Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (“Network Rail”) of King’s Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG, has applied to the Secretary of State for Transport under rules made under section 6 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the above-mentioned Order to be made under section 1 of that Act.

The proposed Order would authorise the construction and operation of a new section of railway running partly on embankment and partly on viaduct from a point to the north of Hitchin Station to a point on the existing Hitchin to Cambridge line to the west of Stotfold Road. The purpose of this Order is to enable rail services from Hitchin to Cambridge to pass over the East Coast Main Line at a separate grade from services operating along that line and for that purpose to acquire, compulsorily or by agreement, land and rights in land and to use land for this purpose. The main provisions of the Order also include powers to alter, stop up and divert streets.

The application is to be made subject to an environmental impact assessment.

The application contains a statement that a direction for deemed planning permission is being applied for in relation to the development that would be authorised by the Order.

Any objections to, or other representations about the proposals in the application for the proposed Order should be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport, Department for Transport, c/o TWA Orders Unit, Zone 9/09, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DT (email: transportandworksact@dft.gsi.gov.uk) on or before Wednesday, 11 November 2009.

An objection or representation MUST (i) be received by the Secretary of State on or before Wednesday, 11 November 2009, (ii) be made in writing (whether sent by post or e-mail), (iii) state the grounds of the objection or representation, (iv) indicate who is making the objection or representation, and (v) give an address to which correspondence relating to the objection or representation may be sent. (If you are sending your objection or other representation by e-mail, please provide a postal address).

The Secretary of State may make complete copies of the objections and other representations public, including any personal information in them, and will copy them to Network Rail as the applicant for the Order.

All requests for further information, notices or other documents relating to the application should be addressed to the undersigned.

BIRCHAM DYSON BELL LLP

50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL, Solicitors and Parliamentary Agents acting for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited

1 October 2009