1. National growth in numbers of rail passengers.

Headline in 'London Lite', 16th February 2007- 'Railways now the busiest in 60 years'
The number of rail passengers had risen to 1,146 billiin a year - the highest level for 60 years.
3.2 million rail journeys are made every day; an increase of more than 50% since 1996 - on a rail system half the size it was in 1946!
Demand for longer and more trains is soaring, making the situation so serious that rial cheifs are even looking to reopen some track closed by Dr.Beeching in the 60s!

The Norwich - Cambridge service
Rail Travellers between Norwich and Cambridge, prior to September 2000, had to change at Ely. But at that date a through service was introduced, carrying 1000 passengers a day. In 2005, over 1500 people travel on these trains daily, 44% of users previously made the trip by car.

The Braintree Branch Line
With on 50 season tickets, this branch line was threatened with closure in the 1960s. Now with 100s of season tickets, this line is increasing in trafficmore than anywhere in East Anglia, the service now uses 12-car trains in the peak time.
Passenger Numbers grew by 37% in the year 2003-4.

2. Rail Passenger growth on the Marks Tey to Sudbury section of the propsed railway - The Gainsborough Line

Duing 2001 the single carriage train which had been used on this line since the mid-90s had to be replaced with a two carriage train due to the number of people now using the service - in 2008 peak time services are now filling the larger train to full capacity.

3. Public Questionnaires
Conducted in Haverhill and Sudbury, in 2000-2002 discovered considerable and lively interest in renewing the railway.

4. A Petition
The petition requesting the Government and the local Authorities to renew the rail link was undertaken in 2000 --2002, and recidved over 11,000 signatures in favour.
The petition was tekning to the Minister of Transport and to the County Councils of Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk.

The photo on the right shows the Chairman of Suffolk County Council David Lockwood reciving the petition from CSRRA Secretary Rev. Malcolm Hill.