Merry Christmas - and a look ahead to 2025
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the England's Economic Heartland team
Looking ahead to a pivotal 2025 for the region
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 to make the case for the scheme - 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:
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.
According to research by Cambridge Econometrics for EEH (available on our website), of the seven sub-national transport body areas which cover the entirety of England outside of London, the EEH region is ranked first on metrics including economic, jobs and population growth; exporting intensity; foreign investment; concentration of R&D jobs; and patent filings.
However, our continued economic success cannot be taken for granted. Slow productivity growth (only 0.2% p.a) means EEH is now 3% less productive (per job) than the rest of England: 20-years ago, it was more productive.
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.
The essential co-ordinating function of sub-national transport bodies such as EEH was recognised this week within the government's devolution white paper. EEH is committed to working in collaboration with our partners, including local and combined authorities, government and MPs, to plan, secure and maximise the value of the investment this region needs to realise its enormous potential.
> Our approach to the multiyear spending review, agreed by our Strategic Transport Leadership Board earlier this month, is here.
> You can also read our response to the Industrial Strategy consultation
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.
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:
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.
Booklet highlights benefits of East West Rail
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.
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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 (see below) 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.
The information booklet, ‘East West Rail: a legacy for the region’ is available on our website.
...and it isn't just about physical connectivity...
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, 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.
A brilliant two days in Bedford
England's Economic Heartland was delighted to host this year's Local Transport Summit, which took place in Bedford earlier this month.
Delegates enjoyed a walking tour of Bedford, before presentations from partners including Oxfordshire, Bedford, Buckinghamshire and Luton, roundtables on the importance of integration, and an address by Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood. On the second day, buses and professional best practice were on the agenda.
Managing Director Naomi Green said: "On behalf of EEH I'd like to thank all the speakers, delegates and organisers who brought such energy to the event and helped make it a brilliant two days.
"By hosting the event, we were able to shine a light on why planning for transport in smaller cities, market towns and large rural areas has its specific challenges and opportunities, but equally why it is so important to get right given the huge economic potential of our region."
Nearly 800 billion kilometres travelled in 2023
On 19 December, Transport Statistics Great Britain (TSGB) presented its annual summary of national statistics for cross-modal transport, mostly relating to the calendar year 2023. These are available to read at Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2023 Summary - GOV.UK
New ‘Tiger On Demand’ transport service launches
The Tiger On Demand transport service has officially launched in West Huntingdonshire, providing a flexible public transport option for residents in rural areas.
The on demand service offers connectivity to those with limited public transport options. The service allows users to book their journeys between designated virtual bus stops, providing more convenient travel options. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority collaborated with WeMove, who provide the vehicles for the service, and Spare, the technology partner behind the booking app.
Mayor Dr. Nik Johnson said: “Tiger on Demand is a transformative service for residents in our region, particularly those living in rural areas where traditional public transport options are limited. It offers a flexible, reliable, and affordable way to travel, giving people better access to work, education, healthcare, and social activities.”
Other news of interest:
EEH Marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls
On 25th November EEH marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. EEH hosted an event focusing on women and girl's experiences and safety on public transport, discussing research findings and recommendations from projects looking at how transport is planned, designed and enacted. Expert speakers presented their work on women's safety with a focus on how to make everyday journeys safer. Topics that emerged were considerations of actual versus perceived threats in travel choices and the importance of listening to a range of diverse voices.
As part of EEH's Centre of Excellence, future masterclasses focusing on cross cutting topics will be hosted in 2025.
Learning and development opportunities
As part of our centre of excellence offer, we are committed to sharing opportunities for free learning and development from across the transport sector – here’s some upcoming sessions we’ve spotted:
Job Opportunities across the region
See below for opportunities in the region
Newsletter produced by England's Economic Heartland sub-national transport body, based at Buckinghamshire Council, Walton Street, Aylesbury. Email businessunit@englandseconomicheartland.com for general enquiries.