Transport Secretary Mark Harper has made a written statement to Parliament about East West Rail, a project to improve connectivity in the Oxford-Cambridge region. Its route will run from Oxford to Bicester, Bicester to Bletchley, Bletchley to Bedford, and Bletchley to Cambridge.

The first stage of East West Rail is currently being constructed and train services are expected to begin running in 2025.

The statement calls the project “a huge opportunity to unlock productivity” in the region, claiming that it will improve connectivity and access to jobs, education and training, housing and leisure – which will boost economic growth in the region and across the country.

Harper’s statement draws attention to the region’s research and development hubs across what it describes as “a variety of highly skilled and highly productive sectors”, naming life sciences research at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus as an example. It states that “East West Rail will allow us to connect these vital sites with a much greater talent pool and allow the region to retain and grow its reputation globally.”

It also points to two government financial statements which it claims support this project:

• November 2022’s Autumn Statement, which included the intention to deliver the remaining section of the project, from Bletchley to Cambridge
• March 2023’s Budget, which set out plans to announce a route update the next steps for the project in May 2023.

The following proposals will now be developed further:

• confirming a preferred route alignment between Bedford and Cambridge, which will include new stations serving Tempsford and Cambourne, and a southern approach to Cambridge;
• changes to frequencies of train service along the line of route to best meet demand
• six-tracking of the Midland Mainline at Bedford to boost capacity and improve resilience
• relocating Bedford St. John’s station to serve as a station for Bedford Hospital
• possible changes to level crossings and closures which facilitate increased East West Rail traffic but preserve public access
• a ‘need to sell’ property support scheme to help affected homeowners

The project is managed by the East West Rail Company, which will consult further on its proposals. It needs to complete a statutory consultation before applying for a development consent order. The consultation will take place in 2024.

The Conservative Minister’s statement concludes that “Taking forward these next steps for the East West Rail scheme exemplifies this government’s commitment to long-term economic growth supported by improved connectivity and the access to the skills, education and jobs needed to deliver national growth and individual prosperity.”

However, local Conservative MP Richard Fuller has previously said in Parliament that “the long hidden business case for East West Rail represents a bad deal for taxpayers, and that MPs from across Parliament have written about greener, better alternatives for growth in the Ox-Cam arc.”