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East West Rail

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mindi Crayon (talk | contribs) at 00:33, 12 June 2020 (→Service pattern: Added diagram to improve understanding of the proposed services on the route). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the proposed railway line between Oxford and Cambridge. For other uses, see East West Line.
East West Rail
LocationOxfordshire,
Buckinghamshire,
Bedfordshire,
Cambridgeshire
ProposerEast West Rail Consortium
Project websiteEast West Railway Company
StatusIn progress
TypeRailway
Cost estimate£1,085 million (Bicester–Bedford plus Aylesbury spur).[1]: 57 
Completion datelate 2023 (Oxford – Bedford)[2]
"mid 2020s" (Bedford – Cambridge)[3]

East West Rail is a major project to establish a strategic railway connecting East Anglia with Central, Southern and Western England.[5] In particular, it plans to build (or rebuild) a line linking Oxford and Cambridge via Bicester, Milton Keynes (at Bletchley) and Bedford, largely using the trackbed of the former Varsity Line. Thus it provides a route between any or all of the Great Western, Chiltern, West Coast, Midland, East Coast, West Anglia and Great Eastern main lines, avoiding London. The new line will provide a route for potential new services between Southampton Central and Ipswich or Norwich via Reading, Didcot and Ely, using existing onward lines. The Government approved the western section (from Oxford to Bedford) in November 2011,[6] with completion of this section expected[a] by 2025.[7] As of January 2019, the Company aims to complete the Central section by "the mid 2020s".[3] As of March 2020, electrification of the line is not planned, but the 2019 decision (to rule it out) is under review.[8] The plan is divided into three sections:

  • "Western section" from Oxford to Bedford on existing lines, including the mothballed section between Bletchley and Claydon Junction; the scope of this section includes a branch line to Aylesbury;[9]
  • "Central section" from Bedford to Cambridge over a substantially new alignment;
  • "Eastern section" from Cambridge to Norwich, Felixstowe and Ipswich on existing lines.

It was initially promoted (as the East West Rail Link) by the East-West Rail Consortium, a consortium of local authorities and interested bodies along the route. Since 2013 it has been adopted by the Department for Transport and, in late 2017, the Government announced that will be delivered by a private sector consortium, the East West Railway Company, (rather than Network Rail).[10]

Since December 2016 phase 1 of the western section, the segment from Oxford via Bicester Village to the junction with the Chiltern Main Line is operational. On 5 February 2020, the Department for Transport made the Transport and Works Act Order for the Bicester–Bletchley and Aylesbury–Claydon sections. On 30 January 2020, the East West Railway Company announced its preferred route for the Bedford–Cambridge section.

History

Origins

The link is promoted by the East West Rail Consortium, which was initiated by Ipswich Borough Council in 1995[citation needed] and has since been chaired by both Buckinghamshire County Council and Oxfordshire County Council.[11] Ipswich Council and its neighbours were particularly concerned about poor services within East Anglia and the links to London. Some success was achieved east of Cambridge, at least partly through the efforts of the group.[12]

In April 2006 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reported itself to be in favour of the principle of re-opening the link between Bedford and Oxford.[13]

In May 2006 the Department of Transport announced[14] specific plans for Bletchley railway station. The document stated that "it is likely" that Bletchley area renewals and network simplification will take place "by 2010", "to include a high-level platform" for Bedford trains. "The network will be suitable for the later addition of any 'East-West' link to and from Oxford and for the operation of through links from either Oxford or Bedford to and from Milton Keynes".

