Pressure is mounting on Government to commit investment to a project that would re-establish the former Varsity rail line between Oxford and Cambridge.

 

Champions of this East-West Rail scheme expressed optimism on Friday that funds to deliver the western section of the project will be released at the earliest opportunity. This comes just weeks ahead of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement.

 

The western section would see disused and underused sections of the Varsity railway between Bicester and Bedford reconstructed and upgraded. It would also upgrade a currently freight only line to enable passenger services between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury.

 

An important milestone for the project was reached last year when Chiltern Railways began services from Oxford Parkway to London Marylebone via Bicester village.

 

“East West Rail is one of the top three rail investment projects in the UK,” said chairman of the joint delivery board for the East West Rail western section Rodney Rose of Oxfordshire County Council.

 

He described the western section as “the critical next step in re-establishing the key strategic link between Oxford and Cambridge”, and said the scheme would provide an “exceptional return” on investment.

 

“There is overwhelming support from the public, the business community and investors. We need to crack on and get it built so we can realise the opportunities it presents to boost the economy, create new jobs, support housing growth and improve the quality of life of people in the region,” he added.

 

Delivery of the western section was previously delayed by Government following Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy’s review of rail investment last year. A delivery programme with target completion date is now expected in January 2017.

 

“We are optimistic that Government will now follow through on its commitment by making funds available for earliest possible completion,” said Rodney Rose.

 

England's Economic Heartland Strategic Alliance chairman Martin Tett of Buckinghamshire County Council added: “I am feeling positive and confident that we are about to see more rapid progress on East West Rail.

 

“It is the top infrastructure priority for England's Economic Heartland Strategic Alliance, and six local enterprise partnerships in the heartland area.”

 

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The Government is investing more than £38Bn in the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century and East-West rail connectivity in the economic heartland is a priority for us.”

 

♦ The National Infrastructure Commission has today published an interim report on the needs of the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford corridor, in which it calls on Government to press ahead with East West Rail's western section to ensure delivery by 2024. It adds that Government should invest as soon as possible in developing detailed plans for a further rail link to Cambridge and a road 'Expressway' from Oxford to Cambridge.

 

(Photo: Network Rail)