A national business group has thrown its weight behind the East West Rail project and is urging the government to release funding for the rail link.

The CBI says releasing funds for the next stage of the project will provide much-needed confidence to the area's businesses.

EWR is proposing a new rail link line between Cambridge and Oxford, which will run close to St Neots as part of a plan to improve east-west transport connectivity.

The CBI also believes the rail link will bring huge benefits to people who want to travel for leisure purposes. The rail link could cut current journey times by car in half.

In a report, the CBI has said: "The Government should also set out a timeline for when the subsequent rounds of funding will be committed to provide confidence to business and investors.

"By capitalising on the world-leading opportunities in the Oxford Cambridge Corridor, this will deliver a further £50bn GVA to the economy by 2030 and propel the UK's ambitions to become a Science and Technology Superpower.63.

"Investment into the corridors knowledge economy will create commercialisation opportunities for industries to grow in high priority areas around the country, helping us build back from the pandemic and navigate the cost-of-living crisis."

When the plans were released, concerns were raised in St Neots about the disruption for those living in the town and also plans for two viaducts.

Cambridgehire County councillor and chair of CCC, Cllr Stephen Ferguson, has said he is "disappointed" about the lack of communication from EWR.

"It’s unacceptable that a year and nine months after the route consultation closed that EWR have not published the results or updated their route choices in response to it.  

"Neither has EWR responded to the reasonable request to publish their business case, made by myself and many other elected representatives from across Cambridgeshire.

"I urge EWR to urgently publish the results of the consultation, clarify their route choices, and to remove the shadow of uncertainty that blights affected communities."