In a move hailed as a significant boost to regional connectivity and economic growth, the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, has announced Chiltern Railways as the operator for the inaugural phase of the much-anticipated East West Rail project. Services are slated to commence later this year, creating nearly 100 new jobs at Chiltern and promising reduced journey times for passengers between Oxford and Milton Keynes.
The initial phase of East West Rail will link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in almost 60 years, serving six stations including a brand-new station at Winslow, reconnecting the town to the rail network after decades of absence. Stations at Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, and a revamped Bletchley will also feature on the route.
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.”
The full East West Rail project, extending to Bedford and Cambridge in subsequent phases, is projected to generate £6.7 billion in annual growth for the Oxford-Cambridge region by 2050 and support up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone, bolstering the area’s thriving life science cluster.
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 follows a 10-week public consultation on the second and third phases of the project, which will see services extended to Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s. The government has also outlined its intention to utilise greener traction and hybrid battery-electric trains on the route, aiming for cleaner and faster journeys.
Gary Walsh, Route Director for West Coast South at Network Rail, said: “We’re delighted by today’s announcement, which is fantastic news for passengers who will soon benefit from the new journey opportunities that East West Rail provides between Milton Keynes and Oxford.
“Following completion of major construction, which included installing 70km of new track, 17 brand new bridges and a modern signalling system, we’re working closely with our partners at Chiltern Railways and the DfT ahead of passenger services starting later this year.”
The new service is expected to accelerate town centre regeneration and support the construction of new homes along the route, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.
