Newmarket racecourse joins calls for improved rail services to the town

Newmarket racecourse is among stakeholders calling for urgent investment in the rail infrastructure which connects the home of Flat racing with the rest of Britain.

The group has joined forces with representatives of Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk District Council to meet with members of parliament and the racing industry to push for investment in rail services to Newmarket.

The priorities include demands for a half-hourly service to Cambridge and direct connections with Oxford, London, the Midlands, the north of England and Scotland.

Information was also presented on the new East West Rail Link, a rail project that will connect Suffolk and Norfolk with Oxford via Cambridge.

Amy Starkey, regional director for the Jockey Club's east region, said: "Rail has played a crucial role in the history of horseracing in Newmarket and it has a vital part to play in its future too. We have exciting ambitions for the town but in order to ensure our growth is sustainable we need a high quality and well-connected transport system to make our town more accessible to our community, visitors, racegoers, employees and investors.

Newmarket's two racecourses attract a large number of racegoers every yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

“The racing and bloodstock industries are a significant contributor to the regional and national economies, generating £242 million in gross value added to the UK treasury in 2016 and jointly provide over 8,500 jobs to local people.

“Opening Newmarket to a wider audience cannot be achieved by relying on the roads alone. It is rail that has the potential to better connect our town across the county, the region and the country.”

Suffolk county councillor Mary Evans and West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock were among the politicians to push for investment in rail infrastructure around Newmarket in the meeting on Friday.

Getting to Newmarket from London by train – and home again – for next meeting (Saturday, September 21)

Outbound from King's Cross/St Pancras 1hr 24 mins (changing at Cambridge)
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Inbound from King's Cross/St Pancras 1hr 40 mins (changing at Cambridge)
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Evans, Suffolk County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for highways, transport and rural affairs, said: "It's critical that we all work together to give the message that we are serious about seeing rail investment in Suffolk.

"I'm really pleased that working with the Jockey Club we've been able to bring together key stakeholder to push this rail agenda forward."

Hancock said: "The Newmarket rail meeting was extremely positive. We have a clear message that key organisations across Suffolk and Norfolk must continue to work together to make the case for improved rail connectivity in the east of England.

"I will continue to press the government and Network Rail to invest in more frequent passenger rail services at Newmarket and provide wider rail connectivity through East Anglia and the UK."

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