Update on East-West Railway

I have taken a close interest in the progress of the plans for the East-West railway from Oxford to Bletchley, which runs through the Claydons. Stage 3 of the planning process is well advanced, and an updated report is available on the East-West Rail website. Key dates in the timetable are:

• Award contract for next phase - By end November 2008
• Surveys to Commence - January 2009
• Phase 1 Complete (GRIP 3/4)- By end April 2009
• Design Specification Fixed - By end May 2009
• Commencement of Phase 2 (GRIP 4) - By end June 2009
• GRIP 4 Review and Commission complete - By end December 2009

Thus, by the end of December 2009 the work specification and planning for developing the chosen option should be completed.

From the East-West Rail Oct 2008 update (full version on website):

Regular liaison between the project and the rail industry has been a key element of work during the development of the brief for the next phase. As a result of ongoing discussions the following additional design elements will be evaluated to GRIP 3during the next phase in parallel with some essential topographical survey, geotechnical investigations and structural assessments of existing earthwork embankments and bridges.

(i) Strategic Freight Route
The route between Oxford and Bletchley has been identified by Network Rail as a potential strategic freight route if there were to be some gauge enhancement of the Midland Main Line north of Bedford. This requires the re-opening of the former freight line from Oxford to Bletchley.

(ii) Inter-Regional Passenger Services
The western section of East West Rail could provide an alternative route to bypass the congested rail network around Birmingham for north-south Cross- Country passenger services.

(iii) Bletchley to Bedford train services
Certain aspects of the Promoter’s base case option, namely the section of existing railway between Bletchley and Bedford, will be incorporated into the commission as a provisional item. This is due to uncertainty surrounding the level of train services that may be required by either the potential Eco-Town at Marston Vale and/or the partnership of local authorities within Bedfordshire.

(iv) Oxford to Marylebone train services
Consideration is to be given to an Oxford to Marylebone service routed via High Wycombe with a new cord at Bicester. It is likely that this would be 2 trains per hour service and the proposal is being promoted by Chiltern Railways, as their Evergreen 3 scheme. This proposal may lead to improvements at Oxford Station enabling train services to make use of the disused parcel bay platforms. To avoid duplicating development work, MKP and the East West Rail Consortium have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chiltern Railways that will see the East-West Rail requirements west of Bicester developed as part of Evergreen 3, should Chiltern Railways be given the go ahead by DfT Rail.

See below for Claydon Station in its glory days.