In March 2007, a study (funded by the East West Rail Consortium) declared at p. 38, 5.1 A very good operating and business case exists for [a "base case" for a] 2 trains per hour passenger service between Oxford and Milton Keynes, and an operating case also exists for the Aylesbury spur which would bring further economic and strategic advantages to the subregion. Capital cost for the base case is between £100m – £135m. The base case and the Aylesbury options should be further considered in the next phase of work.[15]

In April 2008, the Department for Transport responded to an e-petition for support on East West Rail by reiterating that they would encourage private funding.[16]

In the 2011 Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne, the East West railway between Oxford, Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Bedford was adopted by the Department for Transport, and £270 million was committed to the scheme to fund its development.[17] This was confirmed in July 2012 when the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, announced that the Western section of East West Rail (EWR) would be part of the government's strategy for rail transport.[18]

Western section

Western section of route connecting Bedford, Oxford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes

The western section will link Oxford and Bedford via Bletchley, with connections to the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line. It will use the Oxford–Bicester line, a renovated section of the Varsity Line from Bicester to Bletchley, and finally the Marston Vale line from Bletchley to Bedford. The existing Cherwell Valley line will form a link to the Great Western main line at Didcot Parkway railway station. Passenger services to Milton Keynes Central (via the WCML) and Aylesbury (via the existing freight line from Claydon Junction) are also planned.[19]

The first part of this work, doubling the Oxford–Bicester line and connecting it to the Chiltern Main Line, was largely completed in 2015 (and fully operational from December 2016); the remaining work from Bicester (and Aylesbury) to Bedford has been greatly delayed,[20][21] and is scheduled for completion in 'late 2023'.[22]

On 3 February 2020,[23] the Department for Transport made the Transport and Works Act Order for the Bicester–Bletchley and Aylesbury–Claydon sections.[24]. The Planning Inspectorate's report had indicated that the scheme was fully funded, as confirmed by a DfT letter dated 9 February 2018, with a budget for this phase of £1,084,726,000, consisting of £150.095 million in Control Period 5 (2014–2019) (sic) and £934.631 million in Control Period 6 (2019–2024) but that, if the Order was not made in 2019, delays of 6 to 12 months could be expected with an impact on its integration with HS2 and a resulting significant increase in costs which had not been allowed for in that funding.[1]: 57 

Planning

In February 2008 the consortium published a business case for re-opening the western section of the route funded by Milton Keynes Partnership (MKP), South East England Regional Assembly, South East England Development Agency and the consortium.[25]

In March 2008, a £2 million engineering survey of the existing and removed tracks was launched,[26] and those undertaking the engineering survey stated that a 100 mph (160 km/h) link between Oxford and Bletchley could be achieved for around £190 million. If construction had started in 2009 as they then hoped, the upgraded / re-opened line could have been in service by 2012.[26]

In November 2008 the Milton Keynes Partnership, Chiltern Railways and the consortium formally agreed to take their proposals forward together. Chiltern Railways would take the lead on the upgrading of the Oxford-Bicester section with its Project Evergreen 3 and the Milton Keynes Partnership would lead for the rest of the line to Bletchley.[27]

In December 2008 the commissioning of a further report, to take the project forward to GRIP Stage 4 (single option selection), was announced. This was to encompass work to analyse the additional requirements (as outlined above), not previously considered in detail, to GRIP Stage 3 equivalent, as well as revisiting the future requirements for the existing Bletchley-Bedford line.[28]

According to section 3 of the October 2008 Progress report,[29] during 2008 a number of proposals from other parties emerged which might have a significant impact on the project:

  • an aspiration to use the route as part of a strategic freight route
  • an aspiration to provide longer-distance north-south passenger services avoiding Birmingham, which could use the western section as part of its route
  • a proposal by Chiltern Railways to run Oxford-Bicester-London passenger services via a [then] mooted new south-to-east chord to the existing Chiltern line. (This chord has been built and is now in use).

Section 3 also states that there is some uncertainty over various parties' requirements for the existing Bletchley-Bedford railway.

