News Front
Phased approach to opening, starting with Oxford to Milton Keynes
FUNDING OF £760 million has been confirmed for the Bicester to Bletchley section of East West Rail, which it is hoped will open in December 2024.
Government says two trains per hour will run between Oxford and Milton Keynes via Bletchley by 2025. The ultimate ambition is to restore direct services between Oxford and Cambridge by the end of the decade, which will require the construction of a new build line between Bedford and Cambridge.
The East West Rail Company, the Government’s arm’s length body which is overseeing delivery of the project, has confirmed the scheme will consist of three ‘connection stages’ as part of a phased approach to delivery. It says the phased approach will deliver best value for taxpayers, minimise disruption for local communities and increase reliability of services.
Connection Stage One, to which the funding announcement refers, covers the Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes stretch, being delivered by Network Rail in an alliance with Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail. The company has highlighted the importance of delivering a reliable service and says this means initial services may terminate …
