With the East West Railway taking shape, the operator who will lead it into passenger operation will be Chiltern Railways.
Chiltern Railways train on the Oxford – Milton Keynes route passing Winslow station – Image, Chiltern Railways
The East West Rail route will eventually connect Oxford and Cambridge when completed. The first stages of the route are due to launch later this year, with services planned to operate between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central.
This launch will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern Railways, whilst boosting local economies along the route and see passengers benefit from slashed journey times and better access to jobs, education and business opportunities.
The East West Rail route is split into three stages:
- Oxford – Milton Keynes
- Oxford – Bedford (requiring line upgrades between Bletchley and Bedford)
- Oxford – Cambridge
The full East West Rail Route – Image, East West Rail.
Stage 1 was enabled by a major upgrade of the existing railway line from Oxford to Bicester, which was completed in December 2016, along with additional works to bring connectivity to Bletchley. Stops on the route will include Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow (newly constructed), Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central stations
Stage 2 will add the Marston Vale line to the route, connecting Bedford to the route. Whilst trains currently operate on the line, it is in need of refurbishment and refitting before East West Rail can utilise it. This is due to be completed in 2030, with Stage 3 to Cambridge to be completed by 2035.
In Quotes
Rail Minister Peter, Lord Hendy, said:
“Appointing Chiltern Railways to run the first East West Rail services is one of the crucial last steps in getting the line up and running later this year and means local people in the area are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project.
“This milestone demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth.”
A brand-new station at Winslow will reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with trains also stopping at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village and a revamped Bletchley station along the new line.
Chiltern will manage the newly constructed station in Winslow, opening up better employment opportunities, easier access to public services and reduced reliance on road travel.
Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:
“The first stage of East West Rail will provide fast, direct train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and we are delighted that Chiltern has been announced as operator.
“Chiltern has a proud track record of delivering new services and infrastructure, including our London to Oxford connections and introduction of new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.
“We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK’s economic growth.”
David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Co, said:
“This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking the dynamic cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes, providing new opportunities for commuters and leisure travellers alike.
“This is the first part of East West Rail’s vision to extend services to Bedford and Cambridge, which will transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.”
The announcement comes following a 10-week consultation period giving local people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s.
This outlined the government’s aim for trains to be powered on the route with greener traction and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers.
Planned operations
The route is planned to be served by two trains per hour once the service is fully up and running – at this time, the timetable has not been set.
With the route being non-electrified, six CAF Class 196 trains (currently in service with West Midlands Trains), are made up of two cars each. These will be allocated to commence operating the routes. They will be branded in Chiltern Railways colours when they enter service.
When it comes up to the route operating, its going to be an interesting one to watch – as it will start to provide a link that was lost long ago, but is deemed important enough to be revived, as the reopen the route step by step.
We can but hope that East West Rail sees their project through – there’s a lot that can happen between now and 2035.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
Leave a Reply