East West Rail facts for kids
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| Location | |
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| Proposer | East West Main Line Partnership |
| Status |
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| Type | Railway |
| Cost estimate | £1.085 billion (Bicester–Bedford plus Aylesbury spur) |
| Completion date |
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| OpenStreetMap | 16675395 |
East West Rail is a big project to build a new main railway line across England. It will connect East Anglia in the east with Oxfordshire in the west. The main goal is to link Oxford and Cambridge. The route goes through Bicester, Milton Keynes (at Bletchley), and Bedford.
This new railway mostly uses the path of an old railway line called the Varsity Line. It will connect many major railway lines without needing to go through London. This makes travel and moving goods much easier. The government approved the western part of the line (between Oxford and Bedford) in 2011. The section from Bedford to Cambridge and the improvements to the Oxford-Bedford line are considered very important national projects.
The idea for this railway started with a group called the East-West Rail Consortium in 1995. This group is now known as the East West Main Line Partnership. In 2013, the government took over the project. Later, in 2017, a special company called the East West Railway Company Ltd was created to build it.
The project is split into three main parts:
- Western section: This part runs between Oxford and Bedford. It uses the old Varsity Line route. It includes the recently rebuilt Oxford-Bicester line and the existing Bletchley–Bedford Marston Vale line. Only the Bicester–Bletchley part needed to be rebuilt. (A branch line to Aylesbury was originally planned but is no longer being funded.)
- Central section: This part goes from Bedford to Cambridge. It needs a mostly new railway path. In May 2023, the company announced its preferred route for this section.
- Eastern section: This part connects Cambridge to Norwich, Felixstowe, and Ipswich. It uses railway lines that are already in use.
Contents
What's Happening Now (Mid-2025)
The first part of the western section, from Oxford to Bicester Village, has been open since December 2016. This section connects to the Chiltern Main Line.
Construction work on the Bicester–Bletchley part began in April 2020. The tracks were finished in early 2024. Freight trains started using this route in June 2025. Passenger trains between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central are expected to start later in 2025.
Work to improve the Bletchley–Bedford section is planned for 2025–2030. In January 2025, the government confirmed money for the Bedford–Cambridge section. This includes a new station at Tempsford that will also serve the East Coast Main Line. The exact path through Bedford and towards Cambridge is still being decided.
How the Project Started
Early Ideas and Support
The idea for the East West Rail link came from the East West Rail Main Line Partnership. This group of local councils started in 1995. They wanted better train services in East Anglia and better connections to London. They had some success with improvements east of Cambridge.
In 2006, the government department in charge of transport, the Department for Transport (DfT), supported the idea of reopening the link between Bedford and Oxford. They also announced plans for Bletchley railway station. They said that improvements in the Bletchley area would happen by 2010. This would prepare the network for the East-West link.
A study in March 2007, paid for by the East West Rail Consortium, found that there was a very good reason to build the railway. They suggested a passenger service between Oxford and Milton Keynes. The cost for this part was estimated to be between £100 million and £135 million.
In 2011, the government officially adopted the East West railway project. They promised £270 million to help develop the line between Oxford, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, and Bedford. This was confirmed in July 2012.
Western Section Details
| East West Rail Western Section | |
|---|---|
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Winslow Station under construction in 2023
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| Overview | |
| Status | Ready for use |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Locale | |
| Termini | Oxford Bletchley/Milton Keynes Central |
| Stations |
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| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail, Main line railway |
| System | National Rail |
| Operator(s) | Chiltern Railways |
| History | |
| Planned opening | 2025 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Operating speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum (Oxford-Bletchley) |
The western section connects Oxford and Bedford through Bletchley. It also links to the West Coast Main Line and the Midland Main Line. This part of the railway uses the path of the old Varsity Line, which closed in 1967. It has been rebuilt for trains to travel at up to 100 miles per hour.
The first part of this section, from Oxford to Bicester, reopened in 2016. The Bicester–Bletchley part was finished in late 2024 and is expected to reopen for passengers in the second half of 2025. Work to rebuild the Bletchley–Bedford part (the Marston Vale line) is planned for 2025–2030. From Oxford, the existing Cherwell Valley line connects to the Great Western Main Line.
Planning the Western Section
In February 2008, a report suggested that a 100 mph link between Oxford and Bletchley could be built for about £190 million. They hoped construction would start in 2009 and be ready by 2012.
