First trains travel along newly rebuilt East-West railway line
Two passenger trains have today travelled along the newly re-constructed east-west line between Oxford and Bletchley.
A Class 168 and Class 800 both traversed the line today with a video uploaded by Network Rail here. Today’s trains reached a top speed of 100mph along the route.
The re-opened East-West line is set to welcome its first passengers in 2025 and could extend east to Cambridge via Milton Keynes – funding permitting.
Doing so would permit cross-country travel avoiding congested London routes but also facilitate new housebuilding around stations.
Controversial
One aspect that has gained criticism is that a (practically) brand new railway opening in 2025 will be powered by diesel trains. The decision to electrify for faster services and low emissions was dropped.
A substantial package of works has been carried out including:
- 70km of new track and drainage
- Installation of a new signalling and telecoms system
- 5 new overbridges
- 12 new footbridges
- 5 bridges with new decks
- 22 refurbished bridges
In total the project totals three stages if it does manage to replicate the varsity line between oxford and Cambridge.
Passenger services stopped back in 1967.
Now both Oxford and Cambridge are booming and that decision looks a terribly short-sighted move. Milton Keynes too has ample land around the station for new homes if capacity is there to utilise.
Further tests will be undertaken in coming months.
Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Director of Capital Delivery, said: “Today is a huge milestone for the East West Rail project. I am incredibly proud of the partnership between Network Rail, our East West Rail Alliance supply chain partners, the DfT, EWR Company and Chiltern Railways, in successfully completing the construction and entry into service of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley.
“The running of our first test train today is a huge achievement and brings us one step closer to restoring train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers.”
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