East West Rail - Oxford to Bletchley | 2024 Update

[@Rail_Focus]

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[@willhemmings]

Thank you for this clear, unfussy update. Yes as a former resident of Bicester, I can understand the tensions that might have been generated over the level crossing matter, because if that is taken out, the route into town is a long way round! I think Islip is pronounced as in 'I slip', perhaps to do with vehicle adhesion problems produced by frequent flooding of the River Ray there!

[@Rail_Focus]

Glad you found it informative 🙂

[@neilyoung2723]

Local social media gets a little fraught on the subject, to put it mildly. Plenty of "why don't they shut the railway instead?" takes.

[@1258-Eckhart]

I'm delighted to hear that the electrification of the line is once more on the cards.

[@JKK_85]

6:42 I've always thought that Oxford to Didcot should have been considered part of EWR anyway so glad they're considering merging the services.

[@Rail_Focus]

It does make sense

[@krozjr5009]

I’d go so far as to say that, for example, I’d through-run an OXF-MKC service at the southern end towards Bristol (for example). GWR have recently reintroduced a handful of direct BRI-OXF Saturday services, and part of me wondered if that combined with an IET test over EWR indicated interest on their part for a long-distance route to Bristol.

[@martynread977]

​@@krozjr5009yep, a relatively fast Bristol to Cambridge for example feels like a really useful connection you could do when the full scheme is delivered.

[@scottpeacock5492]

I was in Bletchley couple weeks ago and i'm please that Network Rail is considering building the Eastern section of the station facing the bus station, its will avoid passengers walking the long round to the bus station to catch the bus.

[@sparky1105]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully, they'll build the link to Aylesbury as well. It's not as if it would cost much as it was already in place prior to the line upgrade.

[@Rail_Focus]

The required permissions are in place and HS2 is doing most of the hard work so it seems senseless not to fund the Aylesbury link

[@saulgoodman2930]

Aylesbury has a problem that it's gotten too big. The routes in and out by road are dreadful at times having a train link to Milton Keynes would ease that burden.

[@aarondoesyt3194]

I'd like to see Aylesbury and Buckingham get links, potentially a restore of the midland railway line to Brackley. A lot of these towns have no rail links at all.

[@geoffphillips5293]

It used to be fun walking along the disused track on a Sunday afternoon. But it will be cool to get to Oxford from Bletchley in the near future.

[@robertparkinson2297]

The closure of the London Road crossing at Bicester will have a devastating effect on the town centre and the only alternative routes are already congested and are a very long way round. A replacement crossing for light traffic eat or near the existing is required.

[@Carlos-im3hn]

Great update on this Eastern segment of the new EWR, thank you ! The next update (2 of 3) MVL to Bedford should be very interesting (and any loop bypasses).

[@robertwalsh1724]

Thanks!

[@Rail_Focus]

Thank you 🙂

[@zx9mel]

Bicester residents have been saying for nigh on a decade that London Road would need some serious thought, as otherwise the exisiting level crossing barriers would be down 45 minutes per hour. And yet here we are and it seems NO serious thought has been given to this matter at all . . .

[@markrichardson567]

If there is the potential for capacity constraints at Oxford that would help the case for the Aylesbury line as a potential western end destination. One would imagine that trains heading down this line are likely to link into existing services and go all the way to Marylebone with Aylesbury simply being an intermediate point. It just boggles the mind that this isn't being completed now as the marginal cost of doing it while the teams are in place will be much cheaper than adding it later.

[@captainboing]

Good vid, thanks. It was a short-sighted move to close the Bedford-Cambridge line, and imbecilic to sell-off chunks of the track bed. At least the Bicester-Bletchley line remained in railway ownership so rebuilding was comparitively straight forward. Similar short-sighted closures for the WR include the West Drayton-Uxbridge and West-Drayton-Staines lines, both of which would relieve their associated congested routes into London and provide a changeover to crossrail (and Heathrow) for both at West Drayton... oh for a crystal ball! I hadn't considered extending the MK/BY services to Didcot to capitalise on the spare capacity there and relieve Oxford. Makes sense. From a freight aspect, I think this route has great potential to relieve the London area and Birmingham-OXF for southampton /westbound stuff - basically anything trying to get away from the WCML south of MK (to Reading via NLL)

