A HIGH-SPEED railway line which could cut journey times between Colchester and London to 25 minutes has been suggested by a leading thinktank.

The recommendations put forward by transport experts Greengauge include a new line between Stratford and Stansted Airport which would then split with journeys carrying on to Cambridge and Colchester.

The London side of the line could eventually be extended as far into the capital as Canary Wharf.

The plans are part of a raft of proposals which have been put forward by the researchers as part of how Britain’s railway line should look in 2040 following the development of High Speed 2 - a new rail linking London, West Midlands, Leeds and Manchester, due to be finished within eight years.

According to the report, benefits of the scheme would include cutting journey times, allowing Stansted Airport to compete with its London rivals because of shortened journey times and easing congestion on the Great Eastern Main Line.

The report said: “The known and unsolved capacity constraints on both the Great Eastern Main Line and on the West Anglia line can be overcome, but not by the relatively modest level of adaptations to the existing lines considered in studies to date.

“Instead, consideration needs to be given to a new approach that would maximise the benefits of new high-speed line construction.

“Like HS2, this would need to ‘plug into’ the existing rail network and offer a bypass to its most critically overstretched line segments.”

Tom Rowe, who represents Colchester in the Essex Rail Users Federation said investment in the railway would be positive.

He said: “I’d like to welcome the long term view taken in the report, any investment in our railway and infrastructure is always welcomed.

“If our area is to support more people, homes and businesses it’s important that we have the foresight to increase capacity and speeds now.

“It’s yet to be seen how any of these proposals would be paid for but I am a strong believer that investment in infrastructure is always a good bet and encourage the government to be bold.”

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said:”This Government has an ambitious and clear strategy for the future of our rail network.

“Whilst we may not agree with all recommendations in this report, it is an important contribution to the debate and underlines the need for HS2, delivering the rail network this country needs for the future.”

  • Anyone wanting to join Colchester Rail Users Group can contact Mr Rowe on 07375238749 or email thomas.rowe83@googlemail.com.