Infrastructural assessment investigations would be taken forward in parallel with this work funded by £2 million of contribution, half directly by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the other half in varying proportions from various local authorities' Growth Area Funding allocation. Work to clear vegetation from the redundant section of line for the infrastructure assessment started in January 2009.[30]

Design

The February 2008 report identified two options defined from different perspectives, the "Regional Rail" option (the best commercial case) and the "Local Rail" option (as identified by the requirements mainly of local authorities and business interests). As part of existing upgrades, a new bay platform has been provided at Milton Keynes Central, which will be able to receive the local services. The infrastructure between Oxford and Bletchley required by both options is essentially the same. The spur from Calvert to Aylesbury is only included in the Local option, though about 20% of southern part of the route has already been reinstated under the Aylesbury Vale Parkway project. The line from north of Wolvercote Tunnel (just north of Oxford) through Bicester to Bletchley would be enabled for 100 mph (160 km/h) double-track running. The Oxford–Wolvercote Tunnel section, and the Aylesbury–Calvert line if also provided, would be 90 mph (140 km/h) single-track working. A new high-level platform would be provided at Bletchley, with new stations (under the Local option only) at Winslow and Newton Longville.[31]

The Planning Inspector's report to the Minister for Transport,[1] in support of the (presumed) final Transport and Works Act Order (January 2020), has firmed up on these principles. The platforms at Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Bletchley High Level and Winslow are to be specified as suitable for trains no longer than four cars.[1]: 27  The section between Oxford and Bletchley is specified as double-track, 100 mph (160 km/h) max.; Aylesbury–Claydon LNE Junction is to be single-track (with space but no underpinnings for a second track),[1]: 224  up to 90 mph (140 km/h) but Bletchley–Bedford is to remain at 60 mph (97 km/h) maximum.[1]: 19  The line is not initially to be electrified but constructed so as to facilitate electrification at a later date.[1]: 27  The proposed Newton Longville station does not appear. There are no funded plans for north-to-east chords at Bicester (to enable a direct Banbury–Bletchley service) or at Bletchley (to enable a direct Milton Keynes Central – Bedford service).

Service pattern

East West Rail Ltd plans this service pattern:[32]

  • Oxford and Bicester: three services per hour
  • Oxford and Milton Keynes Central: two services per hour
  • Oxford to Bedford: one service per hour
    • (These two routes taken together imply three services per hour for Oxford-Bletchley),
  • Milton Keynes Central and Aylesbury: one service per hour

The TWAO states that no provision is to be made for a Milton Keynes Central–Marylebone service,[1]: 26  or for an Aylesbury–Manchester Piccadilly service.[1]: 27 

Additionally, since December 2016, Chiltern Railways have provided 2tph between Oxford and London Marylebone using the section between Oxford and Bicester as part of Chiltern's Evergreen 3 project. The necessary chord between the Oxford–Bletchley line and the Chiltern Main Line has been completed and the service commenced [initially from Oxford Parkway] on 26 October 2015.[33]

Approval

In the 2011 Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne, the East West railway between Oxford, Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Bedford was approved and funded, with £270 million committed to the scheme.[17] A new station was to open at Winslow and a high-level station built at Bletchley. The Bicester Village to Bletchley and the Aylesbury to Claydon Junction sections were to be upgraded or built to a 90-100 mph line speed.[17] At that stage it was due for completion in 2019.[17][34]

On 16 July 2012 the East-West Rail Consortium made the following announcement:

"The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt. Hon Justine Greening MP, today announced that the Western section of East West Rail (EWR) will be part of the government's strategy for rail transport, confirming not only funding for the project but also for electrification of the Oxford to Bedford part of the route. EWR will provide an electric link between the electrified Great Western, West Coast and Midland main lines. This further investment in the project upgrades it to form a key part of the new ‘Electric Spine’ passenger and freight route between the South Coast, the East Midlands and Yorkshire".[6]

Developments and announcements for Western section

Vegetation clearance works, 3 miles west of Bletchley, March 2014.