[@hairyairey]

Ironically it wasn't even a Beeching closure. Looking at this route though it looks like St Neots might also be an interchange station. LNER stop maybe? Would make more sense than Tempsford

[@jermainetrainallen6416]

Thanks for the update👍

[@Paul_707]

Chiltern were announced as the operator of the stage 1 service on 6 April 2023. It was done by a PIN being issued by DFT to amend their management contract. It’s why Chiltern have been operating test runs with their existing DMUs, pending transfer of a number of Class 196 DMUs from the West Midlands.

[@Rail_Focus]

Weird, as EWR Co. are still saying they're unable to confirm who the operator will be

[@bradw8102]

I have a strong feeling 6x 2-car 196s will not be enough for the first services: several reopenings have exceeded expectations in recent years, including Okehampton and the Borders railway. Connecting the major settlements of Oxford and Milton Keynes is bound to generate more traffic than what these units can contain, so I hope they can muster more stock and/or operators running over the route soon.

[@Rail_Focus]

Hopefully there will be a mix of 4 car sets in there too, but even 4 cars may not be enough.

[@neilyoung2723]

Neither the road nor the bus service between Oxford and Milton keynes is very good, so a train service will offer a massive upgrade for many.

[@cameronallan5624]

FYI when discussing Oxford station the visual is of Cambridge South station.

[@Rail_Focus]

Ooops 😬

[@crumbschief5628]

I like the idea of partial electrification. The long overhead stretches at Milton Keynes offer a good chance to charge, regenerative breaking and further brief recharges at various stations where the traction is stationary for only a small amount of time but can take on power keeping battery size down.

[@Rail_Focus]

It definitely has its advantages, and battery train technology seems to be maturing. The only question is if the new bi/tri mode freight locomotives can haul heavy loads when not under the wires and how they will handle switching frequently from wires to battery or diesel

[@ChappersTravels]

Great update! Just need them to build the Aylesbury Spur now

[@Rail_Focus]

Cheers. Maybe one day they'll see sense about the Aylesbury link.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

That's been kicked into the category of "after HS2 is finished with that section"

[@grahamnelson3608]

Yeah. We really hoped for a High Wycombe-Aylesbury-Milton Keynes hourly service to link the 3 main Buckinghamshire population centres.

[@richardstringer6162]

I still can't get over how twisted the route is between Bedford and Cambridge. Its like a roller coaster map.

[@Rail_Focus]

It does look convoluted on a map, but it will still be a 100mph railway, despite being so curvy. Crucially it will serve key locations between Bedford and Cambridge

[@JT-nr2ss]

2:32 nah i think pt and active travel journeys to/from winslow will be minimal. I feel like people will still drive, even ridiculously short distances, to the new station as an inducement of there being a mass of parking provided

[@Rail_Focus]

We can but hope 😅

[@DavidNewmanDr]

I am concerned that they are planning large car parks in the city centre stations, instead of large Netherlands scale bicycle parks there and car parks outside town in parkway stations.

[@ianheath6797]

Winslow is too far from Buckingham for most people to cycle. The cycle path is shared with pedestrians and is quite narrow - a half hearted affair. No doubt the motorist will be fleeced by the Council who will see the car park as a revenue source together with draconian fines for infringements enforced by cctv. Shoplifters fare better. It is so lovely living in this country today.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@DavidNewmanDr They must accommodate the mode of transportation people actually use

[@DavidNewmanDr]

@@andrewreynolds4949 No, they can encourage people to change the transport they use, like many cities have done around the world. After all the point is to get people to travel by train.

[@andrewhotston983]

Are EWR seriously proposing to electrify the line (with all the attendant disruption/closures) only a year or two after it opens? What a fiasco!

