A COLCHESTER rail users’ group has expressed concern the town could be excluded from a plan to introduce 90-minute trains from Norwich to London.

Graham Male, chairman of the Colchester Rail Users’ Group, said the super-fast trains would have to bypass all three Colchester stations – Hythe, Colchester Town and Colchester North – to reach their targets.

The Norwich in Ninety campaign has given assurances to Essex County Council this will not happen, but Mr Male is unconvinced.

He said: “If the plan to have faster trains is going to succeed, they need to knock 15 to 20 minutes off their journey, and I don’t think the existing trains can go any faster unless the track is improved or the infrastructure is improved.

“The only way they can realistically do it is by missing most of the stops from Norwich to London.

“This is a real concern for commuters, because it will mean fewer fast trains, not just for people in Colchester but for people who get off at Colchester to get on to the Clacton, Harwich or Manningtree branch.”

The Norwich In Ninety campaign aims to get trains running from the Norfolk city to the capital 20 minutes faster than at present.

Campaigners say this could be achieved by using faster trains, upgrading the track or reducing the number of stops.

An online petition in support of the plan for Norwich trains has been signed by more than 1,000 people.

John Birchall, communications officer for Norfolk County Council, which is backing the campaign, said: “We are not saying every train will be affected.

“There are other ways of cutting times. It would be up to the company taking over the new franchise to decide how best to make it happen.”

National Express East Anglia, which runs the Norwich to London service, is due to lose the franchise next March.