The Department for Transport has opened a consultation on the latest plans for the East West Rail project, giving people ten weeks to input their views.

The government confirmed in the recent budget that it is supporting the full delivery of East West Rail, which will run between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

The Budget also confirmed that the Marston Vale Line will run from Oxford to Milton Keynes and Bedford from 2030.

The Department for Transport has claimed that East West Rail will boost the Oxford-Cambridge economy by £6.7 billion per year by 2050.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is today (Thursday 14 November) visiting the new-look Bletchley station to invite members of the public to give their opinions on the latest plans.

The consultation will ask for opinions on aspects including:

• proposals for greener traction power and hybrid battery-electric trains. The plans express a preference for this option, predicting that it will make passenger journeys cleaner and faster.
• planned timetables and services. At present, plans include up to four trains per hour along the route, with the aim of allowing passengers to ‘turn up and go’ rather than be committed to a specific train.
• revised infrastructure and design plans for the section between Bedford and Cambridge, and for improvement work on the rest of the line.

East West Rail is due to begin operating next year, when train services will start running between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes.

In preparation for this, Bletchley station has been developed over the past four years so that it can accommodate three times as much rail traffic.

Improvements include a new link bridge to existing platforms and two new high-level platforms connecting the station to the Bletchley Flyover.

The number of platforms at the station has increased from six to eight. 

During the ten weeks of the consultation, drop-in events will take place at various venues along the route. There will also be webinars and a ‘virtual consultation room’ where more information about the updated plans will be available.

The Department for Transport has promised that designers will take into account feedback from the consultation as they continue their work.

Last month, the project celebrated its first successful test train run between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

“East West Rail will boost access to education and business opportunities while unlocking economic growth and productivity right across the region, including Cambridge’s world-leading life science cluster.

“With these proposals, passengers can get ready for more frequent, faster and greener journeys through an electrified line, demonstrating our drive to deliver infrastructure that is truly fit for the future.

“This consultation marks a significant moment for the project, offering the public an exciting opportunity to shape the development of this transformational line. I encourage local residents and businesses to get involved and have their say.”

Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport