Network Rail appoints firms for Aylesbury-Milton Keynes rail link

A rail link connecting Aylesbury and Winslow with Milton Keynes has moved a step closer to reality after Network Rail appointed three firms which will deliver the next phase of the £270m East-West Rail scheme.
East West rail planEast West rail plan
East West rail plan

An alliance of four equal parts between Network Rail, Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail will build East-West Rail Phase 2 (EWR2) linking Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedford, and Milton Keynes with London Marylebone via Aylesbury and a new station at Winslow.

The news comes after Network Rail confirmed it will build the East-West rail link as ‘soon as possible’, calming fears that the project would face massive delays. It is included in the organisation’s 2015-2019 work programme.

The alliance is currently working on the outline design and construction programme for the scheme.

Once this initial segment of work is complete, the EWR2 alliance will consult with the Department for Transport to agree a final design, construction timetable and costs. It aims to submit an application for a Transport & Works Act order in autumn 2016.

Andy Milne, Network Rail’s senior programme manager and alliance manager, said: “The railway is vital to Britain’s economic health. We are carrying out this Railway Upgrade Plan scheme because we care about giving train passengers what they want and about building a strong economic future for people in the regions East West Rail will connect.

“We are an alliance of four equal parts working as one team. Never before on a project of this size has an alliance been convened this early. By scoping all aspects of the project now we will see potential problems early and be able to mitigate them. The earlier we do this work the greater value for taxpayers’ money we can deliver.”

The long-term aspiration of East West Rail is to one day link Oxford in the west to Ipswich in the east, via Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

This, says Network Rail, is a key missing piece in the country’s rail network, with train customers currently having to go via London to get from, say, Bicester to Milton Keynes.

Graeme Castle, rail sector leader for Laing O’Rourke, speaking on behalf of all the EWR2 partners, said: “We are all proud to be involved in this nationally significant project and aim to build on the success of the Staffordshire Alliance, where the partnership is working collaboratively to deliver the Stafford Area Improvements Programme.

“Our early involvement in the East West Rail Phase 2 project will guarantee an efficient and constructible design that is at the forefront of innovation built on digital engineering and offsite manufacture.”

Once complete, this work would enable the following train journeys:

> Oxford – Milton Keynes (calling at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley)

> Oxford – Bedford (calling at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands and Ridgmont)

> Milton Keynes – Aylesbury – London Marylebone (an extension of the existing service between Marylebone and Aylesbury Vale Parkway, with stops anticipated at Bletchley, Winslow, Princes Risboroughand High Wycombe)

> Increased capacity for freight services

Plans include:

> A new station at Winslow

> Two new platforms at Bletchley

> Construction of 18 new overbridges

> Construction of 22 new footbridges/subways

> Changes to 97 railway crossings