The UK’s Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, has welcomed the latest milestone for East West Rail during a visit to Bicester
He met with Network Rail staff on the western section of the toure and saw how preparations are being made for the world-class link between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford.
East West Rail is being built in 3 phases. Phase 1 between Oxford and Bicester is already complete, phase 2 will see major track and signalling upgrades extending services from Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes to Aylesbury.
This work includes the reinstatement of the Varsity line between Bletchley and Claydon Junction, a section of railway closed since the 1960s.
What did the officials say?
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:
East West Rail will transform journeys in one of Europe’s most vibrant economic regions, providing passengers and businesses with a transport system that unlocks economic opportunity and drives forward new housing and jobs.
As a hub for technical and scientific innovation, home to world-class universities and a skilled workforce that drives growth, the success of England’s economic heartland is imperative to the UK‘s prosperity and productivity.
Rapid progress on the project means we will see construction underway on direct, fast and reliable services from next year, delivering significantly better connections for passengers.
Chris Grayling met with Rob Brighouse, Chair of the East West Railway Company, who said:
East West Railway Company is working hard with Network Rail to open this line as soon as possible. We’re delighted to have the work underway. When open this line will boost economic growth, and make it easier and quicker for people who live here to travel in the local area.
In a joint statement, both universities of Cambridge and Oxford said:
We believe that better transport links between these global university cities will help boost academic and research investment across the corridor, providing fresh opportunities and economic benefits to communities throughout our region. Oxford and Cambridge have both seen turnover double over the last 12 years, which has in turn significantly boosted the local, regional and national economies.
As two of the country’s three fastest growing city economies, together with Milton Keynes, the completion of East West Rail will be a vital part of the country’s success over the decades to come.
Nigel Tipple — Chief Executive of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership — said:
We welcome the Transport Secretary’s visit to Bicester today, which emphasises Oxfordshire’s global prospects supporting innovation-led growth, greater productivity and major ‘place potential’ as we move towards an ever-increasing internationally-focussed economy.
East West Rail has the potential to drive dynamic economic growth. With a GVA of £23 billion per annum, Oxfordshire is one of only 3 counties that are net contributors to the Exchequer and – by leveraging the 2 internationally-renowned cities of Oxford and Cambridge — we can ensure that both communities and ‘UK PLC‘ can capitalise on the economic strengths of this region.
Professor Sir Peter Gregson Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, said:
The Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford growth corridor is a beacon of innovation for the UK, featuring world-leading, research-intensive universities. For the UK to thrive, we must ensure that the potential of the region to boost the UK‘s skills and productivity is fully unlocked.
As a leading university at the heart of the growth corridor, we believe that increased connectivity across the region is vital to boosting skills and promoting innovation. East West Rail is an important step in that process and we welcome its progress.
Patrick Cawley, Director of Sponsorship for Network Rail’s LNW route, said
The preparatory work we are currently carrying out will ensure we are ready to start construction as soon as we can. This will enable us to deliver a first class railway and all of the wider economic benefits it will bring to the local regions.
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Responses
I was on a working party in Milton Keynes about restoring the Oxford-Cambridge line in the 1970s and 80s. Nothing happened, so I went off and helped to rebuild the Welsh Highland line, which took some twenty years and is now putting £20m annually into the economy of Gwynedd. The Welsh Government approves.
I come back and the Great Bletchley Flyover is as empty as ever. I agree with Mr J. Feltham, and grow cynical about the capacity of the UK Government to do anything useful at all….
Dream on. A few year’s ago the plan was that the Oxford to Bletchley line was going to be reinstated by 2017. Then that changed to 2024. I’d put money on it that this railway is never going to happen. All the effort and money will now go into the Cambridge Oxford Expressway.
And Phase 3 will be built as a new section of railway tracks that will connect between Bedford and Cambridge that could bypass away from Sandy with a new station to be built near to Sandy. As Sandy already has got a railway station on the East Coast Main Line (Great Northern London Kings Cross-Peterborough). As part of the East-West Rail link. That will allow trains to operate between Cambridge and Oxford via Bedford and Bicester. Avoiding London. Aswell freight trains to also use the East-West Rail line. Aswell new services to be introduced such as Cambridge-Aylesbury, Aylesbury-Milton Keynes and Oxford-Milton Keynes.