On 10 January 2013 Network Rail announced its intention to construct the western section between Bedford and Oxford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, as part of their five-year strategic business plan (2014–2019). The target date for train services to be operational on this section was December 2017. Electrification of the line between Oxford and Bedford was also included in the budget and target completion date was March 2017.[35]

In November 2013 the East West Rail Consortium pledged an additional £45 million to the project. The chair of the East West Rail joint delivery board, Councillor Janet Blake presented a letter to Transport Minister Philip Hammond, confirming the financial commitment from the Board.[36]

From 1 February 2014 Network Rail began clearing vegetation that had grown over the abandoned track.[37]

In March 2014 Carillion and Buckingham Group announced that they were to undertake construction of the new link, commencing with the Oxford to Bicester stretch, with a contract value of £87 million,[38] but later that month Network Rail stated that there would be a delay in the completion of the line by two years until 2019.[39]

Early in April 2014 Network Rail acknowledged that the busy level crossing in Milton Keynes between Woburn Sands and Wavendon is presenting "a headache".[40] The report goes on to say that the crossing near Bow Brickhill (Brickhill Street in Milton Keynes to the A5) will be replaced with a bridge.[40]

In May 2014 Network Rail announced that the line will be opened to 125 mph (200 km/h) running, the current top speed for InterCity services. It is proposed that CrossCountry services, along with Chiltern Railways and London Northwestern Railway services will use the route.[41]

In July 2015 Sir Peter Hendy was appointed Chairman of Network Rail "and asked by the Secretary of State to conduct a thorough review of the enhancement programme in England & Wales to see what can be delivered in an affordable and timely way within the funding period to 2019".[42] The report states "During CP5 development work will continue into the full re-opening of the route between Bicester and Bletchley [...] and delivery will be started as soon as possible".[43] However, in the table that lists in detail the revised work programme, the route is shown as one of the "Projects with significant delivery in CP5 and completion in CP6"[44] (CP5 is 2014–2019; CP6 is 2019–2024[45]).

As part of the Budget of March 2016 the Chancellor, George Osborne, wrote to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) to ask them to develop proposals for unlocking growth, housing and jobs in the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor. The letter made reference to the East West Rail Link, raising the possibility of further development of the line in the future.[46][47]

In May 2016 the Department for Transport revealed that it 'is considering a new franchise to operate services on the east-west rail link' and that 'development of the proposed franchise will start in 2018 (including a competition period)'.[48]

By August 2016 it became clear that Network Rail considers the project to be 'no longer the third most important project in the country' (after HS2 and Crossrail) and that delivery of the core of the Western Section (Oxford to Bedford via Bletchley) might slip beyond 2024,[20] with the connection to Aylesbury due even later.[21] Councillor Rodney Rose, chair of the East West Rail Consortium suggested that the main causes of the delay include delays arising from rail electrification difficulties and fiscal uncertainty arising from the UK's decision to leave the European Union.[20] In October 2016, the Minister instructed Network Rail to delete electrification from the design, but to maintain clearances to permit a retrofit at an unspecified future date.[1]: 27 

In November 2016 Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announced £110 million funding to ensure completion of the Bicester–Bedford segment by 2025.[7]

In December 2016 the Transport Secretary announced his decision to privatise the line.[49] A new entity will be responsible for track and infrastructure, as well as operating train services, which, he believes, will deliver an Oxford–Cambridge service at an earlier date than is realistic for an overcommitted Network Rail.[49]

In July 2017 Network Rail began a public consultation on the details of its proposals for the Bicester–Bedford section.[50]

In August 2017 the EWR Alliance (the consortium  – VolkerRail, Atkins, Laing O'Rourke and Network Rail  – developing the line) noted that the decision by the Department for Transport to delete electrification from the specification was causing further delay to the programme, because work already done on the TWA applications would need to be reworked.[51]

In November 2017, in its report on the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor, the NIC called for the line between Bicester and Bedford to be reopened by 2023 and Bedford/Cambridge by 2030, and for the development and construction of a link between the M1 and Oxford by 2030, as part of the proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.[52] In his budget of November 2017 the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, allocated further funding to open the western section by 2024 via a new company, the East West Railway Company, which was established in December 2017.[2]

