Autumn Statement 2016: £110 million investment in East West Rail

The government has announced £110m of funding for an east-west rail link between Oxford and Cambridge, including a link between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

In the Autumn Statement, the chancellor said £100m would be spent to “accelerate” the building of Western Section, which includes the Bedford – Oxford and Milton Keynes to Aylesbury lines.

A further £10m has been allocated to continue development work to identify a preferred route for the line to extend east of Bedford, via Sandy, to Cambridge.

Mr Hammond said he was backing the National Infrastructure Commission’s interim recommendations on the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor published last week, stating that:

“This project can be more than just a transport link. It can become a transformational tech-corridor, drawing on the world-class research strengths of our two best-known universities.”

The news was welcomed by local authority leaders in the East West Rail Consortium who developed the original business case for the Western Section of East West Rail that gained Government backing in 2011, and have laid the foundation for developing the case for the Central Section.

The Consortium have also committed to make a contribution of £45+ million towards the cost of the Western Section. They are pressing for accelerated delivery, since the planned completion date was moved from March 2019, to some time in the five-year spending period from 2019 to 2024.

Cllr Rodney Rose of Oxfordshire County Council and Chairman of the East West Rail Joint Delivery Board for the Western Section commented:

“Work must begin as soon as possible on the next stage of a railway link between Oxford and Cambridge. Trains will start operating between Oxford and Bicester to Marylebone next month, and there should be no further delay on the next stage from Bicester to Bedford, and from Milton Keynes to Aylesbury.

“It has now been put into control period six which goes from 2019 to 2024. I want spades in the ground and rails being laid no later than 2019, and trains running as close to the original planned date as possible. The benefits the railway will bring to people, communities and businesses in our region and beyond should not be underestimated. We will continue to work closely with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to make this happen.”

Mr Rose added that developers would not build much-needed housing until they could see the railway starting to take shape.

Cllr Ian Bates of Cambridgeshire County Council, and Chairman of the Consortium’s Central Section Board also welcomed the investment, whilst stressing the urgency of the project.

“I am delighted that Government is making funds available for the Cambridge to Bedford section of East West Rail. This means work can continue apace to identify the best route that will support our region’s economic and housing growth. This, and the promise of the Cambridge Oxford Expressway, will connect people and businesses creating an even more attractive environment for businesses to flourish. Although it is mooted that the railway could be delivered by the early 2030s, our region needs it sooner. Our focus now is getting the right route and developing the case for investment to make this a reality.”

On releasing the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford interim report with recommendations to Government, Deputy Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Sir John Armitt said:

“To succeed in the global economy, the UK must build on its strengths. The corridor connecting Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford could be Britain’s Silicon Valley – a globally recognised centre for science, technology and innovation. But its future success is not guaranteed.

“East West Rail and the Oxford-Cambridge Expresswa can be a catalyst to bring the region together to deliver the housing and connectivity it will need to compete with the best in the world.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity – we must grab it with both hands.

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Media Enquiries to Caryl Jones, caryl.jones@bedford.gov.uk 07785 927210