Media centre

Tuesday 5 Feb 2019

Public inquiry begins into next phase of transformational East West Rail project

Region & Route:

North West & Central

Plans for the East West Rail project will take a major step forward with the start of a public inquiry in Milton Keynes this week.

From tomorrow (Wednesday 6 February) for 12 weeks, planners will hear proposals for the first direct rail link in more than 50 years between Oxford and Bedford, and Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

If approved, the line will connect communities and businesses to create more jobs, economic growth and sustainable housing - transforming the lives of residents for generations to come.

The East West Rail project is being built progressively in phases, and once constructed will create a world-class rail link connecting Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

With phase 1 between Oxford and Bicester already complete, phase 2 involves track and signalling upgrades between Bicester, Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, including the reinstatement of a ‘mothballed’ section of railway between Bletchley and Claydon Junction.

The proposed work will bring huge improvements to local travel, with the phased introduction of new rail journeys between:

• Oxford and Milton Keynes: with trains stopping at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley.
• Oxford and Bedford: with trains stopping at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands and Ridgmont.
• Milton Keynes and Aylesbury: with trains stopping at Bletchley, Winslow and Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

Colin Murphy, head of consenting and environment for Network Rail working on the East West Rail project, said: “The start of public inquiry signifies a key milestone and phase of the consenting process. Our aim now is to ensure the planning inspector is presented with the information needed to examine and assess the merits of our proposals, against the views of others, on whether to recommend to the Secretary of State for Transport that the order should be made. When approved, Network Rail can initiate delivery of the main construction works.”

Councillor Mark Shaw, chairman of the East West Rail Consortium, which has campaigned for the reopening of this rail service since 1995, said: “After more than 20 years of campaigning, the start of the public inquiry is a key moment in the project’s history.

"The consortium will be appearing at the inquiry in support of East West Rail, which will provide new sustainable travel options and play a key role in helping realise the full potential of our economy.

"We are confident that the case for the investment is solid, but it is absolutely right that the inquiry examines the proposal in detail so that stakeholders and residents’ concerns are taken into account by the inspector, before a final decision is made.”

Notes for editors:

The public inquiry is scheduled to start at 10.00 on Wednesday 6^th February at the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, 381 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HP.  It is estimated that the inquiry will sit for 40 days over 12 weeks.  The inquiry will generally sit at the following times:

Tuesday to Thursdays: 0930 hours to about 1700 hours

Fridays: 0930 hours to no later than mid-afternoon

The inquiry will not sit on weeks commencing 4 March, 25 March and 15 April (Easter) and on Tuesday 23 April and Tuesday 7 May.

East West Rail phase 2 is part of the wider East West Rail scheme to connect Cambridge to Oxford. The Western Section (phase 1), which operates services between Oxford and Bicester was completed in December 2016. The Western Section (phase 2) proposes to extend services from Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes to Aylesbury. The Central Section (phase 3) will see the full reconnection from Cambridge to Oxford, and the proposal is currently in development.