Marsh Gibbon and Calvert residents' views sought on East West Rail railway crossings. Public meeting 22nd October 2014

Local residents from Marsh Gibbon and Calvert will have the opportunity to give their views on how railway crossing safety can be improved in their area by attending a public consultation event on Wednesday 22 October.

As part of the East West Rail project, Network Rail is undertaking a study looking at how to make the planned reinstated railway between Bletchley and Bicester safe for everyone to use.

The study covers public road and footpath crossings as well as private farm crossings in the area. The crossings  being considered are those along the mothballed section of railway between Marsh Gibbon and Calvert.

Charles Hurst, Network Rail’s project manager for East West Rail, said: “Safety on and around the railway is a top priority for us.

“The East West Rail project will open up many new journey opportunities, but we want to make sure that the reinstated sections of railway are safe for everyone to use, which is why we are undertaking this study.

“So far, we have discussed our initial proposals with the local authority, landowners and ramblers, but we are keen to hear the wider community’s views. This event gives us the chance to share our initial plans with residents and invite them to give us the benefit of their local knowledge and experience.”

Details of the public consultation event are as follows:

Date: Wednesday 22 October
Time: Drop-in anytime between 5.30 and 8.30pm
Location:  Marsh Gibbon, Church of England School, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire OX27 OHJ.

Notes to Editors

The East West Rail project plans to reintroduce passenger and freight services between Bedford and Oxford, and between Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. It will connect the Great Western, West Coast and Midland main lines, creating many new journey opportunities, reducing journey times and avoiding the need to travel via London.

The work involves re-constructing and upgrading disused and underused sections of track and signalling between Bletchley and Claydon junctions and upgrading other sections of the line.

For more information about East West Rail, visit www.eastwestrail.org.uk.