Two new tunnels are proposed in revised plans for a new railway line linking Oxford and Cambridge.
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) launched a public consultation yesterday on its updated plans for its rail project connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
Passenger services are due to start along the first stage of East West Rail (EWR) between Oxford and Bletchley in 2025, with track all laid and line testing under way on this section.
The updated proposals contain revised infrastructure and design plans for a new stretch of railway between Bedford and Cambridge, plus essential railway improvement works to upgrade the existing railway between Oxford and Bedford.
A cut and cover tunnel beneath the A428 and Bourn Airfield development has been proposed in response to public feedback and to reduce the railway’s environmental impact.
The other tunnel – through Chapel Hill, near Haslingfield – would avoid having to construct a very large cutting, which would require significant construction works and could affect the flight paths of Barbastelle bats which live in the area.
The plans were updated following feedback during a previous non-statutory consultation and further technical design work. The consultation comes after the government committed to delivering EWR in full in last month’s Budget.
The proposals also include EWR Co’s preference for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains; station upgrades; new stations; and work to reduce the environmental and construction impacts of the route design.
EWR Co CEO David Hughes said local authorities and businesses had been calling for the railway for three decades and the revised plans aimed to maximise the benefits of the project.
“East West Rail will improve people’s everyday lives by creating more job opportunities, easier and quicker ways to get to work and enjoy days out, and more affordable places to live, while crucially boosting economic growth both across the route and the entire country,” he said.
“Our updated proposals have been influenced by the huge number of conversations we’ve had with local people and businesses, and thousands of responses we have had to our last public consultation. I encourage people to read our updated proposals in this consultation, attend one of the public events across the route and share your views to help us refine our designs further so East West Rail can best serve its local communities.”
Councillor Liz Leffman, chair of England’s Economic Heartland, encouraged people to respond to the proposals.
“We must ensure the scheme to be delivered is planned, built and operated in a way which leaves the best possible legacy for our communities, businesses, environment and wider transport system,” she said.
The main consultation document can be viewed here. The consultation will run for 10 weeks from November 14 to January 24, 2025.