In December 2017 the Transport Secretary announced the establishment of a new East West Railway Company which will oversee the establishment of both the Western & Central Sections of East West Rail Link. The budget in November 2017 announced the completion of the Central Section by 2030 and a preferred route to be announced in early 2019 following a number of public consultations.[53][54][10]

In April 2018 the chairman of the East West Railway Company, Rob Brighouse, suggested a new line between Milton Keynes and Bedford might avoid the problems with the current Marston Vale Line. These problems are the all-stations hourly stopping service operated by London Northwestern Railway and numerous level crossing on the route: these could limit capacity for through regional trains. He acknowledged that this proposal could be expensive but suggested the private sector could help fund it. He also suggested then that the Western Section could be completed by 2022, ahead of the planned 2024 opening date.[55]

On 27 July 2018, Network Rail submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application to the Secretary of State for Transport for the Bicester-Bletchley segment.[56] The Public Enquiry ended on 1 May 2019.[56]

A DfT/EWR report that considers the strategic and economic cases for the Western Section Phase 2 project was published on 7 December 2018.[57]

In July 2019, the EWR Company announced that it will be issuing Invitations to Tender for rolling stock 'later this year',[58] possibly as early as August.[59]

In January 2020, the chairman of the consortium said that, following the public inquiry into the Western Section that had been held in 2019, he hoped there would be a positive announcement on the Transport and Works Act Order in the 'very near future', with major construction work starting later in 2020.[60] In February 2020, Transport Minister Grant Shapps announced that he had approved the plans for phase 2.[61]

In March 2020, the Company invited tenders for supply of twelve to fourteen 3–car (self-powered, driver-controlled) trains on a four-year lease.[62]

In April and May 2020, the flyover at Bletchley was refurbished, with sections of the deck being replaced.[63]


Delivery

Phase 1: Oxford–Bicester

The section from Oxford through Bicester Village to the Chiltern Main Line was rebuilt as part of Phase 2 of Chiltern Railways Project Evergreen and adopted as Phase 1 of the East West Rail Link.[64] Chiltern Railways began service over it, from Oxford Parkway to Marylebone, on 26 October 2015;[33] and from Oxford station to Marylebone on 11 December 2016.[65]

Central section

The Varsity Line route between Bedford and Cambridge is no longer available for East West Rail because key sections of it have been reused for other purposes since the closure of this part of the line in 1968. These include the Ryle Telescope (part of the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory), the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, National Cycle Route 51 as well as housing at Potton and Sandy.

Developments and announcements for Central section

In March 2016 Network Rail announced that the link would connect to the East Coast Main Line (ECML) via (or near) Sandy.[66] In the 2016 Autumn Statement, the chancellor announced £10 million of funding to continue to develop plans for the route.[67]

On 30 October 2018 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Autumn Budget that £20 million was being made available for work to develop a "strategic outline business case" for the Bedford–Cambridge segment.[68]

In December 2018, in a paper published jointly with the Department for Transport, EWR Ltd. reported that it intends to begin consultations on the route of the central section "early in 2019".[57]

On 28 January 2019, East West Railway Company revealed 5 potential routes in the consultation which ran from 28 January until 11 March 2019.[3]

  • Route A involves going from the Marston Vale line to a new Bedford South split-level station with the Midland Main Line then to a relocated Sandy station, south of the existing station. The route then heads east to a new station at Bassingbourn before then joining the Great Northern route to Cambridge.
  • Route B involves running from the Marston Vale line to a new Bedford South station before then running to a relocated Sandy (to the north Tempsford area or south of St. Neots). The route heads east to a new station in Cambourne before swinging south to join the existing line northbound to Cambridge.
  • Route C involves running from the Marston Vale line to a new Bedford South station before continuing to a new junction station at Tempsford with the East Coast Main Line and then continuing on the ECML to Sandy. The route then leaves the ECML and heads east to a new station at Bassingbourn before joining the existing line northbound to Cambridge.
  • Route D involves running from the existing Bedford (Midland road) station heading north then turning east towards a new Tempsford station before joining the ECML and heading to Sandy. The route then heads east towards a new station at Bassingbourn then joining the existing line northbound to Cambridge.
  • Route E involves running from the existing Bedford station heading north then running to Tempsford where a new station would be built then (bypassing Sandy) the route heads east to Cambourne where a new station would be built. The route then joins an existing line northbound to Cambridge

