West Anglia Routes

The West Anglia Routes Group (WARG) is an association, with a wide membership, which represents public and private sectors organisations along this key route. 

Current priorities include:

• Recognition that the West Anglia Routes are a national priority if sustainable growth is to be supported.
• New and more carriages to allow train lengthening and high capacity trains, along with longer platforms.
• A Government commitment to investing in major improvements with immediate funding to commence the process of safeguarding, planning and project development.

Key Facts:

• The West Anglia Routes run through the Upper Lee Valley Opportunity Area and major development sites including Harlow and Cambridge.  They also link the international gateways of Stansted and Stratford.
• Overall West Anglia passenger journeys are predicted to grow by 37% by 2016 and 42% by 2021, with large increases for Stansted Express and services via Seven Sisters. Source: Network Rail Route Utilisation Strategy, Dec 2007
• Without improvements, by 2021, 59% of trains will be overcrowded and 27% of passengers will be standing, many from as far as Bishop’s Stortford and Stansted.  Source: Network Rail Route Utilisation Strategy, Dec 2007 
• The West Anglia Routes have the highest Government target for increasing capacity at a massive 30.9% by 2013/14.  The next highest target is 18.8% for the Midland Mainline and East Midlands routes.  Source: White Paper – Delivering a Sustainable Railway, July 2007

For more information about the Group’s work please see our news or contact us.

For information about West Anglia Routes services, including timetables and ticketing, please visit the National Express East Anglia site (Opens in a new window).