A study into improving Anglia's rail network suggests travelling times could be significantly reduced between many stations in our region, but would cost around £1bn to implement.

Key proposals in the Network Rail study include:

• Reintroducing a direct service between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft

• Building a new Ely North station

• Introducing an express from Norwich to London Kings Cross via Cambridge, taking one hour 46 minutes

While the plan would improve many journeys across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, the trade-off would be a slowing down of trains on the main line between London and East Anglia.

The document, called 'Improving Connectivity', suggests that trains between Ipswich and Norwich should be slowed down by nine minutes to improve links at other stations and that trains on the main line should stop at more stations.

This runs counter to the 'Norwich in 90. Ipswich in 60' proposal of the Great Eastern Rail Taskforce, of which Network Rail is a member.

The proposals are endorsed by Peter Wilkinson, managing director of passenger services at the Department for Transport Rail Executive.

He writes in the introduction: 'I welcome this work and we at the DfT are first looking to bring this to life as part of our forthcoming East Anglia franchise.'

Network Rail has used Anglia as a case study to test its ideas for how to improve train connectivity across the country.

It says that Anglia's rail usage is extremely London-centric, and that a look at the usage of Anglia's trunk roads shows that existing rail demand is not an accurate reflection of overall travel demand.

The idea of the study is look at shifting the strategic focus of the network's development towards providing better across-the-board connectivity, to the extent that a viable alternative to other modes of transport is offered across a wide range of routes.

The report acknowledges the changes would mean some stations, including Norwich, would require more platforms.

Other infrastructure improvements needed include an upgrade of the lines and speeds between Norwich and Sheringham, and between Norwich and Ely.

So far the cost of the required infrastructure has been estimated at around £1bn.

Mark Pendlington, chairman of New Anglia LEP and co-chair of the Great Eastern Rail Taskforce said: 'We welcome any ideas that aim to improve the region's rail network.

'But we strongly believe there is no business or financial case for any of these ideas.

'We now have a genuine commitment from Government to all our key recommendations and we will be working hard with all those involved to ensure they are delivered on time and to our detailed specifications.'

A consultation is taking place before Network Rail undertakes detailed development work, so it can gather feedback on this approach to planning the rail network and train service.

To see the full document, log on to www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/long-term-planning-process/improving-connectivity/

To comment on the proposals, email improvingconnectivity@networkrail.co.uk or complete the online survey at the address above.

All feedback must be received by January 31, 2015, when the public consultation period closes.