[@Rail_Focus]

Yup 😬

[@DavidShepheard]

It's better to electrify the line now, than to electrify the line later, when even more ridership builds up. London Overground took about a year or more to really start to get crowded. I am guessing that East West Rail will open to packed trains...of railway fans. But once the opening is out of the way a lot of people will carry on going the way they go for a while. The first passengers will be spreading word of mouth news about the line and more and more people will try East West Rail. Before you know it the trains will be packed every rush hour and there will be talk of running a train every 10 minutes.

[@andrewhotston983]

@DavidShepheard The best time to electrify would be in ten years or whenever the first serious maintenance of the route is required. Disrupting a newly opened route will severely dent passenger loyalty and confidence.

[@mphillimore2]

@@DavidShepheard not sure I agree necessarily. This really is a needed rail link and the roads between Oxford and MK are really quite poor, and from Winslow it provides a connection into London. Assuming it isnt overpriced, I think it will be quite well used, especially while it is such a pain to get from Oxford to MK (and beyond)

[@xylicable]

It is Chris Grayling’s fault. He removed the electrification to trim the budget. He was sold on bi mode instead of electrification and like his Tory peers, is ideologically opposed to railways believing that they do not contribute to gdp growth and anathema to self determination and choice preferring highways and cars instead. Glad electrification back on, it should have never been taken away. However, had the choice been non elec EWR vs no EWR, well then perhaps it wasn’t a mistake.

[@rjc0234]

1:50 - When everyone has their orange beacons on, no-one has! Thank you for this update. Its a bit difficult getting information from the official sources.

[@andrewhotston983]

Which is in itself a cause for concern.

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

I personally would like to see the Eastern section between Bedford and Cambridge to be built via Tempsford and Cambourne.

[@Rail_Focus]

Looks like that's still the plan

[@Lancasterlaw1175]

Appreciate you releasing this in three rather than one long video. The graphics and slow zoom are really useful to help visualise the route. Winslow is looking awful barren. Poor pedestrian/cycle access by the looks of things too. Hopefully some sort of transit orientated mixed use development is on the cards too. The ramp in the bichester looks like the corners are too tight for a fast turn. The underpass looks like the far nicer and shorter option. Still dreaming of some sort of long term plan to extend to Whitney/Carterton

[@Rail_Focus]

There is pedestrian access onto the A413 close to Highfield Rd. I thought I had a video clip of that section, but couldn't find it.

[@Lancasterlaw1175]

@@Rail_Focus I saw, but walking along a narrow pavement beside a busy A road is a grim experience, and there is already a school past the station, so foot traffic will be intense at times

[@raythorpe-d6r]

Good vid. no mention of the BLETCHLEY to AYLESBURY LINE,,I wonder why they did not use the old VERNEY JUNCTION to QUAINTON line to avoid the mess at CALVERT made by HS2. .

[@Rail_Focus]

More information about the Aylesbury link can be found in this video :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6LZh3-DoceipqM

[@JCPhotoman]

Yeahhh boiiii EWR post!

[@richardchadwick4028]

Ive travelled on the Didcot to Oxford railway for 25 years, the stopping services are often cancelled....it needs 4 tracks, and electrification...

[@thetessellater9163]

Buckinghamshire County Council no longer exists, as it and all four district councils have merged into one, a unitary authority now called Buckinghamshire Council.

[@SirKenchalot]

Another great video and I'm really looking forward to the next 2. How is it that the operator has not yet been announced? Aren't Chiltern Trains already short of a few DMUs to run their existing services? It's a bit surprising they can find others for this but not their commuter services.

[@Rail_Focus]

Thank you. I imagine the operator announcement is probably down to all kinds of legal reasons. But EWR Co. has not been able to say publicly who will operate the service, even though it seems widely well known that it will be Chiltern. It sounds like Chiltern will be taking on some more Class 68s and ex TPE Mk5 carriages to help with the shortage.

[@SirKenchalot]

@@Rail_Focus That's good that those locos may get used again though wouldn't they be more appropriate for the EWR with long distances between stations and higher speeds than the 196s are designed for?

[@Rail_Focus]

EWR maximum speed will be 100mph, so the 196s should be more than sufficient. By the time it reaches Cambridge EWR will hopefully have new trains.