In November 2008, the Milton Keynes Partnership, Chiltern Railways, and the consortium agreed to work together. Chiltern Railways would lead the Oxford-Bicester upgrade, and Milton Keynes Partnership would lead the rest of the line to Bletchley.
The project also considered other uses for the route. These included using it for freight trains and for longer-distance passenger services that avoid Birmingham.
In January 2021, the East West Railway Company changed its plans. They decided to build the railway in three "connection stages": Oxford – Milton Keynes, Oxford – Bedford, and Oxford – Cambridge. Plans for the Aylesbury branch were reviewed and later, in May 2023, it was announced that this branch would not be funded.
Designing the Western Section
The design for the railway included two main options: a "Regional Rail" option and a "Local Rail" option. Both options needed similar infrastructure between Oxford and Bletchley. A new platform was added at Milton Keynes Central to receive local services.
The line from Oxford through Bicester to Bletchley was designed for 100 mph double-track trains. The section from Oxford to Wolvercote Tunnel and the Aylesbury–Calvert line (if built) would be single-track for 90 mph trains. A new high-level platform was planned at Bletchley, with new stations at Winslow and Newton Longville (though Newton Longville is no longer planned).
The railway was not planned to be electric at first. However, it was designed so that it could be electrified later.
Train Services
As of mid-2025, the exact train schedules for the Oxford–Bedford and Oxford–Milton Keynes Central services have not been fully announced. It is expected that the local services between Oxford–Bicester and Bletchley–Bedford will continue.
Project Approval
In 2011, the government approved and funded the East West railway between Oxford, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, and Bedford. £270 million was set aside for the project. A new station was to open at Winslow, and a high-level station would be built at Bletchley. The Bicester Village to Bletchley and Aylesbury to Claydon Junction sections were to be upgraded for 90-100 mph trains. At that time, it was expected to be finished by 2019.
In July 2012, the government confirmed that the western section of East West Rail would be part of its rail strategy. They also confirmed funding for electrification of the Oxford to Bedford part of the route.
Recent Updates for the Western Section
In January 2013, Network Rail announced its plan to build the western section. The goal was for train services to start by December 2017. Electrification was also included, with a target completion date of March 2017.
In November 2013, the East West Rail Consortium promised an extra £45 million for the project. In February 2014, Network Rail started clearing plants from the abandoned track.
In March 2014, construction companies Carillion and Buckingham Group announced they would build the new link, starting with the Oxford to Bicester part. However, Network Rail later said there would be a two-year delay, pushing completion to 2019.
In May 2014, Network Rail announced that the line would be opened for trains to run at 125 mph. It was suggested that CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways, and London Northwestern Railway services would use the route.
By August 2016, it became clear that the project might be delayed beyond 2024. This was partly due to difficulties with electrifying railways and uncertainty after the UK left the European Union. In October 2016, the government decided to remove electrification from the design for now, but to allow for it to be added later.
In November 2016, the government announced £110 million to help finish the Bicester–Bedford section by 2025. In December 2016, the Transport Secretary decided to privatize the line. A new company would be in charge of the tracks, infrastructure, and running the trains.
In November 2017, the government allocated more money to open the western section by 2024. A new company, the East West Railway Company, was set up in December 2017 to manage the project.
In April 2018, the chairman of the East West Railway Company suggested a new line between Milton Keynes and Bedford. This could avoid problems with the current Marston Vale Line, which has many level crossings and limited capacity.
In February 2020, the Transport Minister approved the plans for the Bicester–Bletchley and Aylesbury–Claydon sections. Major construction work started later in 2020.
In April 2022, Network Rail highlighted the possibility of extending services to Bristol, Southampton, and Cardiff in Wales. In June 2025, the project was officially named an "England and Wales" project.
In April 2023, the Department for Transport announced that Chiltern Railways would operate the Oxford–Milton Keynes Central service starting from December 2024.
March 2021 Consultation
In March 2021, the company asked for public feedback on its plans. They announced that the Aylesbury connection would be delayed indefinitely.
The new plans divide the project into "Connect Stages." "Connect Stage 1" was planned to open in 2025, with two trains per hour from Oxford to Milton Keynes Central. "Connect Stage 2" is planned to run between Oxford and Bedford after upgrading the Marston Vale line.
