Autumn Statement backs investment in East West Rail

The East West Rail Consortium is delighted with the news that the western section of East West Rail received a significant endorsement from the Chancellor today in his Autumn Statement.

Plans to restore the line from Oxford to Milton Keynes and Bedford together with a rail link from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury and High Wycombe is one of a number of infrastructure projects to be identified by Government as part of the investment plans announced in the Autumn Statement

The Consortium are absorbing the news and working with the Department for Transport to identify key next steps to ensure no momentum is lost following this announcement.

The Department for Transport confirmed the news in the following message:

“Dear EWR Consortium colleagues,

I am pleased to tell you that the Chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement today that the Government is committed to developing the new East West rail link between Oxford, Bicester, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford, for which the East West Consortium has demonstrated a strong case.

Network Rail has been asked to develop the scheme further with the Consortium and other stakeholders. Subject to a satisfactory local contribution to the cost of the project and a satisfactory business case, the Government will announce how it will take forward this scheme in summer 2012.

Provided the conditions have been met, Network Rail will then work in conjunction with the East West Rail Consortium, to deliver the scheme set out by the Consortium in its November 2011 Prospectus. The Government will provide funding to Network Rail, subject to the Consortium meeting a share of the costs, as set out in the Prospectus.

Kind regards,
David Sexton
Rail HLOS Development Manager
Department for Transport”