IMPROVEMENTS to the region's rail network could bring an extra £4.1 billion into the economy by 2026 and a further £1.3 billion of capital investment with the creation of 48,000 jobs.
In Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement, the Government took on all the recommendations of the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce that was set up to get more funding for the region's rail network.
These improvements include an additional service per hour along with other timetable changes, plus new and faster trains, as part of Greater Anglia's short-term franchise extension to October 2016.
Improvements to rail infrastructure, including the quality of track, will enable faster running services of up to 110mph, with journey times from London to Norwich slashed to 90 minutes and London to Colchester down to 40 minutes.
In the first two-and-a-half years of the franchise, Abellio Greater Anglia made a profit of £4 million, with £150 million going back to the Government each year.
"There's been underinvestment in the region for years so it is the time to make the case for East Anglia to get an increase in funding," said Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs at Abellio Greater Anglia and member of the (GEML) task force.
"We are a profitable franchise and a region that contributes positively to the country's GDP."
One of the items on the wish list included a loop north of Witham, which could include an extra track at Cressing so that trains going in opposite directions could pass each other and therefore double the amount of trains from Braintree to London.
Another option could be to build a shuttle line from Braintree to Witham so that passengers could link up with the more frequent service to London.
The first phase of the improvements by Network Rail will see some line speed increases on the Intercity trains that run from Norwich to Liverpool Street between 2015 and 2016.
The second phase of upgraded or new rolling stock is likely to be on the whole of the East Anglia mainline, probably around 2019 after the franchise has been decided.
The third phase is the additional infrastructure improvements, such as loops north of Witham and improvements to overhead lines, the track and signalling that could happen between 2019 to 2024.
Mr Denby told the Chronicle: "It's important the commitments that have been made by the Government are kept regardless of the election.
"We have pushed for these improvements and will continue to do the best for customers."
A Government consultation is under way that gives passengers the chance to have their say on how the new franchise operates.
An invitation to tender will be sent out to between three and five bidding companies, then around August 2015 the Government will announce the winning bidder for new Greater Anglia franchise to start the new franchisee in June 2016.
"These improvements will be subject to who wins a new deal for the franchise, but passengers can have a say what kind of franchise companies they will be bidding against. I would encourage people to take part," Mr Denby added.
The consultation will run until 16 March 2015 and can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/east-anglia-rail- passenger-franchise
