Have your say on plans to transform east-west rail services

The views of residents, businesses and passengers are being sought on the next stage of plans to continue the transformation of cross country rail services in Britain.

The consultation on Western Section Phase 2 of East West Rail, starting today (Friday 30 June), is an opportunity to discuss and comment on initial plans to help shape its future development.

The East West Rail project will make cross country travel easier, re-establishing a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England.

Phase 2 of the western section of the project will introduce direct rail passenger services between Bedford and Oxford, Milton Keynes and Oxford, and Milton Keynes and London Marylebone via Aylesbury. It will mean passengers and freight services can make the journey between Bedford and Oxford without having to travel in and out of London.

The work is being funded by the Department for Transport with a contribution from the East West Rail Consortium*.

Dominic Baldwin, Network Rail’s project director for East West Rail, said: “We want as many people as possible to engage with our plans which will make travel across Britain easier. There are many different ways the public can participate including drop in events, a dedicated website and an app which can be downloaded straight to their phones. I would urge anyone who has an interest in this investment in the railway to make their voices heard.”

How to engage:

There are a number of ways the public can have their say on the project.

  • Download the free app for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets
  • Email: ewrconsultation@networkrail.co.uk
  • Send a letter: FREEPOST EAST WEST RAIL CONSULTATION (must be in capitals)
  • Come and speak to a member of the team in person at a consultation event:
Location Date Time Address
Bicester 10 July 12-8pm John Paul II Centre, Henley House, The Causeway, OX26 6AW
Bletchley 11 July 12-8pm Scots Sports and Social Club, Selbourne Avenue, MK3 5BX
Winslow 12 July 12-8pm Public Hall, Elmfields Gate, MK18 3JG
Launton 13 July 12-8pm Sports and Social Club, Bicester Road, OX26 5DP
Waddeson 14 July 12-8pm Waddesdon Village Hall, Baker Street, HP18 0LQ
Newton Longville 17 July 3-7pm 2 Paradise, MK17 0AQ
Bedford 18 July 12-8pm Harpur Suite, St. Paul’s Square, MK40 1SJ
Marston Moretaine 19 July 12-8pm The Forest Centre, Station Road, MK43 0PR
Charndon 20 July 3-7pm Community Centre, Charndon Playing Fields, Steeple Claydon Road, OX27 0BL
Princes Risborough 21 July 12-8pm Elim Church@Risborough, 9 Bell Street, HP27 0DE

 

About Network Rail Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway – the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.

About the Railway Upgrade Plan The Railway Upgrade Plan is Network Rail’s investment plan for Britain’s railways. It makes up two-thirds of Network Rail’s £40bn spending priorities for the five years to 2019 and represents the biggest sustained programme of rail modernisation since the Victoria era. It is designed to provide more capacity, relieve crowding and respond to the tremendous growth Britain’s railways continue to experience; passenger numbers have doubled in the past 20 years and are set to double again over the next 25 years – so we need to continue to invest in building a bigger, better railway. For passengers, that means:

  • longer, faster more frequent trains;
  • better, more reliable infrastructure; and
  • better facilities for passengers, especially at stations.

This press release was issued by Network Rail