Rail bosses from across the country have joined a new campaign to insist they are working together to improve services – with East Anglia at the forefront.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies and Network Rail, has drawn up a new plan to improve services called “In Partnership for Britain’s Prosperity.”

As part of this it published a poll of East Anglian business leaders that showed 77% believe that joint private/public investment in the rail network will boost the economy.

The report does not contain specific promises of new investment like a commitment to rebuild the Haughley junction on the Great Eastern main line or a timescale to rebuild Ely North junction.

But it does pledge to increase passenger satisfaction with rail services and to create more jobs.

And it says that over the next 18 months passengers will see a transformation in rail services – every train on the Greater Anglia network will be replaced during 2019 and 2020.

It will be the first time since the steam era that a rail network in Britain will have seen brand new trains introduced on every service.

Jamie Burles, Managing Director of Greater Anglia, said: “Together with Network Rail we are investing billions of pounds into the East Anglian rail network to transform it into a modern railway, thereby improving customers’ journeys and providing better connections between communities across the region.

“This plan illustrates how rail companies are working together, with public and private sector investment, investing in trains, stations, infrastructure and our dedicated employees to provide the excellent services our customers rightly expect.”

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia said: “The railway is key to the long-term prosperity of the Anglia region.

“Operating as a partnership railway, with income from both public and private sectors, we are bringing vital investment that will improve services for business, communities and passengers, which is critical to powering economic growth.

“This plan will benefit the region now and make Anglia a place where people want to live, work and invest.”