Today, the East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has revealed the next steps for the second phase of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

With freight and charter trains already using the line, the first public passenger trains are due to start running on the Oxford to Bletchley section of the line in the coming months.

The next phase of the project focuses on growth along the length of the East West Railway (EWR), focusing more on the Bletchley – Bedford – Cambridge section.

After lengthy discussions, they have confirmed they are exploring the same transformative plans which could see the frequency of trains rise from 3 or 4 up to 5 per hour.

Potential plans could add 70% more seating on the route, improving service quality.

Other aspects have been confirmed, including 4 new stations along the Marston Vale Line and new station entrances at Bletchley, Cambridge and Bedford.

The new stations on the Marston Vale Line will better serve the surrounding communities, with faster, more frequent services that should increase usage.

A station at Stewartby will help serve the upcoming Universal theme park.

An additional 7 new stations elsewhere are also under discussion.3

A new eastern entrance is planned at Cambridge Central, and there are also plans for a new Cambridge East station to help reduce congestion.

There are also plans to add a spur line to join up with the Newmarket Line, which will enable direct services onward to Ipswich, Felixstowe and Norwich, which will also benefit cross-country freight services.

The plans also state that bi-mode and or rapid charging electric trains are being considered for use along the route.

This will not only keep costs down in terms of fully electrifying the whole line, but with advancements in both forms of railway motive power, both types of train still have the potential to develop further, offering faster and greener journeys by the time the route opens throughout.

Over the last decade, the East West Rail Project has received £27.5 billion of investment and created over 43,000 jobs.

“East West Rail is more than a railway – it’s a catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity, and this project will make rail travel faster, greener and more reliable for millions of passengers.

By investing in modern infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations for long-term prosperity in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions while ensuring that the UK has a rail network passengers can be proud of.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander