Latest News

  A direct rail link between the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge took a step closer today (14 December), as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling officially launched the East West Railway Company. The Transport Secretary launched the new company which will oversee the restoration of the link between the two academic powerhouses nearly 50 years […]

In his November 22 Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond­­­ announced funding to build the Western Section of East West Rail, while promising to accelerate progress on the missing link between Bedford and Cambridge. The Treasury’s position paper states that funding will be made available for ‘Network Rail to deliver phase two of the western section of East West […]

The National Infrastructure Commission has published its final report on the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge growth corridor, in which it makes a strong recommendation to deliver East West Rail as soon as possible (see https://www.nic.org.uk/our-work/growth-corridor) Councillor Mark Shaw, chairman of the East West Rail Consortium’s Joint Delivery Board for the Western Section, said: “We are delighted that […]

An award winning community champion has been appointed to oversee East West Rail’s employment, education and volunteering initiatives. Danny Miller, the East West Rail Alliance’s Social Value Manager, previously worked on the ThamesLink project, which was recognised by several awards for its commitment to giving back to the community. His work includes visiting primary and […]

Environmental ponds are currently being built in Oxfordshire as part of the East West Rail scheme. The East West Rail Alliance is creating the habitats near Launton, which will provide new homes for Great Crested Newts and includes the planting of hedgerows and vegetation. The work, which was subject to the planning application process, marks […]

England’s Economic Heartland Strategic Alliance – a partner of the East West Rail Consortium – has welcomed the publication of Network Rail’s West Midlands and Chilterns Route Study, which recommends connecting the Chiltern mainline to Old Oak Common. The study sets out how demand on the Chiltern line has increased in the last decade, and will […]

Mark Shaw, chairman of the Consortium’s Joint Delivery Board for the Western Section of East West Rail, met with Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, in London on July 17. Mark said: “We discussed how important East West Rail is in terms of unlocking the region’s economic potential and supporting significant housing growth. It […]

People are being encouraged to take part in a consultation on plans for a rail link which will connect Oxford to Milton Keynes and Bedford, and Princes Risborough to Milton Keynes via Aylesbury and Winslow. East West Rail will eventually connect Oxford in the west with Cambridge in the east, a ‘corridor’ running across the […]

Bicester to Oxford Collaboration was named winner of the Cross Industry Partnership Award for the delivery of Chiltern Railway’s Oxford to London service at the Rail Industry Innovation Awards. The collaboration consists of Chiltern Railways, Network Rail, Carillion Buckingham Joint Venture, Atkins, Siemens and RSK. Rob Mole, East West Rail project manager at Network Rail, […]

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 […]