Spencer Rail celebrated the completion of a major rail project to improve freight capacity between Ipswich and Peterborough with a VIP journey.
A special hospitality carriage was laid on to take passengers over a stretch of the improved line.
The hospitality train was arranged by Chris Baines and Andy Saunders, of Network Rail, to celebrate the successful delivery of Ipswich Chord.
The train departed Stratford at 8:55am and travelled via Stowmarket and Ipswich then back to Stratford.
Spencer Rail was commissioned by Network Rail to build a stretch of track close to Ipswich Good Yard, linking the East Suffolk Line and the Great Eastern Main Line.
It provides essential connection to freight destinations to the north of Ipswich and ease congestion for passenger and freight services.
Ipswich Chord which has increased freight capacity to allow a maximum of 24 intermodal freight trains per day to use the tracks in each direction between Ipswich and Peterborough.
It has cut journey times by at least 30 minutes and the increased capacity on the railway means there are 750,000 fewer lorries on the roads – a huge relief for commuters on the congested A14.
