POPULATION

Figures shown in the box tell how the population of the area served by the Stour Valley line has increased since the closure of the former railway in 1967. (Note that the population of Haverhill was less than 10,000 at the time of the line's closure.) The growth of population throughout the area has continued since the 2001 census, and currently several thousands of new houses are either under construction or are planned for the near future.

INDUSTRY

Cambridge, Haverhill, Sudbury and Colchester all have considerable industries and business parks. Haverhill is one the fastest-growing industrial towns in East Anglia.

A railway would serve the need for distribution of products, and enable workers to find varied employment Increased trade with continental Europe via Felixstowe and Harwich would be served by this east-west rail route.

SERVICES AND SHOPPING
All along the route there are thriving markets and shops, as well as schools, colleges, and universities serving thousands of pupils and students. There are hospitals and medical centres, and administrative offices to which people have to travel.

LEISURE AND TOURISM
Leisure and tourism attractions are found all along the line -
CAMBRIDGE - Cricket, soccer, rugby, rowing, theatres, museums, historic colleges
LINTON - village college, zoo
HAVERHILL - arts and leisure centres
CLARE - country park and museum
LONG MELFORD - stately homes, antique and book fares, antique shops, historic church
SUDBURY - soccer, rugby, rowing, museums and theatre
CHAPPEL AND WAKES COLNE - railway museum, art gallery
COLCHESTER - soccer, rugby, leisure centres, theatre and castle museum

LINKS WITH EUROPE AND THE WORLD

Joining with the National Rail Network would give our people access to the various means of travel linking us with continental Europe and the wider word:

THE FERRY PORT OF HARWICH
THE FREIGHT PORT OF FELIXSTOWE
STANSTED AIRPORT
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL/CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK

SPEED AND SAFETY

A speedy journey by train would reduce traveling time – compared to buses, and would be safer than traveling by car.  [Cambridge to Haverhill by bus: 60 minutes; by train: 30 m. Haverhill to Sudbury by bus: 55 minutes; by train: 25 m.]
Frequent fatalities and injuries have occurred on the A1307, and local people, especially in Linton, have long campaigned for remedial action.

ENVIRONMENT

This passenger and freight railway would reduce the number of cars and lorries on the roads, and so lessen pollution of our towns and countryside. The single-track railway would use less land than widened roads.