[@andrewhotston983]

Yes, it's hard to believe that the line's pretty much ready for traffic and yet they still haven't got the trains sorted (which means that staff training is being delayed). I despair of our rail industry.

[@annwurch9651]

Had a winslow newsletter saying we had another year to wait for the trains. Im hoping for spring time still

[@Rail_Focus]

EWR do seem to be vague on the opening, but I think the best indication that driver training is underway will be the first sighting of Class 196 units on the route.

[@saulgoodman2930]

Universal studios theme park being built on this line is going to seriously test it's capacity.

[@Rail_Focus]

Potentially yes

[@lostcarpark]

Great content here. It seems absurd that this line is being reopened without electrification from the outset. Surely it would be significantly cheaper to install overhead lines along with the track laying rather than trying to retrofit it to the line when it's in service?

[@andrewhotston983]

West Midland can certainly spare some trains, because they're always cancelling services on my local line due to staff shortages.

[@CA_I]

They are hopeless, and have been for years be it West Midlands Trains or their predecessors.

[@jeffreyjordan2986]

Didn.t notice any electric car charging bays at Winslow station!

[@Rail_Focus]

Maybe in the ground floor section

[@wharpblast264]

Odd that electrification of EWR is being considered but not the much more highly used Chiltern Main line.

[@DavidNewmanDr]

Chiltern now say they want discontinuous electrification with battery trains.

[@Rail_Focus]

I wonder if they've twigged that it has the potential to be a strategic freight corridor. Plus easier to electrify a route which will be upgraded and using new sections of railway.

[@wharpblast264]

@@Rail_Focus Just wondered, any idea what proportion of freight trains are electric loco hauled ? Also, could they operate on discontinuous electrification lines as I guess there is a limit on the weight a battery powered loco could haul ?

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@wharpblast264 The upcoming class 99 locos can haul the equivalent of a class 66: a little more on electric, a little less on diesel Edit: I mixed it up with the class 93. The class 99 is rated for a little less than the class 66 on diesel, and about 2.5x the same on electric. The class 93 is rated for about half a class 66 on diesel and just under 2x the same on electric.

[@wharpblast264]

@@andrewreynolds4949 Excuse my lack of knowledge. Can class 99 switch between power sources while on the move ?

[@MrGreatplum]

Great video, thanks :) I feel that the construction is missing a trick by not adding solar panels on top of the roofs and multi-storey car parks…

[@Rail_Focus]

Winslow just looks like it's been built on the cheap unfortunately 😬

[@QALibrary]

7:48 Bletchley Station did have an extra exit straight to the bus interchange but it was blocked off a long time ago due to antisocial things that were going on - it is being looked at again esp with the new council and government in charge.

[@Rail_Focus]

Reopening the eastern entrance would seem like a no brainer to me. But sounds like it'd have to be upgraded with security measures.

[@Guted77]

Nice video! Do you have any plans to cover the Mid Cornwall Metro at all? thanks

[@Rail_Focus]

Thank you. The metro hasn't been on my radar to be honest. Is it going ahead?

[@andrewhotston983]

​@@Rail_FocusNewquay station has just regained a second platform as part of the project.

[@Dinoteddi]

I'd hope they would electrify Didcot - Oxford if they were going to put Wires up on EWR

[@Rail_Focus]

It would seem mad not to electrify such a short section which would have big benefits

[@s125ish]

It looks like they started to do that and gave up

[@lordgemini2376]

I think they will electrify that bit once all the work going on in and around Oxford Station is complete!

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Where is the four track section ? Is it where the line branches off at Fenny Stratford to join the WCML ?

[@Rail_Focus]

4 track? Not sure

[@1258-Eckhart]

You mean the 900 m 3-track section between Winslow and Bicester.

[@JohnHobson-h1t]

Are EWR considering using solar panels on Carparks to provide a sustainable electrical connection and lessen the call on Grid power?

[@Rail_Focus]

Not that I'm aware of

[@JohnHobson-h1t]

@@Rail_Focus Seems an omission that should be rectified.

