NEW DELIVERY ORGANISATION FOR EAST WEST RAIL
News Front
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Chris Grayling has announced plans to ‘have integrated operating teams between train services and infrastructure’ as part of future franchises. In a separate plank of the policy, a new delivery organisation separate to Network Rail is to be established in the New Year to design, build and operate the East West Rail route between Oxford and Cambridge.
Mr Grayling described the move as pressing ahead with a recommendation from the McNulty report of 2011, which sought to reduce cost on the railways. He says the first step will be the operational changes, which will initially affect the next South Eastern and East Midlands franchises, both of which are due to begin in 2018.
The East West Rail organisation will be chaired by the former Chiltern Railways managing director and now NR director Rob Brighouse. The aim is to accelerate the permissions needed to reopen the route and to secure private sector involvement to design, build and operate it as an integrated organisation.
The western section, between Oxford/Aylesbury and Bedford/ Milton Keynes, is likely to be delivered during Control Period 6, and mostly involves upgrading freight…
