Ipswich to Cambridge Community Rail Partnership gets underway

11/02/25

The new Ipswich to Cambridge Community Rail Partnership (CRP), backed by Mid Suffolk District Council, is up and running and preparing for its first full year of operation.

The aim of the CRP is to help develop and promote rail services along this key regional rail corridor, helping to align the evolution of services in line with local needs.

Mid Suffolk District Council supported the project in 2024 and now it is ready to get started.

A CRP steering group has already met twice, funding has been committed by all the partners in the CRP, and Suffolk County Council is about to start the process of recruiting a CRP Officer who will lead the CRP’s activities, helping to promote rail services along the route, in line with the aspirations and input of local communities.

Key priorities include:

Raising the profile of rail travel along the line between Ipswich and Cambridge, with its regular, hourly service provided using Greater Anglia’s high quality bi-mode trains.
Encouraging more use of the train for journeys along this key corridor.
Building awareness of travel options to and from stations (e.g. bus, cycle and pedestrian routes and taxi options).
Encouraging rail use amongst groups who might not previously have been rail travellers.
Further improving station facilities in partnership with GA, station adopters and other interested parties locally.
Promoting attractions and places of interest along the route.
Supporting social inclusion.
Greater involvement of the community in the sustainable development of the railway in line with local needs.

Over the next few weeks, as well as working on the appointment of a CRP officer, the steering group will be looking at agreeing a broader strategy and action plan for the CRP, which the officer can then actively take forward once in post.

They will aim to replicate the positive impact of other CRPs in the region, which have helped promote rail services in local communities, champion (and sometimes contribute towards) small scale station improvements (including extra support for the work of GA’s station adopters), help secure third-party funding for other upgrades, inform local service priorities and enhancements, and strengthen the role of rail in, and its links with, the local community.

Commenting on the positive start to the new Ipswich to Cambridge CRP, the formation of which was announced last October, Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs at Greater Anglia said:

“We’re off to a great start with the new Ipswich to Cambridge CRP. Partners are all passionate about the positive impact the new CRP can make. The promised funding has all been committed and work is underway to appoint a CRP officer and develop a formal strategy and action plan for the CRP, which we look forward to being actively progressed once the officer is in post."

“Over the next few months, the CRP will to be able to begin further raising the profile of this exciting rail corridor with, and for, local communities. There is a really bright future ahead for the Ipswich to Cambridge line, which will be enhanced and supported by the work of the new CRP.”

Councillor Teresa Davis, cabinet member for thriving communities at Mid Suffolk District Council, previously said:

“In a time of counting every penny, it is great to show that by working together we can make improvements in our stations and encourage more users to opt for the train.”