[@highpath4776]

If there is trains avalible a GWR PAD-OXF-MILTON KEYNES hourly semi fast Oxf Oxf Parkway Blecthley Milton Keynes would be a good idea, with a Marylebone-Oxford - thence same calling pattern hourly then same all stations hourly from Chiltern. Oxford ext north Milton Keynes-Birmingham West Midland service hourly ? The Didcot service looks interesting. There is also the southern extension of regular services from Oxford to Cowley

[@Tomm9y]

Electrification, parking, widening should all have been allowed for in the original design phases. There needs to be much wider corridors for railways, particularly to ensure that housing development is prevented where noise pollution is an issue.

[@Rail_Focus]

Unfortunately it appears as if the original re-opening was done on the cheap just to ensure the Treasury would fund it. Now they're realising how important and popular the route will be, so are having to go back and do things that should've been done from the beginning.

[@tucker9162]

We were testing the GSM-R network with that GWR Class 800

[@Rail_Focus]

So it wasn't anything to do with checking if EWR was a viable diversionary route?

[@tucker9162]

Could have been as well. There was a few from GWR on the train. We also had a VIP manager who lived in Winslow. We had to stop there for a photo op.

[@barry5111]

The bit that concerns me is the impact on road traffic with all the level crossings and stations between Bletchley and Bedford. It might have been okay in the steam era, but all the trains planned now will mean those crossing gates are going to be up and down like yoyos.

[@Rail_Focus]

Will talk about that in the next video 🙂

[@erwallace1]

What’s happening with Islip?

[@Rail_Focus]

Just served by the existing Chiltern service by the looks of it, not EWR

[@erwallace1]

@@Rail_Focus When I have used Chiltern to Oxford before, the train did not stop there. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[@101engineer]

Why are they not building a station where it crosses HS2?

[@Rail_Focus]

Because the demand even with EWR wouldn't justify the cost.

[@Oscar.w07]

What does discontinues OHLE mean?

[@Rail_Focus]

Overheard line equipment (Electrification), but with gaps. So if there's a bridge that's too low for the wires to be installed there may be a gap, it saves on the cost of rebuilding the bridge. Typically means trains need diesel engines or batteries to power them through non wired sections

[@Thevinylscavenger]

Nothing to Aylesbury then?

[@Rail_Focus]

Unfortunately not, even though it was included within the TWAO application. More info here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6LZh3-DoceipqM

[@rugbyrailhub]

Do you think LNWR will continue to operate the marston vale line as ive seen a lnwr 150 go northbound past rugby

[@Rail_Focus]

For the time being, at least until 2030 I imagine

[@rugbyrailhub]

@ Ah alright

[@rugbyrailhub]

thanks for the response ive been following this series of videos for a while

[@EdgyNumber1]

Discontinuous Electrification is ridiculous, preventing high capacity freight services.

[@Rail_Focus]

Certainly not ideal

[@sebastianmeri5213]

Are there any news about hs2 phase 2a?

[@Rail_Focus]

Nope 😟

[@sebastianmeri5213]

@Rail_Focus you think that phase 2 a will be build ?

[@Rail_Focus]

@sebastianmeri5213 I'm not sure. Labour have said categorically that they will not build any part of phase 2. But I'm hoping some sort of connection to Crewe will be constructed, maybe just under a different name

[@sebastianmeri5213]

@@Rail_Focus i think that phase 2a shold proceed. Because it Washington apoved by parliament. ROYAL ASSENt wwas gante or not yet

[@AlexanderWright1]

RIP link to Aylesbury. 😞

[@Rail_Focus]

The frustrating thing is "planning" permission has been granted and HS2 are doing most of the hard word

[@TheHoveHeretic]

To paraphrase Capt.Thos. Woolf of Woody Bay, "Perchance it is not dead, but waiteth for some politician to grow a pair" .

[@chrisbailiss7309]

It's a terrible decision given the growth of/around Aylesbury in recent years and future.

[@Sheena1234ization]

Sad it's not going through MK

[@Rail_Focus]

Services will go to MK though

[@Sheena1234ization]

@@Rail_Focus You you won't need to catch a connection train to Bletchley?

