Network RailRecommitment to East West Rail in autumn budget
In the Autumn 2024 budget the Chancellor recommitted to the delivery of East West Rail between Oxford, Bedford and Cambridge. The first services will begin operations next year, running between Oxford, Bletchley, and Milton Keynes. The acceleration of the Marston Vale Line will then ensure these services extend on to Bedford from 2030. The government is launching a consultation in November.
Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, Cllr Liz Leffman said:
We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to East West Rail, infrastructure which our region’s businesses and local and combined authorities tell us is fundamental to allowing them to positively plan for the long-term future. EEH is working with Government and its partners to ensure the return on Treasury’s investment is maximised for our communities, businesses and wider UK economy.
There is still much more to do to ensure our transport system enables our region’s unique economic potential to be realised. Our region already has the fastest growing population of any sub-national transport body area, with population growth almost double the average from across the rest of England.
This has been achieved without the necessary investment in infrastructure. EEH’s Board of elected leaders is clear that, if the Government wishes to see even greater levels of economic growth, we simply must get the infrastructure first. This will be our message as we make the case for investment ahead of the pivotal multiyear Spending Review in spring 2025.
Connecting Economies
England’s Economic Heartland is the sub-national transport body for region, which stretches east to west from Swindon to Cambridgeshire. In October it published a series of Connecting Economies brochures for corridors across the region, two of which include Oxford. Expert insight from Cambridge Econometrics informs the asks to government for a selection of transport interventions, which the evidence base suggests would unlock economic growth.
In Oxford West End this includes the works to create a new Western entrance and track improvements for Oxford station, interim main station improvements, and the Oxford Station Masterplan. This infrastructure supports the introduction of East West Rail, Cowley Branch Line and other services. Cambridge Econometrics’ analysis considers the prime sector strengths of the corridor, alongside how improved connectivity could benefit productivity, cluster agglomeration, innovation, access to commercial space and housing, and freight and logistics.
Further information
England’s Economic Heartland Connecting Economies
Peterborough-Northampton-Oxford
