Video: Hitchin rail flyover on track

Plans to create a �60m rail flyover near Hitchin moved closer today (Wednesday) when they were handed over to the Government for approval.

The scheme, just north of Hitchin, to remove one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the country took a step closer to reality when Network Rail, the company that owns and runs Britain's rail infrastructure, submitted a formal application to the Department for Transport.

The proposed flyover would take the Cambridge Line over rather than across the East Coast Main Line, which Network Rail say will greatly increase capacity and reliability on both lines.

Richard Lungmuss, route director for the company, said: "The investment we are planning in the Hitchin area is about improving transport links, reducing delays to passengers and increasing the number of services. Rail users in Hitchin and the length of the country will feel the benefits of this scheme as we remove the biggest remaining pinch point on the East Coast Main Line."

In April, more than 300 people attended a public exhibition of the plans at Hitchin Priory where they were able to speak to the project team and give their thoughts and feedback.

An exhibition was also held at Highfield School, Letchworth GC in July in response to a request from local residents to discuss managing construction traffic.

Mr Lungmuss continued: "We are delighted to have met so many people to talk about our plans for improving the railway and to have received so many positive comments. We will continue to work closely with the local community to understand and address any concerns they might have."

The company hopes that permission will be granted for the scheme by early 2011, allowing work to begin later that year. If this is the case, trains could be running on the new line at the beginning of 2014.