[@Rail_Focus]

There will be an Oxford - Milton Keynes service. Although if you wanted to travel east to Bedford you'd have to travel via Bletchley

[@Sheena1234ization]

@@Rail_Focus Ah okay, thanks for clearing that up

[@Alan-ln3ls]

'Put measures in place…' probably means creating a residents parking zone, and charging the residents for permits to park there.

[@DavidShepheard]

That's how things have been done where I live. We have one hour during weekdays, where anyone parking in my town to ride the trains into London comes back to a parking ticket. When you have visitors, they need to come after that hour (or come in the morning and leave before that hour). People like district nurses would need a special permit that allows them to park anywhere they need to in the county.

[@jeremyhayes4562]

Amused to hear you hope that rail users will take a bus to Winslow! First find a bus

[@Rail_Focus]

One can but hope 😅

[@DavidShepheard]

Nice video! It's about time the new government looked into adding back the electrification to East West Rail. It was a mistake for it to be removed. Overhead electrification really does need to be the default option on new railways. Your comment about trains using East West Rail as a diversionary route highlights the fact that trains headed into London, that get diverted this way, might benefit from the electrification too. So the actual "cost vs benefit" analysis should not just be about the "anticipated revenue of passenger trains" - it should take into account all the other options that East West Rail unllocks for passenger and freight train movements.

[@radicallyrethinkingrailwaysina]

Was the electrification to be third rail or overhead?

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@radicallyrethinkingrailwaysina Overhead

[@derloos]

Electrification ftw!!

[@darynvoss7883]

The dream is that one day this will connect with HSR

[@Rail_Focus]

Maybe connect with Aylesbury, but unlikely to connect with HS2

[@Andrewjg_89]

So apparently West Midlands Railway Class 196 Civity are to be hired for the East-West Rail link Oxford-Milton Keynes Central service and to extend to Bedford that London Northwestern Railway are using the Class 150 DMUs cascaded from Northern.

[@BillyKirbyUK]

Great information but the background music is completely unneccessary and rather annoying, in my view (or ears)

[@Rail_Focus]

I appreciate it's subjective, but some people like the music. From a technical point it does help to mask background noise and artifacts within the voice over, which can creep in as I don't have a dedicated space to record the voice overs. Although I do try to keep the music quiet so that it doesn't drown out the voice over

[@macjim]

Brutalist architecture comes to mind… ugly 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Does 'industrial estate' qualify as 'architecture'? There's plenty of modern architecture I love, but TBH I'm not convinced the erection at Winslow is any improvement on those dire CLASP lash-ups from the darkest days of BR.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

This all sounds extremely overambitious. Feels like they're trying to add in every gold-plated option they can get away with instead of just opening the railway and actually getting a return on their work. The freight loops might be a good idea, but I'm still not sure there's quite that much traffic for the line. It puzzles me why they're revisiting this section when it's not even in service yet, and the Marston Vale section probably needs more attention and consolidation.

[@Rail_Focus]

The thing you have to remember, or I perhaps didn''t fully explain, is the additions are part of the wider Oxford - Cambridge scheme. So things like loops will be needed as at least 4 trains per hour will operate on the section between Oxford and Bletchley. And if built in full it will be a strategic freight corridor. I'd argue the loop should've been constructed while the line was being built, adding things after the fact is always more expensive.

[@andrewhotston983]

Getting a return on their work? This is taxpayers' money, so no return required - just building it should be enough - expecting to ride along the line in a train is just greedy!

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@andrewhotston983 So wasting taxpayer money by building a line to nowhere would be fine then? Of course it should give some sort of return for the investment into it; otherwise there's no point in building it in the first place

[@andrewhotston983]

@@andrewreynolds4949It's pretty obvious that I was being sarcastic. .

