Media centre

Tuesday 5 Mar 2024

MEDIA INVITE: ‘East meets West’: rail project connects Oxford with Bletchley for first time in 50 years

Region & Route:

North West & Central: West Coast Mainline South

WHAT: An event to mark the coming together of the tracks on Connection Stage One (CS1) of the East West Rail project. The final section of track connecting Bicester and Bletchley will be laid Thursday (7 March) as part of the East West Rail (EWR) project to improve rail connectivity between Cambridge and Oxford. The project began by rebuilding Bletchley flyover, the first phase of the track work started in 2021. Since then 66 kilometres of new track has been laid. Passenger services are expected to start next year.

WHEN: Thursday 7 March 13:30-15:40 (16:30 if station visit included)

WHERE: B1 compound by level crossing, Queen Catherine Road, Steeple Claydon, MK18 2ER

CONTACT ON THE DAY: Lucy Greggs (Network Rail senior communications manager) 07395385582

INTERVIEWEES:

• Huw Merriman, Rail Minister (please contact Jake Alexander, Press Officer - Department for Transport 07977695958)
• Eoin O’Neil, Director for Capital Delivery at Network Rail
• Beth West, CEO, East West Railway Company
• Mark Cuzner, EWR Alliance Director

WHAT THERE IS TO FILM ON THE DAY: 

• Ceremony to commemorate the completion of track laying between Bicester and Bletchley for Connection Stage One (CS1) of East West Rail, Rail minister to ‘clip’ track together
• Access to site where the final section of track has been laid
• An option for a visit to Winslow station 

PROJECT STATS AND FACTS:

• Use of a New Track Construction train (NTC) to install up to 85 per cent of track
• 63 shifts completed with the NTC, one shift achieving 1.4km of new track in ten hours
• Delivering all track materials via rail rather than lorries, reducing traffic and carbon emissions
• 66,353 metres of track laid
• 99,320 railway sleepers laid
• 267,266 tonnes of ballast (railway stones) used
• 18 units switches and crossings (that help trains to switch tracks)
• 427 rails delivered by Long Welded Rail Train (LWRT) totalling 216 metres in length

SAFETY INFORMATION/EQUIPMENT: This is a working site, so reporters and camera crews will always need to be accompanied and must follow the safety instructions from those on site.

On arrival detailed safety briefing will be given before accessing the site. Full personal protective equipment (PPE) of hi visibility jacket, trousers, hard hat will be provided. As steel toecap boots are in limited supply please bring your own if you have them.

HOW TO CONFIRM ATTENDANCE: Please confirm attendance by emailing lucy.greggs@networkrail.co.uk or calling 07395385582 no later than 2pm on Wednesday 6 March with PPE, shoe sizes and car registrations.