None of the route options connect to Cambridge via Cambridge North as this option was ruled out in the evaluation stage.[69]. However, its section 7.7 concedes that two of its Routes could alternatively approach Cambridge from the north if new information is provided to EWR Co through the consultation that suggests that this would be better.

The consultation document proposes a target date of "mid 2020s" for the central section to be completed.[3]

In September 2019, the Government declared the Central Section a 'nationally significant infrastructure project'.[70]

In January 2020, the company announced that Route E (Bedford Midland – south of St Neots / Tempsford area – Cambourne – Cambridge) had been selected as the preferred route.[60]

Go-ahead for Cambridge South railway station was announced in the budget of 11 March 2020.[71] Three options for its location near Addenbrooke's Hospital have been identified on the Great Eastern Main Line, between the guided busway bridge on Cambridge Biomedical Campus to the north and the Addenbrooke’s Road bridge to the south.[72] The indicative route E corridor for the East West line shows a junction with the GEML south of Cambridge but is (deliberately) vague about the precise location of this junction and thus its position relative to that of Cambridge South; local media reports anticipate that it will be such as to enable East West trains to stop here.[73]

Route option lobbying

The northern route was promoted by a private interest group "CamBedRailRoad",[74] that sought to connect EWR via a new line to the new Cambridge North railway station.

Eastern section

Eastern section of link including Norwich, Felixstowe, Ipswich and Cambridge

The track in this section is all in place and operational: from Cambridge to Norwich, Felixstowe and Ipswich. The plan would see more services on the existing Felixstowe Branch Line, Ipswich to Ely Line, and parts of the East Suffolk Line and Great Eastern Main Line. An hourly service in both directions between Cambridge and Ipswich was started in 2004. There is also an hourly passenger service between Norwich and Cambridge operated by Greater Anglia.

A section of Felixstowe Branch Line was doubled in 2009 to allow freight trains to pass each other at Derby Road in Ipswich[75] and there were plans to double 5 miles (8.0 km) of route from Nacton to Trimley[76] together with other work as part of the Felixstowe and Nuneaton freight capacity scheme. The "Bacon Factory Curve" in Ipswich was completed in March 2014 to allow trains from Felixstowe to continue to the West Midlands without reversing at Ipswich.[77]

In January 2019, East West Rail Consortium released a document to press the case for the Eastern section to Norwich via Ely, and to Ipswich via Bury St Edmunds. [78]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ as of November 2016

