Operator named for first part of East West Rail

An operator has been announced for the first stage of a major railway line.

Chiltern Railways has been named by the government as the operator for the section of East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The project will eventually link Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes and Bedford.

The Oxford to Milton Keynes line will serve six stations including a stop at Bicester Village, as well as a brand new station at Winslow and a revamped Bletchley station, both in Buckinghamshire.

Chiltern Railways will manage the new station in Winslow, which will have step-free access.

David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Company, said: "This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking the dynamic cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes

"This is the first part of East West Rail's vision to extend services to Bedford and Cambridge, which will transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for economic growth."

The second and third stages of East West Rail will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s.

The Department for Transport hopes the first stage of the line will launch later this year and will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern Railways.

Lord Hendy, the rail minister, said the appointment meant local people "are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project".

Richard Allan, managing director of Chiltern Railways, added: "We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK's economic growth."

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