Major change to railway companies serving Cambridgeshire in move towards Great British Railways

It is hoped that merging the firms under one leadership team will improve passenger experience

Railway firms in the East of England have been merged under one leadership team. Bringing together c2c, Greater Anglia, and Network Rail Anglia, the railway firms have said it aims to deliver a “more joined-up and reliable railway for passengers“.

The change has been described as an “important step towards the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR)”. The planned state-owned railway company is expected to eventually operate most rail infrastructure and passenger rail services in Great Britain.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Under public ownership, the integrated railway will be better placed to keep as much of the railway open as possible at the times customers need it most, including through more coordinated planning of engineering work and an even stronger focus on minimising disruption where possible.”

Over time, this integrated approach aims to improve how services are planned and delivered day to day and provide an “even more reliable and consistent experience for passengers”.

Greater Anglia and c2c provide for passengers in Cambridgeshire, London, Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Hertfordshire, while Network Rail Anglia manages and maintains the infrastructure.

“This is all part of our mission to build a passenger focused railway that supports jobs, growth and homes,” Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said.

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, said: “By bringing track and train together under one leadership team, we can plan better, respond faster and deliver an even more reliable railway for passengers.

“Over time, that means better coordination during disruption, more effective planning of engineering work and a more consistent experience for customers and communities across the region.”