On March 31 trains were due begin using the new 1•2 km double-track chord built at Ipswich at a cost of £59m, enabling intermodal services running between Felixstowe, Nuneaton and the north of England to avoid reversing in sidings north of the station. Network Rail says that the Ipswich Chord will eliminate 'a major bottleneck on the busy Great Eastern Main Line', improving punctuality and performance on the Anglia Route. 'This will deliver a real boost to the freight industry, driving forward our economy and freeing up capacity to improve passenger services', said Transport Minister Stephen Hammond on March 21 during an official visit to mark completion of construction work. 'In addition, it will help remove lorries from our roads'.
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