A YEAR after the publication of a prospectus designed to encourage billions in rail investment in the region, operators admit there is "no room to let up" as key schemes remain unfunded and unapproved.
The East Anglian Rail Prospectus, which was launched to make the case for regional rail investment in both Essex, and the whole of the East of England, identified the delivery of reduced journey times, and increased capacity on lines running through Chelmsford.
But looking back at these goals at a rail summit held in Westminster on July 16, the franchise operators admit these schemes have made "limited progress", despite successes elsewhere in the plans.
"We believe that if you look at these goals objectively you would say there is a lot more to do," said Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs at Greater Anglia.
"Our priorities are to secure funding and the delivery of these schemes which stand out as two aspirations for this decade.
"The rail summit was the chance to provide a snapshot of how we are doing and, also a re-affirmation that a co-ordinated approach, working alongside other stakeholders, is the way forward."
The report, compiled by an alliance of supporters including politicians, passenger groups and Greater Anglia, listed 21 projects across the region to improve railway infrastructure and services.
Published in July 2012, it was used as part of a successful bid to secure £2.2 billion of funding from Network Rail in January this year, a move hailed as the biggest investment in the region's railways since Victorian times.
A dozen of the goals identified in the prospectus have now either been achieved or been given approval to go ahead.
Among the successes are train-service punctuality which is now measured at 92.8 per cent, pilot schemes for print at home ticketing are being trialled along a number of routes, and "refresh" schemes have been delivered at over 90 stations.
But plans to increase line speeds along routes running through Chelmsford, and the introduction of "4-tracking" to improve capacity along a section north of the city remain on hold.
Support for this latter infrastructure scheme, which will facilitate plans for the new station at Beaulieu Park, was also forthcoming from local politicians speaking at the rail summit, including Witham MP Priti Patel.
"Adding a new track north of Chelmsford is critical to the whole of the Great East Main Line. Without that new capacity, commuters and freight services will be unable to fully benefit from more reliable services and quicker line speeds," said Mrs Patel.
"Around £3.7 billion could be added to the region's economy if our rail infrastructure and services are modernised and investment in the Great East Main Line in the Chelmsford area will unlock a large number of new jobs and growth."
The plans for a second station in Chelmsford had been agreed alongside the development from Countryside Properties for 3,600 homes, and a 40,000-square metre business park to the north of the city.
However the obligation upon the developer to construct the station does not extend to the upgrades needed to signalling, passing loops and tracks.
