Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the Chancellor’s announcement in the Autumn Statement 2011 actually mean for East West Rail?
A: The Government is committed to developing a new rail link between Oxford, Bicester, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford for which, at £270m, the East-West rail consortium has demonstrated a strong case. This could create up to 12,000 new jobs, stimulate growth, contribute a £38m annual uplift to the South East economy and support plans for development in the area. Network Rail will be developing the scheme further with local stakeholders. Subject to a satisfactory local contribution and a satisfactory business case, the Government will announce how it will take forward this plan in summer 2012
Q: Why has Government supported East West Rail?
A: The railway will provide a new strategic link between the Thames Valley area, the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line. It connects areas where rapid population growth is being experienced and provides a link between three strategic north-south routes, enabling services to avoid congested London and West Midlands areas. Train services on the new route are forecast to create up to 12,000 new jobs and generate over £38m a year for the regional economy. Part of the funding for the work is expected to be generated by local authorities within the East West Rail Consortium linked to housing and industrial growth.
Q: When will it be ready by?
A: Provided planning consents are granted, it could be ready for train services during 2017.
Q: What services will use it?
A: It is likely to be used by a mixture of local and long distance passenger trains and some freight trains. The exact pattern of services has yet to be determined but the East West Rail Consortium has proposed an hourly train from Reading or Didcot to Bedford via Oxford and Bletchley, an hourly train from Reading or Didcot to Milton Keynes via Oxford and Bletchley and an extension of the Chiltern Railway service from London Marylebone via Aylesbury and Bletchley to Milton Keynes
Q: Who will build and own it?
A: The railway is owned by Network Rail. It will continue in Network Rail ownership and they will be funded to rebuild it, working in conjunction with the East West Rail Consortium to deliver the plans set out by the Consortium. The Government looks to the Consortium to provide funding for a share of the costs, as set out in the Consortium’s November 2011 Prospectus.
Q: Why haven’t you committed to go all the way to Cambridge?
A: Plans for the Bedford – Cambridge section of the old Oxford – Cambridge Railway (the ‘Varsity Line) are less well developed. The railway was closed forty years ago and the alignment has been lifted. In places it has been built over. The Government has said it will work with the East West Rail Consortium to determine if the Bedford – Cambridge route can be similarly funded in future years.
Q: Can you tell me the expected type and speed of trains on this line?
A. Within the design development work completed to date the assumption on rolling stock has been that Class 172 DMU will be used, but initially it may be Class 165/166 depending on the franchisee selected and the cascading of rolling stock from existing train operations.
Q. What is the expected traffic frequency?
A. Final train services and stopping pattern will emerge as the start of train services gets closer, but the assumptions made within the EWR prospectus are as follows:
- One train per hour (1tph) Oxford and Milton Keynes, stopping at Water Eaton Parkway, Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley. These services could also start from Reading or Didcot.
Journey Times:- Oxford to Milton Keynes 40 minutes
- Reading to Milton Keynes 84 minutes
- 1 tph from Reading to Oxford and Bedford, stopping at Water Eaton Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands and Lidlington. Again these services could start from Didcot.
Journey Times:- Oxford to Bedford 60 minutes
- Reading to Bedford 106 minutes
- 1 tph from Milton Keynes to London Marylebone as an extension of the existing Chiltern Railways services to Aylesbury Vale Parkway with stops at Bletchley and Winslow.
Journey Times:- Milton Keynes to Aylesbury 33 minutes
- High Wycombe to Milton Keynes 63 minutes
The existing Bletchley to Bedford stopping service would not be affected.
Q. Will the impact of additional train services lead to more delays at level crossings and if so will new bridges or underpasses be provided in their place?
A. Wherever possible it is desirable to close crossings and either replace them with a diversion, a bridge or an underpass. Where it is not possible to do so (due to the existence of existing development) the operations of existing crossings will be evaluated to ensure the least possible downtime of barriers to road traffic.