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Martin Whitehead (1 October 2019). NETWORK RAIL (EAST WEST RAIL BICESTER TO BEDFORD IMPROVEMENTS) ORDER 201[ ]; APPLICATION FOR DEEMED PLANNING PERMISSION; APPLICATIONS FOR LISTED BUILDING CONSENT (PDF) (Report). Department for Transport (published 3 February 2020). Retrieved 19 February 2020. (Inspector's report)
  2. ^ a b "Chancellor accepts East West Rail targets and strengthens plans with extra cash". Rail Technology Magazine. 22 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Bedford and Cambridge Route Option Consultation: Have Your Say – East West Rail Ltd., 28 January 2018
  4. ^ a b c d "East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge Preferred Route Option Report" (PDF). East West Rail. 30 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Front Page". East West Rail Consortium. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  6. ^ a b "East West Rail gets final go ahead and electrification". East West Rail. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b Autumn statement: Chancellor invests in new transport links for the region – ITV Anglia, 23 November 2016
  8. ^ "EWR targets short-term fleet ahead of possible electrification". Rail Magazine. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  9. ^ Train Services Archived 17 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine, East West Rail
  10. ^ a b "Transport Secretary officially launches East West Railway Company at Bletchley Park". East West Rail. 22 November 2017.
  11. ^ "The Consortium". East West Consortium. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  12. ^ "Eastern: Ipswich/Norwich to Cambridge". East West Rail Consortium. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
  13. ^ "Green light for rail link". Milton Keynes Citizen. 18 April 2006.
  14. ^ "West Coast Main Line: Progress Report May 2006" (PDF). Department for Transport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2006.
  15. ^ "Guide to Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) Stage 2 Report Final Report" (PDF) (Press release). East West Rail. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  16. ^ "East-west-rail – epetition reply". Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  17. ^ a b c d Rail Magazine, Issue 685, 14 – 28 December 2011, Pages 10–11
  18. ^ "Railway will create 12,000 jobs | Meridian – ITV News". Itv.com. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  19. ^ "FAQ". East West Rail. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  20. ^ a b c "East West Rail 'no longer third most important project in country'". Rail Technology Magazine. 26 August 2016.
  21. ^ a b "East West Rail delivery could be delayed by seven years". Rail Technology Magazine. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  22. ^ "Oxford to Bedford: the Western Section of East West Rail is already being delivered". East West Rail Ltd. 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  23. ^ "Transport Acts". London Gazette. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Secretary of State's decision" (PDF). Department for Transport (published 5 February 2020). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |publicationdate= ignored (|publication-date= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "East West Rail, Western Section: GRIP Stage 3 Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  26. ^ a b Little, Reg (7 March 2008). "MK Rail Link Plan on Track". The Oxford Times. Newsquest. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  27. ^ "Agreement with Chiltern Railways puts East West Rail scheme on track" (PDF) (Press release). East West Rail. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  28. ^ "Work starts to complete design for East West Rail" (PDF) (Press release). East West Rail. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "Progress Report October 2008" (PDF) (Press release). East West Rail. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ "Clearing the way for East West Rail design" (PDF) (Press release). East West Rail. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ "GRIP 4 Outline Business Case, Final Report – Executive Summary July 2010" (PDF). East West Rail. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2014.
  32. ^ "Oxford to Bedford: the Western Section of East West Rail is already being delivered". eastwestrail.co.uk. East West Rail Ltd. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  33. ^ a b "Connecting Oxford Parkway to the Chiltern Main Line". Rail Technology Magazine. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  34. ^ East West Rail could be running by 2017 Accessed 14 December 2011
  35. ^ "Network Rail Announce Plans to Construct Western Section of East West Rail Link" (Press release). East West Rail. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  36. ^ "Varsity rail reopening makes tracks". Archived from the original on 20 November 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  37. ^ "Work starts on clearing line for East West Rail". Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser. Johnston Press. 1 February 2014.
  38. ^ "Carillion Buckingham JV wins £87m Chiltern rail link". Construction Enquirer. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  39. ^ "Disappointment as East West Rail delayed by two years". Bucks Herald (Press release). Johnston Press. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  40. ^ a b Network Rail admit level crossing near Milton Keynes is causing a headache. – MKWeb, 5 April 2014 via Archive.org
