East West Rail has confirmed that its preferred location for a new Train Maintenance Depot (TMD) will be at Bletchley West.

Over 100 full-time jobs will be created by the depot, which will provide storage for trains operating on East West Rail to Oxford, and where they will be cleaned, inspected, and maintained.

The location of the depot will be next to Whaddon Road, to the north of Newton Longville, which is west of Bletchley.

Sidings to be installed at the new depot will accommodate up to 20 five-car trains, each around 120 metres long.

A maintenance workshop will include the provision for several trains to undergo maintenance simultaneously, and there are proposals that the new depot will also have facilities for heavier maintenance.

Other facilities proposed for the depot include provision for traction power overhaul and train washing, as well as accommodation for staff, vehicle parking, and a secure gatehouse.

The choice of Bletchley West was finalised over other options as it will provide the best balance between operational efficiency and minimising environmental impacts.

As East West Rail develops its proposals, it will engage with the local community and stakeholders. Two options for the layout of the depot are now being considered, and both incorporate landscaping to reduce the depot’s visual impact, and will also achieve a net gain of 10 per cent in Biodiversity.

Alongside the confirmation of Bletchley West as the preferred location, Design Update Sessions will be held where residents can discover more details about the depot. East West Rail staff will also be on hand to discuss the plans, as well as the latest designs for a proposed eastern entrance to Bletchley station.

Before construction can start, an application for a Development Consent Order must be approved, which is expected to take around three years.

To minimise disruption during construction. Appropriate alleviation measures will be in place. The final proposals for the depot are due to be submitted in 2027, although it is anticipated that approval will not be granted until 2028.

Further details of how the location for the depot was determined can be found on page 405 of the Technical report from the 2024 Non-Statutory Consultation available here.

Chiltern has been announced as the train operator for the line, which is already being used by freight trains.