Southend could have a direct rail link to Chelmsford if a new partnership succeeds in pushing for improvements.

The idea is to be included in July's new local transport plan. It was one of a range of schemes to boost the county's train network looked at by rail representatives, councillors and other interested groups during a special forum.

The group agreed to create a partnership and urge Essex County Council to lobby for changes and improvements.

Colin Cranley, county council's highways spokesman, said: "The representatives agreed the county council should be pushing for better rail services in Essex.

"There are studies going on at the moment into various options, including a Southend to Chelmsford line, which we will review in coming months.

"Additional facilities are needed at Shenfield so people don't have to change there to travel from Southend to Chelmsford.

"It's a long-term project because it takes a long time to change infrastructure. But these things have to be pushed for at an early stage."

Southend councillor Chris Mallam attended the forum and said he would delighted to see the new link.

He said: "It's a marvellous idea. The rail links at Southend are all to London and people don't like the hassle of having the change to get to Chelmsford. It's a pain having to time journeys to coincide to get the connections.

"It would be useful for people to get not just to Chelmsford but beyond and would help reduce the dependence on the car."

But Mr Mallam said that he didn't think the scheme would be high on the Government's list of priorities.

He added: "Southend's problem is that it has no through traffic from the south or the east. If it did we could more easily justify a link to the north."

Other potential schemes to be lobbied for include Canvey to Chelmsford and Stansted to Braintree rail connections.

The forum members said they also wanted to see rail firms deal with issues such as the pressure of new housing and the threat of congestion in a "positive way".

The county council will work with groups such as Railtrack to press for improvements.

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