Wednesday 24 April 2013 - Network Rail has now issued a consultation draft of its London and South East Market Study which includes the King's Cross-King's Lynn Fern Line within its scope.

Tuesday 26 March 2013 - the Secretary of State for Transport announced the government's long-term plans for franchising to Parliament today. The accompanying Fresh Start for Franchising states that Department of Transport and Network Rail investment "will bring more trains and services to the network. These include: ... increased passenger services between Cambridge and Kings Lynn, and Cambridge and Norwich following work to improve Ely North Junction." The current First Capital Connect franchise is to be extended.

Thursday 31 January 2013 - today the Secretary of State for Transport announced the government's plans for the three paused franchises, including the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise. The current Thameslink/Great Northern franchise operated by FCC ends in September 2013, but the contract allows for a 28-week extension, which the government intends to exercise. It is then expected that an interim franchise (for a maximum of 2 years) would follow that, before the longer-term 7-year Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise is awarded. A full franchising timetable will be published in the Spring.

Thursday 10 January 2013 - the Secretary of State for Transport has today stated that the Brown Review of the rail franchising programme "recommends that the government should determine, by February, our plans for the three franchise competitions which I put on hold last October. I accept that recommendation". The combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise is one of the three.

Tuesday 8 January 2013 - Network Rail has included an upgrade to Ely North Junction to enable "increasing the number of trains running between King's Lynn and London" in its Strategic Business Plan 2014-2019.

Friday 16 November 2012 - Network Rail has written to the Minister of State for Transport outlining Ely North Junction study progress and its next steps. Local M.P. Elizabeth Truss has published details of the Network Rail letter.

Wednesday 30 October 2012 - The Minister of State for Transport has confirmed to local MPs that a half-hourly frequency to/from King’s Lynn (“the 30 minute condition”) will be a requirement for the new franchisee.

Thursday 25 October 2012 - members have today been sent their copies of The Fenman issue 2012 no 4. This issue contains Notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held in King's Lynn on Saturday 17 November 2012 and a Motion to be considered by Members at that Meeting. Members who would like a printed copy of the Association's current Constitution are asked to email or write to Andy Tyler. A copy is also available in the Members' Section of this website.

Monday 15 October 2012 - the government has "paused the ongoing franchise programme" pending reviews arising from the West Coast Main Line franchise procurement. Statement by the Secretary of State for Transport

Friday 24 August 2012 - the DfT extended its consultation on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise until "up to 1700 on Friday 14 September 2012" (consultation now closed). [The DfT's consultation on the Intercity East Coast franchise closed on Tuesday 18 September 2012].

Friday 3 August 2012 - We sent FLUA's response to the DfT's consultations on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise and on the Intercity East Coast franchise to the Combined Franchise Replacement Sponsor and to the ICEC Franchise Consultation Manager at the DfT. Members were able to make their own comments directly to the DfT whilst its consultations were still open (now closed).

Wednesday 25 July 2012 - Intercity Express Programme contract includes option for 125 mph trains - "East Coast London - Cambridge - Kings Lynn." See DfT IEP announcement

Monday 16 July 2012 - Paragraph 45, Railways Act 2005 Statement "The Secretary of State wishes to see sufficient capacity north of Ely station both to provide for forecast freight flows across East Anglia and to provide the potential to enhance passenger services between Cambridge and each of Kings Lynn and Norwich." [A half-hourly fast service already operates between Kings Cross and Cambridge with about two-thirds of these running north of Cambridge, mainly to Kings Lynn, but some as far as Ely only. Additionally, the Cambridge to Norwich service calls at Ely.].

Saturday 7 July 2012 - Members who would like a copy of our draft responses to the DfT's consultations on the 'combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern' and the 'InterCity East Coast' franchises are asked to email or write to Andy Tyler. If you subsequently have comments to make on the draft responses, please ensure that we have your comments in writing (email or letter) by Tuesday 31 July 2012, so that we can take account of them before sending our definitive responses to the DfT.

Monday 2 June 2012 - Once in a generation - A Rail Prospectus for East Anglia published.

Tuesday 26 June 2012 - FLUA members' views on the Intercity East Coast franchise consultation document issued today by the Department for Transport, are invited (please email or write to Andy Tyler by 31 July 2012).

Thursday 31 May 2012 - FLUA members' views on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise consultation document, issued today by the Department for Transport, are invited (please email or write to Andy Tyler by 31 July 2012).

Thursday 19 April 2012 - King's Lynn-Cambridge-King's Cross Growth formula Houses, Jobs, Fen Line

Thursday 29 March 2012 - Abellio, First, Govia, MTR, and Stagecoach shortlisted Thameslink bidders
Department for Transport announcement

Tuesday 21 February 2012 - New station on the Fen Line at Cambridge Science Park set to go ahead

Thursday 16 February 2012 - Corrected and updated: King's Lynn-Cambridge-King's Cross
Issues and opportunities - sketch outline

Thursday 5 Janaury 2012 - Department of Transport issues franchise clarifications
Clarifications - new Thameslink Franchise 2013

Friday 19 December 2011 - King's Lynn-King's Cross services to be part of a new Thameslink Franchise from September 2013.
Notes on the new Thameslink Franchise 2013

Thurdsay 3 March 2011 - Minister of State for Transport confirms all Kings Cross-Cambridge-Kings Lynn services intended to be operated by Intercity Express trains as from 2018.

Kings Cross-Kings Lynn 100 miles of route, 20 years of planning


The Fen Line - Aspirations, Timetable Metrics August 1992 to December 2010, and Peak Service December 2010

Members' section.

FLUA works to develop services on the King's Lynn to Cambridge and London line.

We seek the best for users from the fast-changing railway scene by working with all parties in the rail industry and with other relevant bodies in the lead-up to the proposed introduction of the Intercity Express Programme and its operation on the Fen Line.

Our history

Electric trains from King's Lynn, Watlington, Downham Market, Littleport, Ely, and Waterbeach to Cambridge and London King's Cross are run by
First Capital Connect for commuters, business and leisure users.

Greater Anglia operates electric trains from King's Lynn, Watlington, Downham Market, Littleport, Ely, and Waterbeach to Cambridge and London Liverpool Street. These peak hour extras run Mondays-Fridays only.

King's Lynn to London timetables

There are six Fen Line stations: King's Lynn, Watlington, Downham Market, Littleport, Ely, and Waterbeach.

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