"Connect Stage 1" proposed changes to Oxford, Oxford Parkway, and Bicester Village stations. For Oxford, two new platforms and additional tracks were suggested. Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village could get bigger car parks. The closure of the London Road level crossing in Bicester was also considered.
"Connect Stage 2" might involve:
- A new platform at Bletchley.
- Reinstating the second track at Fenny Stratford.
- Possibly closing the original Bow Brickhill and Woburn Sands stations and combining them into a new station.
- Moving Ridgmont station to allow for passing loops.
- Moving Bedford St Johns station to allow for track changes.
- Remodeling Bedford (mainline) railway station.
- Closing level crossings along the route.
Other ideas for Connect Stage 2 included keeping the existing hourly local service between Bletchley and Bedford. They also suggested two trains per hour between Cambridge and Bletchley, and two trains per hour between Oxford and Cambridge. These trains would stop at Woburn Sands and Ridgmont. Another idea was to replace several stations with five new, relocated stations.
In May 2023, the East West Railway Company confirmed that the Aylesbury branch would not be funded.
Construction Work
From April 2020, work began to fix up the Bletchley Flyover. Sections of it were removed in April and May. A new structure, like a box tunnel, was finished around the WCML in summer 2021. By February 2022, 1.5 km of track had been installed over the new flyover.
At Bicester, the first new track for the project was installed in April 2021. This was an important step, as it allowed engineering trains to access the construction site.
In December 2023, the East-West Rail Partnership announced that 99% of the track laying between Bicester Village and Bletchley was complete. This included bridges, earthworks, and an underpass. The track was officially finished on March 7, 2024.
Services between Oxford and Milton Keynes are expected to begin in late 2025.
Testing the Line
Test trains started running the full journey between Oxford and Milton Keynes in October 2024. These tests were done by Chiltern Railways using Class 168 trains. GWR also tested a Class 800 train on the line. This was to see if Great Western trains could be sent to Euston if there were future engineering works at Old Oak Common.
Delivery of the Western Section
Phase 1: Oxford–Bicester
The section from Oxford through Bicester Village to the Chiltern Main Line was rebuilt as part of Chiltern Railways' Project Evergreen. This became Phase 1 of the East West Rail Link. Chiltern Railways started services from Oxford Parkway to Marylebone on October 26, 2015. Services from Oxford station to Marylebone began on December 11, 2016.
Phase 2: Bicester–Bletchley
The line was ready for use by the end of 2024. In February 2025, Network Rail announced that the entire Oxford–Bletchley route was ready for freight trains. They also said the line uses a new signaling technology called "Modular Control System Infinity (MCS-I)," which is being used for the first time in Britain.
In March 2025, Chiltern Railways was chosen to operate passenger services on East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central. These services will go through Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow (a newly built station), and Bletchley. Chiltern expects the service to start in late 2025.
By June 2025, freight trains heading towards Northampton were using the line from Oxford to Milton Keynes. The stations at Bedford, Bletchley, and Bicester will be improved to make them easier for disabled passengers to use.
Central Section Details
The path of the old Varsity Line between Bedford and Cambridge cannot be used for East West Rail. This is because parts of it have been used for other things since the line closed in 1968. These include the Ryle Telescope, Trumpington Meadows, the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, and National Cycle Route 51, as well as new housing. Because of this, a completely new route had to be found.
Updates for the Central Section
In March 2016, Network Rail announced that the link would connect to the East Coast Main Line (ECML) near Sandy. In the 2016 Autumn Statement, the government announced £10 million to continue developing plans for the route.
In October 2018, the government announced £20 million to develop a "strategic outline business case" for the Bedford–Cambridge section. In December 2018, the EWR Company said it would start asking for public feedback on the route in early 2019.
On January 28, 2019, the East West Railway Company showed five possible routes for public consultation. These routes explored different ways to connect Bedford and Cambridge, including new stations and connections to existing lines. None of the options connected to Cambridge North station. The consultation document aimed for the central section to be completed by the "mid-2020s."
In September 2019, the government declared the Central Section a nationally significant infrastructure project. In January 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed funding for the Bedford–Cambridge section, including a new railway station at Tempsford that will also serve the East Coast Main Line.
Route Chosen
In January 2020, the company announced that "Route E" was chosen as the preferred route. This route goes from Bedford Midland to the "south of St Neots / Tempsford area," then to Cambourne, and finally to Cambridge.
