s rail network, and reduce congestion by 5.6 million hours per year. (Ely is referenced in the strategies of Transport for London, Transport for the North and Midlands Connect) > Deliver greener transport - By supporting modal shift to rail, Ely will remove the need for 98,000 HGV journeys every year, reducing carbon emissions by 1.7m tonnes of CO2 over 60 years.

What an eventful year 2024 has been, with a General Election, a new government and a flurry of policy announcements which will result in significant change in our region and beyond. One of the most important moments for the Heartland came when the Chancellor committed to delivering an electrified East West Rail to Bedford and Cambridge. It was the result of tireless campaigning by political and businesses leaders based in the region and beyond over many years and decades. Next year - on the 30th anniversary of the East West Rail Consortium being launched - East West Rail services will finally begin between Oxford and Milton Keynes. Proof that, by making a compelling case and speaking with a single voice, transformational change can be secured for our communities and businesses. However, more needs to be done. There is a pressing need for infrastructure investment across the region. This was only heightened by the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework housing targets, which mandates a very significant increase in new homes in many areas of the Heartland. This must be accompanied by the necessary infrastructure. 2025 will be a pivotal year both for securing the investment we need and, importantly, ensuring that this is targeted towards a genuinely integrated transport system with the needs of people and places at its heart (we welcome the ambitions of the government's recently announced Integrated National Transport Strategy and will work with them to help shape it). EEH will make the strongest, evidence-based case for regional priorities in the multiyear Spending Review in spring (alongside other opportunities such as the 10-year Infrastructure Plan and Road Investment Strategy), the approach for which was agreed by our Strategic Transport Leadership Board earlier this month. Our priorities include: > Maximising the value of investment in East West Rail > Delivery of Ely Junction upgrade > Improving bus journeys and mass rapid transit funding > Progressing priorities identified within the Oxford to Cambridge roads study > Long term funding for local transport Our region has an incredible story to tell. With its world class strengths in knowledge-intensive industries, the EEH region is pivotal to the government achieving its number one mission of economic growth. Without targeted intervention, a historically successful region with many globally significant assets risks being constrained. Limited connectivity and increased levels of gridlock will reduce the quality of life for our communities, harm our environment and simultaneously reduce the attractiveness of the region to international investors and global talent. EEH is committed to working in collaboration with our partners, to plan, secure and maximise the value of the investment this region needs to realise its enormous potential. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gnfFq6rq

Merry Christmas from the EEH team, join us in looking ahead to 2025.

THIS was the 2024 Local Transport Today summit. This year the Summit came to Bedford. A town at the centre of the EEH area and a key partner for us. We had a brilliant time. Buses, planning for polycentric economies, transport appraisal processes, driving ambition, putting people at the centre of transport planning, supporting the government’s missions and of course a regular reminder of the very significant role this region has in driving UK economic growth … we had it all. It was great to see so many partners, colleagues and suppliers all in one room. Thank you very much to Landor for organising such a brilliant event. Exciting times ahead… England's Economic Heartland Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom James Weir Liz Leffman Steven Broadbent Katie Thornburrow Steven Bishop Jason Conboy Landor LINKS Ltd

Lovely start to the 2024 Local Transport Summit with a walking tour of Bedford #lts2024

Cllr Jim Weir, Deputy Mayor of Bedford Borough Council and EEH Board champion welcomed delegates to Bedford. Cllr Weir discussed the exciting opportunities happening within Bedford and their influence on the transport system. He said that the proposed Universal Studios will bring very significant benefits for the town and the wider region.

Cllr Liz Leffman, EEH Chair, welcomed delegates to this year's Local Transport Summit hosted by EEH in Bedford. Cllr Leffman discussed the challenges and opportunities of the EEH area, highlighting that the region is a test bed of innovation with exciting opportunities around autonomous vehicles and drones. She stressed the importance of delivering East West Rail in full whilst leaving the best possible legacy for our region, residents and environment. She also discussed the need for Ely junction improvements, the importance of supporting bus services and sustainable transport priorities in Oxfordshire.