The East West wait

Oxon and Bucks Rail Action Committee (formed by Railfuture in 1986 to campaign for East West Rail) praises the work of the East West Rail Consortium and the work of Chris Hayward, Laurence Collins and John Best, who drove forward the organisation in the initial phase from 1994.

There had been even earlier studies in 1947 and 1980, for the Milton Keynes Development Corporation. BR developed a scheme for a PeterboroughSwindon service in the early 1990s and Milton Keynes Council led two studies in 1990.

New development failed to deliver sufficient infrastructure to support it. There was even doubt if Milton Keynes Central was needed.

The Oxford-Cambridge line closed as a through route at the end of 1967, just as Milton Keynes was designated. The Times described it as “absolute folly” and the NUR published a leaflet describing closure as “a national fraud”. The NUR identified that the annual £100,000 loss could be cut by de-staffing stations, resignalling, better DMU use, and improved journey times from four hours for 77 miles!

Fifty years since closure and after 30 years of prevarication and millions spent on studies, we still wait, although Oxford-Bicester was a major step forward. If the line had been kept open, the subsidy would be far less than the reopening cost, and indeed would have become well-used with potential for a Yarmouth to Bristol and even Barmouth service!

It is unclear if we would be where we are had it not been for the efforts and persistence of the present East West Rail Consortium. Support from councillors and MPs is winning through.

We must praise those who have worked for EWR for years, and wish those involved in taking it forward every success. The closure and delay to restoring services has cost the country dear.

Chris Wright, Caister