The go-ahead for Cambridge South railway station was announced in March 2020. In June 2020, Network Rail said its preferred location for the station was next to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The chosen route for the East West line shows a connection with the West Anglia Main Line (WAML) south of Cambridge. Local news reports expect that this will allow East West trains to stop at Cambridge South.
In late December 2020, the EWR Company announced that it would start an informal consultation on the route details in "early 2021."
2021 Bedford–Cambridge Route Consultation
In March 2021, the East West Railway Company asked for public feedback on the exact path of the Central section. The proposals included:
- In Bedford:
- Moving Bedford St Johns station.
- Either expanding the main station with three new platforms or moving the entire station.
- Possibly widening the Midland Main Line area north of the station for East West Rail's own tracks.
- Near Tempsford and Cambourne:
- Two possible sites for crossing the ECML, with one preferred.
- Two possible sites for Cambourne station, with one preferred.
- Approaching Cambridge:
- The idea of joining the WAML directly was rejected.
- Instead, East West Rail will join the Cambridge Line (also called the Shepreth Branch Line) first.
- Increasing the number of tracks on the WAML from two to four near Cambridge.
- Adding two more platforms at Cambridge station.
2021 Bletchley–Bedford Stations Review
In the same consultation, the company suggested changes for the stations between Bletchley and Bedford (on the Marston Vale Line). These ideas included:
- Moving Woburn Sands station to a new location, which would lead to the closure of the existing Woburn Sands and Bow Brickhill stations.
- Moving Ridgmont station.
- Moving Lidlington station, which would lead to the closure of the existing Lidlington and Bedfordshire stations.
- Moving Stewartby station, which would lead to the closure of the existing Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick stations.
As of May 2023, the results of this review were still being considered.
2023 Preferred Route for Bedford–Cambridge
In May 2023, after public feedback, the East West Railway Company announced its preferred route for the new line between Bedford and Cambridge. This route will include a new interchange station at Tempsford (connecting with the ECML) and a new station at Cambourne. It will then go to Cambridge via Cambridge South railway station. The plan suggested that 65 houses in Bedford might need to be bought and removed to lay two extra tracks north of Bedford station.
The chosen route near Tempsford will mostly follow the path of the planned A1–M11/A14 link road. The report also expects a lot of new building in the Tempsford area, especially at the old RAF Tempsford site. Even though the route into Cambridge via Cambridge South would cost more, the East West Railway Company believes it will bring greater economic benefits to the region. The government confirmed its support for this route. In January 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed funding for the Bedford–Cambridge section, including the new Tempsford station.
In October 2023, Network Rail gave a contract for building Cambridge South station.
Investigation by National Audit Office
In October 2023, the National Audit Office (NAO) announced it would look into the economic reasons for the project. In December 2023, the NAO released its report. It noted that East West Rail is a £6-7 billion investment to help growth in an important part of the UK. However, it said it was not yet clear how the project's benefits would be achieved or how it fits with other government growth plans. The report mentioned that the project's benefits compared to its costs were "poor." But it also said the project's main goal is to help the economy grow in the Oxford–Cambridge region.
Progress in 2025
In 2025, the Labour government promised to invest an additional £2.5 billion into East West Rail. The construction of Cambridge South railway station is almost finished (as of June 2025) and is expected to open to the public in spring 2026.
Ground investigations along the Bedford to Cambridge route began in February 2025 and are expected to be completed by July.
Eastern Section Details
The railway tracks in this section are already in place and working. They run from Cambridge to Norwich, Felixstowe, and Ipswich. The plan for East West Rail would mean more train services on these existing lines. Hourly passenger services between Cambridge and Ipswich started in 2004. There are also hourly passenger services between Cambridge and Norwich.
A part of the Felixstowe Branch Line was doubled in 2009 to allow freight trains to pass each other. The "Bacon Factory Curve" in Ipswich was finished in March 2014. This allows trains from Felixstowe to go to the West Midlands without having to reverse at Ipswich.
In January 2019, the East West Rail Consortium released a document to push for the Eastern section to Norwich via Ely, and to Ipswich via Bury St Edmunds.
More Information
- Oxford-Cambridge Arc
- Felixstowe to Nuneaton railway upgrade
- Northern Powerhouse Rail, which is about improving railway lines in northern England.
