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A Network Rail upgrade to a freight line in Cambridgeshire has been put on hold after the troubled infrastructure client said it couldn鈥檛 afford to carry out the work.

Network Rail said the scheme between Ely and Soham, part of a 拢35m project to upgrade the freight line between Nuneaton and Felixstowe, was 鈥渇ar more complex鈥� than it had anticipated, adding that more funding was needed if the scheme is to be completed in Control Period 5.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: 鈥淓arlier this year, we held our first feasibility consultation with residents and other interest parties in the Ely area to try and better understand the impact of the proposal to install a second track between Ely and Soham.  

鈥淪ince then a lot of detailed work has been undertaken including surveys and ground investigation works.

鈥淭his work has identified that this project is far more complex than we anticipated meaning the funding required to deliver the project by 2019 is more than the budget available.  

鈥淥wing to this, we have decided to put this project on hold until funding can be identified to deliver it. All the work we have done so far will inform any future scheme and we will keep people in the area informed.鈥�

Network Rail confirmed that a contract for the construction work hasn鈥檛 yet been awarded.

Atkins was the design contractor on the scheme, which was to be delivered by VolkerFitzpatrick as part of a multi-functional framework contract.

Network Rail confirmed planning for the scheme will still be completed, but a contract for the delivery phase has not yet been put in place.