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Aylesbury-Milton Keynes rail link 'by 2016'
A rail link between Aylesbury and Milton Keynes could be operational by Christmas 2016.
The most detailed reports yet into the East-West project, which will eventually provide an orbital train line around London, are due to be published later this month.
It is understood that unlike previous studies, they will be favourable towards including a spur at Aylesbury in the scheme.
Richard Ward, lead officer on the western section of East-West rail, said: "It is very encouraging, we will have a fully costed scheme, some outline design work and what looks like quite a robust business case, which will be the platform to start getting a funding package together to deliver it.
He said the cost of the link would a fraction of the Government's proposed 30bn High Speed Two (HS2) link, the route of which is planned to cut right through Aylesbury Vale.
"It looks like it will cost around 200 million-250 million, which pales into insignificance in comparison to High Speed Two."
He said transport secretary Lord Adonis had stated his support for the scheme.
But there is 'concern' that HS2, combined with the recession, will take money away from other rail projects, although the date for construction on the line would be after the East-West link is scheduled to be finished.
Mr Ward said HS2 would create additional capacity for the West Coast mainline at Milton Keynes, allowing more trains from Aylesbury to use the tracks.
The HS2 maintenance depot proposed at Calvert could potentially service both new lines. The east-west track could even be used to bring in construction materials if and when building work on HS2 begins.
For more on the high speed rail link, pick up a copy of this week's Bucks Herald.
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Weather for Aylesbury
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
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