The campaign for a second Braintree railway line is gaining momentum after it was included in a wishlist to be presented to Government.

Politicians, councils, commuter and business groups and rail operators have contributed to the Once in a Generation rail prospectus.

The report, which will be submitted to the Department for Transport, sets out the case for more rail investment in East Anglia.

It said: “We wish to see greater flexibility and innovation in the development of branch lines, where in many cases improvements could be achieved for a relatively modest outlay, eg. the Cressing loop allowing two services per hour.”

The latest estimated cost is about £9.4million.

David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users Association, said: “We need to increase capacity because it can’t go on.

“We have got more housing development in the district, demand for rail will increase.”

Braintree MP Brooks Newmark, who has been working with Witham MP Priti Patel to push the case for a loop line, said: "Braintree has grown very fast over the last few years and a significant number of constituents commute to London which puts pressure on the rail facilities currently in place."

Full story in this Wednesday's Times.