£794m funding for rail projects
FUNDING worth £794 million for two key rail projects has been announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
The major tranche of the funding, £760m, will be for the completion of phase 2 of the East West Rail link project and cover track and signalling upgrades between Bicester, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford.
The money will cover the cost of a new station at Winslow as well enhancements to existing stations.
Criticism
The project is tendering for diesel rolling stock and the start of a two trains per hour service from Oxford to Milton Keynes, which is now envisaged to start in 2025. The two would be connected for the first time since 1968.
In reconfirming the funding, it has led to criticism the project doesn’t include electrification, knowing that retro-electrification will cost far more. However, Mr Shapps has alluded to hydrogen or battery trains to replace the DMUs, which has not been well received either.
Labour MP Daniel Zeichner, who represents Cambridge, said: “Every rail expert will tell you it will cost more later to electrify a line.
“In a time of climate emergency, we really shouldn’t be building railway lines for diesel, it’s got to be electric.”
Simon Blanchflower, CEO of project promoter East West Railway Co, said: “This funding will enable us to get on with the construction work. We are committed to improving connectivity across the Oxford – Cambridge arc and fully recognise our responsibility to ensure that it is delivered in a way that minimises disruption, supports the regional economy, maximises benefits and supports jobs across the region.”
The remaining £34m of the announced funding will be used towards the next steps towards the £166m cost of reinstating passenger services between Ashington in Northumberland and Newcastle. Passenger services ceased over this route in 1964 but it is still used for freight traffic.
Investment
Dubbed the Northumberland Line, the investment will fund preparatory works, including land acquisition, detailed design work and early site works.
Plans for the project include new stations at Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park; where there will be an interchange with the Tyne & Wear Metro before joining the East Coast Main Line at Benton Jct.
The project will need an upgrade to 18 miles of track, three new footbridges, signalling upgrades and changes to level crossings and could lead to bridges or underpasses being built.
Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said: “This is fantastic news and means we can finalise our plans to deliver this transformational project for both Northumberland and the wider region. “
Last autumn, Northumberland County Council had hoped infrastructure design would have been completed by the summer, with construction contracts starting soon afterwards and the line opening by 2023/24, but it is not clear how the pandemic has affected this projected timescales.
The Department for Transport has confirmed a third and final round of proposals for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund will close on March 5, with money allocated to successful bids to take projects forward will be announced in the summer.