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@andrewhotston983 Unfortunately I've heard those exact sort of lines before from people being entirely serious

[@rachelcarre9468]

As a resident of Bicester and a fan of EWR concept, I am pleased that the railway is coming because it will provide many opportunities for our town. However EWR having been discussing replacing the level crossing with a bridge for over a decade with four consultations and multiple engagements with MPs, councillors and community bodies. Suddenly they have chosen the easy option and will sever our town into two halves, it will have a great impact on many peoples lives. The alternative routes they propose are both long, circuitous and congested making the CO2 impact much worse. One of them passes through an area of illegal air pollution due to road traffic. A solution is possible but it will cost. EWR have proven they have the budget, just look at the scale of the project they are proposing for Bedford. In Bicester they attempting to do it on the cheap and are ignoring the needs of businesses and residents. If you would like to come to Bicester, I’d be happy to show you the problem on the ground and the alternatives. Thank you for your excellent content.

[@Rail_Focus]

I got caught in traffic in the early afternoon trying to park in Sainsbury's when I went to the drop in. So I do feel resident's frustrations. It's difficult to see how existing roads or junctions could be improved to aid flow.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Is there scope for underpassing the reinstated line? I ask as a similar situation pertains in Uckfield, should common sense break out and the missing 8 miles to Lewes be restored, with the added complication of a high water table, as the rail formation follows the lowest point of the valley of the River Uck (one for the Lynton & Barnstaple's restorationists, immediately before they admit there are no further three letter English rivers after which to name an expanded loco fleet!). The flip side, retaining a level crossing, can be just as destructive. That at Portslade (Sussex) regularly turns Boundary Road, the main shopping thoroughfare, into a real life game of frogger, in addition to snarling up anything up to five road intersections, including those with two arterial A roads.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

@@TheHoveHeretic A part-time closure of a through route is still better than no through route

[@ricktownend9144]

@@TheHoveHeretic Portslade (and Shoreham, and Chichester) shows how much of an obstacle level crossings are to getting increased use of rail. I know NR have a program for closing the easy ones, but is anyone looking at innovative ways of tackling the hard ones, where an important road crosses an important railway?

[@Sam_Green____4114]

I thought they had dropped the Bedford - Cambridge section for being too expensive !

[@Rail_Focus]

Nope, Labour have committed to funding the full route. It's not too expensive.

[@hpengwyn]

Eye-slip

[@Rail_Focus]

Though I was pronouncing wrong as I was saying it 😶

[@captainboing]

@@Rail_Focus think "Ruislip".

[@scottthompson8386]

It's not really East West Rail is it.. it's West Central Rail. or Varsity Rail at best... delivers absolutely no benefits whatsoever to rail passengers east of Cambridge who badly need them.

[@nicholaslawrence9697]

The ridiculous East West Rail branding dates from its Inception by local councillors in Ipswich, who wanted a route from Felixstowe to Bletchley. In real life, we'll get Oxford to MK from May 2025, then a decade of rebuilding the Marston Vale line.

[@Rail_Focus]

It goes in an east to west direction 🤷

[@jeremyhayes4562]

Can’t be said that Cambridgeites are crying out for a connection. Let them keep to their cycles

[@jaspercaelan4998]

An enormous waste of money that the country cannot afford. Ticket prices will be just as high or higher than before so few will use it. More jobs will be remote in the next decade with the potential for massive job disruption from AI. By the time this line is complete it likely will be completely irrelevant.

[@Rail_Focus]

Very reminiscent of 2009 HS2 nimby arguments 👍. If we allow AI to rob us of jobs at the scale your suggesting then a new railway line will be the least of our worries.

[@jaspercaelan4998]

@@Rail_Focus "If we allow" like you or I have any say in that - the large multinational corporations will decide if they keep their employees or get rid of them to save money. HS2 is also an enormous waste of money with little to no benefits aside from shaving off 20 or 30 minutes on a journey. Not to mention all the damage to the countryside.

[@clivewheeler2597]

Where is the connection for Northampton in golden triangle 😡😡😡

[@Rail_Focus]

Not sure if there would be capacity to extend passenger services north. But connectivity will be improved with Northampton able to board EWR services at MK or Bletchley

[@lordgemini2376]

@@Rail_Focus Once HS2 is phase 1 is open, the EWR services should be extended to Northampton

[@clivewheeler2597]

It’s as big as city Northampton and should be connected 😡😡😡

[@peter59fg]

Quelle belle voie monotone de robot !

[@Rail_Focus]

Thanks for the encouragement. Captions work if you prefer 🤷