Secretary of State for Transport (): East West Rail supports this
government's mission to kickstart economic growth and
productivity right across the Oxford-Cambridge region by
providing easier and faster regional connectivity, opening up
access to employment and skills training, and supporting new
housing developments. By 2050, East West Rail is set to boost the
Oxford-Cambridge regional economy by £6.7 billion every year.
The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to a number of research and
development hubs across a variety of highly skilled and highly
productive sectors, such as life sciences research at the
Cambridge Biomedical Campus. East West Rail would provide these
vital sites with the connectivity they need to increase their
access to the talent pool and allow the region to compete better
on the global stage, supporting up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge
alone.
East West Rail will also be crucial to ensuring that planned
housing developments in the region are well connected, by joining
newer settlements and housing to established conurbations in
Cambridge, Bedford, Oxford, and Milton Keynes.
The first stage of East West Rail from Oxford to Bletchley and
Milton Keynes is currently in delivery and will open in 2025. The
Budget confirmed the acceleration of works on the Marston Vale
Line, ensuring that East West Rail services will run from Oxford
to Milton Keynes and Bedford from 2030.
The next stage of the scheme is a non-statutory
consultation, which will go live on 14 November 2024, and be
followed by a statutory consultation, and then a development
consent order application. This consultation will feature
proposals on:
- the new services and stations that will be provided by East
West Rail for people living in the Oxford-Cambridge region
- battery/overhead electrification as the baseline traction
solution for the railway
- options for how stations and services should be provided for
the Marston Vale Line (Bletchley-Bedford)
- redevelopment of Bedford station to address increased service
levels and improve the passenger experience
- the closure of Bicester London Road level crossing and other
proposals related to level crossings
- the alignment of the railway and new East Coast Main Line
interchange station at Tempsford
- a new station at Cambourne and potential alterations to other
stations along the line of route, including in the Cambridge area
- options in the Oxford area to accommodate additional services
The Department for Transport will also be issuing safeguarding directions
for East West Rail today to protect land from conflicting
development. I am placing a copy of the safeguarding directions
in the Libraries of both Houses.
Taking forward these next steps for the East West Rail scheme
reinforces this government's mission to kickstart economic growth
and connectivity to unlock access to the skills, education, and
jobs needed to deliver national growth and individual prosperity.
The Department for Transport will work collaboratively with
cross-government partners, including the Ministry of Housing,
Communities, and Local Government, to ensure a joined-up approach
to growth and development in the region.
