Threatened delay to East West Rail reopening

I am very concerned to hear of the threatened delay in the timetable for reopening the East West Rail line which passes through the Claydons, and which was scheduled to reopen in March 2019.

From the East West Rail website:

Statement from East West Rail Consortium
3rd November 2015

Local authorities in the East West Rail Consortium are concerned that the project to create a new railway for services between Oxford and Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes may be delayed by between three and seven years.

The Consortium understands that there is a draft recommendation for East West Rail to be delivered in three phases, with Bedford to Oxford being rescheduled for completion in 2022; Aylesbury to Milton Keynes in 2024; and enhancements to the line between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough in 2026.

This recommendation by Network Rail is understood to be based on both cost and deliverability issues. It came to light shortly after a first round of public consultation by Network Rail on emerging proposals for the project, which revealed a high level of support from the public and businesses.

Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail, is re-planning all railway enhancements projects that were due to be delivered by March 2019, the end of the current five-year investment period (known as CP5). This review was requested by the Secretary of State Patrick McLoughlin, as a result of escalating costs on major enhancement schemes such as the Great Western Electrification Programme. (See News 2 July 2015)

Local authorities within the East West Rail Consortium are now seeking discussions with Sir Peter Hendy and Government.

I am taking every opportunity to lobby our local MPs and government ministers about the importance of East West Rail to our local communications and economy, and to keep to the original timetable.