The chairman of Colchester Rail Users’ Group, Graham Male, is right to express concerns that the campaign by people in Norwich for a faster rail service to London could be to the detriment of rail users from Colchester if “inter city” trains no longer stop at North Station.

I can advise those who use the train service from Colchester to London that last month I raised this issue at a meeting, held at the Commons and organised for Essex MPs, at which the top people from National Express East Anglia were present.

I was given a categorical assurance by the railway company it has no intention of reducing the number of trains between Colchester and Liverpool Street, nor to cut out Colchester as a stop for Norwich trains.

Indeed, the forward plans are to increase the passenger capacity on the Colchester route.

That said, we have to acknowledge that within a year or so National Express East Anglia will no longer have the franchise for this part of the country.

And we have to acknowledge the Norwich lobby is powerful and influential.

Therefore, Mr Male has done us all a favour by drawing attention to what I agree is a real threat to Colchester rail users, if another franchise operator supports those in Norwich, who want to see the service linking them with London altered so “inter city” trains do not stop at Colchester.

Bob Rusell
MP for Colchester
Magdalen Hall
Wimpole Road
Colchester