UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling officially launched the East West Railway Company. The new company will oversee the restoration of the link between the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, nearly 50 years after the closure of the old Varsity Line.
East West Rail will be one of the country’s most strategically important rail projects, with its direct link through the corridor dubbed the UK’s own ‘Silicon Valley’ when it is completed in the mid-2020s. The new line will also create a direct link between East Anglia and central and southern England, delivering benefits for passengers and businesses regionally and nationally by unlocking additional housing and economic growth.
When the line opens, it will have interchange stations with 4 main railway lines radiating out of London, but it will run under or over each, minimising any risk of delay. The aim is to build a route that allows future upgrades to be incorporated with as little disruption as possible.
“We are making the biggest investment in the railways since Victorian times to meet the growing demand for rail travel, while also boosting business and increasing productivity. East West Rail is the perfect example of how we can revitalise the railways, grow the network and unlock jobs and housing growth,” Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said.
Share on:
