Major milestone for East West Rail scheme as contracts awarded for Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedford link
A rail link connecting Oxford with Cambridge and Ipswich has moved a step closer to reality with Network Rail's appointment of partners to deliver the next phase of the East-West Rail scheme.
This comes six weeks after passenger trains began running from Oxford Parkway, a new station, on a reopened line to Bicester and down the London Marylebone - the first new rail link of a major city to the capital in more than a 100 years. This is East-West Rail Phase 1.
An alliance of four equal parts between Network Rail, Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail will build East-West Rail Phase 2 (EWR2) - linking Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedfordwith London Marylebone via Aylesbury.
The EWR2 alliance is currently working on the outline design and construction programme for the scheme.
Once this initial segment of work is complete, the EWR2 alliance will consult with the Department for Transport to agree a final design, construction timetable and costs. It aims to submit an application for a Transport & Works Act order in autumn 2016.
Andy Milne, Network Rail’s senior programme manager and alliance manager, said: "The railway is vital to Britain’s economic health. We are carrying out this Railway Upgrade Plan scheme because we care about giving train passengers what they want and about building a strong economic future for people in the regions East-West Rail will connect.
“We are an alliance of four equal parts working as one team. Never before on a project of this size has an alliance been convened this early. By scoping all aspects of the project now we will see potential problems early and be able to mitigate them. The earlier we do this work the greater value for taxpayers’ money we can deliver.”
The long-term aspiration of East-West Rail is to one day link Oxford in the west to Ipswich in the east, via Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. This is a key missing piece in this country's rail network, with train customers currently having to go via London to get from, say, Bicester to Milton Keynes.
Graeme Castle, rail sector leader for Laing O’Rourke, speaking on behalf of all the EWR2 partners, said: “We are all proud to be involved in this nationally significant project and aim to build on the success of the Staffordshire Alliance, where the partnership is working collaboratively to deliver the Stafford Area Improvements Programme.
“Our early involvement in the East West Rail Phase 2 project will guarantee an efficient and constructible design that is at the forefront of innovation built on digital engineering and offsite manufacture.”