  41. ^ Hellier, Alex (14–27 May 2014). East West Rail develops into 125mph inter-regional route. Peterborough: RAIL. p. 13.
  42. ^ Hendy, Peter (25 November 2015). Report from Sir Peter Hendy to the Secretary of State for Transport on the replanning of Network Rail's Investment Programme (PDF) (Report). Network Rail. p. 2. {{cite report}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  43. ^ Hendy 2015, p. 15
  44. ^ Hendy 2015, p. 37
  45. ^ Hendy 2015, p. 5
  46. ^ National Infrastructure Commission: Chancellor's letter to Lord Adonis and terms of reference - gov.uk, March 2016
  47. ^ Full steam ahead for Oxbridge rail line - Varsity, the only independent student newspaper for the University of Cambridge, March 2016
  48. ^ Government considers new East West Rail franchise  – Rail Magazine, 18 May 2016
  49. ^ a b Chris Grayling unveils plans for fully privatised rail line – The Guardian, 6 December 2016
  50. ^ "Residents invited to give views on East West Rail link plans". Rail Technology Magazine. 11 July 2017.
  51. ^ "Electrification 'very unlikely' to come back into EWR scheme". Rail Technology Magazine. 25 August 2017.
  52. ^ National Infrastructure Commission calls for major investment in transport links between Oxford and Cambridge Transport Xtra (Mark Moran), 17 November 2017
  53. ^ Central Section Overview Archived 30 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine East West Railway Co Ltd
  54. ^ Grayling, Chris (14 December 2017). "'It shouldn't take two-and-a-half hours to get from Cambridge to Oxford'". Cambridge News. Local World.
  55. ^ Modern Railways April 2018 MK-Bedford New Line Mooted p.9
  56. ^ a b "East West Rail – Western Section – Network Rail". networkrail.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  57. ^ a b Research and analysis: The case for East West Rail, Western Section Phase 2: Considers the strategic and economic cases for the Western Section Phase 2 project of East West Rail – Department for Transport and East West Railway Company Limited, 7 December 2018
  58. ^ Boroughs, David (11 July 2019). "East West Railway Company to launch rolling stock procurement". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  59. ^ Stephen, Paul (12 July 2019). "Tender set to be issued for East West Rail rolling stock". Rail Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  60. ^ a b "'A landmark moment': Consortium delight as 'central section' route is announced". East West Rail. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  61. ^ "Work to build new railway in Bucks given go ahead". mix96.co.uk. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  62. ^ "East West Railway Company goes shopping for trains" (Press release). East West Rail Ltd. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020. East West Railway Company is seeking bids for leasing a fleet of 12 or 14 x 3 car self-powered units with modifications including European Train Control System ("ETCS") Level 2 and Driver Controlled Operation ("DCO") capability, supported by a full maintenance package (under a 'wet' lease). The lease duration is four years, with an option to extend for two years.
  63. ^ Kevin Nicholls (4 May 2020). "Biggest cranes in Europe spotted in Milton Keynes ready for 295-tonne upgrade [as] 60-year-old Bletchley Flyover gets a makeover ahead of Milton Keynes's new East-West rail link". Milton Keynes Citizen. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  64. ^ "Bicester to Oxford - East West Rail Phase 1 - East West Rail". East West Rail Company. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  65. ^ Oxford to London Marylebone railway line opens  – BBC News, 11 December 2016
  66. ^ "Preferred central corridor for East West Rail announced". www.railtechnologymagazine.com.
  67. ^ "Chancellor gives boost to East West Rail and Oxford- Cambridge Expressway in Autumn Statement | Richard Fuller MP". www.richardfuller.org.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  68. ^ "Rail in the October 2018 UK budget". Railway Gazette. 30 October 2018.
  69. ^ Central section consultation – Technical report – East West Rail Ltd. See section 7
  70. ^ O'Connor, Rob (16 September 2019). "East-West rail link declared as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project". Infrastructure Intelligence. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  71. ^ "Government announce funding for Cambridge South station".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  72. ^ "Three locations for Cambridge South station unveiled".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  73. ^ Paul Brackley (25 February 2020). "East West Rail plans go on show at series of community event". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  74. ^ "CamBed RailRoad - promoting the best route for the east west railway". www.cambedrailroad.org.
  75. ^ "Felixstowe South reconfiguration inspector's report – Page 53". Department of Transport. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  76. ^ "The effect of the proposed development on safety and the free flow of traffic and its consistency with national transport planning policies". Department of Transport. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  77. ^ "SITE NAME: Between railway junction and Hadleigh Rd". Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
  78. ^ ‘https://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/29-Jan-2019-East-West-Rail-Eastern-Section-Rail-Prospectus-3.pdf]
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