Fenland District Council has secured £500,000 from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, offering renewed momentum for the long-anticipated revival of the Wisbech to March railway line. Scheduled to run from April 2026 to March 2028, the funding will support the Fenland Transport Economic Assessment Project, a comprehensive initiative designed to unlock new homes, jobs and economic growth across the district.
Cabinet will hear of the grant funding and vote on it at its next meeting scheduled for February 23rd. Mayor Paul Bristow pledged support for re-examining the Wisbech March rail connection ahead of his election last year. His 44-page manifesto contained a brief but important statement:
“Wisbech lost its passenger services in the 1960s,” he wrote. “Yet the March to Wisbech railway line was used for freight until 2000 and Network Rail’s appraisals show that light rail could use the existing route at lower cost, while also being able to navigate the final mile into the town centre.
“Unfortunately, Labour are opposed to light rail and the current Mayor (then Nik Johnson) failed to back an option for reconnecting Wisbech. I want to develop a viable plan. The Fens reservoir would include significant new recreational use, so future visitors and activity could boost the economic case. It’s another reason to get the reservoir built sooner.”
Factually that was wrong since soon after his own election in 2021, Mayor Johnson was envisaging a light rail option between both towns and indeed went on a fact finding mission to The Very Light Rail system (VLR) in Coventry, which is is due to open a second trial track later this year. Mayor Johnson also supported a Network Rail review that concluded that lower cost light rail may offer a more credible transport solution and recommended further work be undertaken to examine light rail options.
And in 2022 I reported how Network Rail was getting £300,000 from the Combined Authority (CAPCA) to look at re-opening the Wisbech to March rail line with the emphasis on a light rail option. “Although CAPCA’s transport committee agreed for £80,000 towards the new report, it will be in addition to £230,000 already allocated,” I wrote at the time.
The Wisbech to March rail: a story of persistence
The Wisbech to March railway line, opened in 1847, was once a vital corridor for passengers and freight. Passenger services ceased in 1968 and the line was gradually reduced to a single track serving industrial sites until 2000. Despite being “out of use (temporarily),” the corridor remains under Network Rail ownership, keeping the door open for future reactivation.
Over the years, numerous studies – including a feasibility review by Network Rail and technical assessments by Mott MacDonald – have explored ways to reopen the line. The most recent Network Rail Options Assessment, presented to the CPCA Transport and Infrastructure Committee in November 2024, focused on shuttle passenger services and evaluated four rail options.
However, the findings revealed a sobering reality: the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) for all options ranged from 0.10 to 0.27, far below the threshold typically required for government investment.
“To put this into context, other rail projects, such as the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme, have a BCR of around 1.3 and the Thameslink Programme approximately 2.0. This reflects the level of economic return expected for rail infrastructure projects of this scale,” the report noted.
Ms Otter points out that “there are larger scale essential transport projects desperately needed in Fenland which struggle to demonstrate significant benefits due to cost, ground conditions, lower land values and the need for regeneration.
“This infrastructure is pivotal to support the delivery of new homes and jobs within Fenland that are a requirement of the Local Plan (2014). The transport challenges in Fenland need to be addressed to deliver the new homes and jobs. This includes demonstrating value for money and unlocking wider economic benefits to support transport scheme delivery.”
However, she reminds Cabinet to be mindful of the fact that “projects such as March to Wisbech Rail Line have not demonstrated this in accordance with Government business case models to date. “This is significant for unlocking the barriers and secure funding to enable these transport schemes to be constructed”.
Local voices: determined to find a way forward
Despite the challenging BCR figures, local leaders and council members remain undeterred. In an October 2024 meeting, FDC members voiced strong support for train-tram and conventional rail solutions, emphasising that the BCR should not be the sole deciding factor.
There was notable opposition to a shuttle service as a viable option, with proposals for extensions to Ely, Cambridge and King’s Lynn gaining traction. The location of the Wisbech station also sparked debate: while a central site at Horsefair would cost more, members favoured it over the existing station footprint.
Community consultation: transport at the heart of regeneration
Public sentiment strongly supports the restoration of the Wisbech railway link. The Wisbech Town Board’s November 2025 consultation revealed that transport and connectivity are considered essential for the town’s regeneration.
Residents voiced hopes that a reopened rail line would enhance access to employment, education and leisure opportunities, strengthening Fenland’s role in the regional economy.
Legal and financial implications
A grant funding agreement between CPCA and FDC will govern the project, with regular reporting and performance monitoring by the Project Board.
That board will include representatives from FDC, CPCA, Cambridgeshire County Council, Network Rail, Greater Anglia and National Highways.
Looking ahead: timetable and next steps
The project’s timetable anticipates:
- Scoping and early development: July–October 2025
- Funding confirmation: February 2026
- Procurement: Spring 2026
- Phased study delivery: Through late 2027
- Project completion: March 2028
While the economic case for reopening the Wisbech to March rail line faces significant hurdles, the £500,000 funding represents a renewed commitment to finding solutions. As the report concludes, “This infrastructure is essential for growth and to maximise the opportunities within Fenland District.
This article is republished with kind permission of CambsNews. Read the original here.
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