WATCH: test train runs on ‘promising’ UK line shuttered for nearly six decades
Network Rail and its partners on the East West Rail project have reached a “huge milestone” in the project this week, with a test train successfully completing its first run between Oxford and Milton Keynes. The trial brings the rail line between the two key London-commuter cities a step closer to reopening to passengers for the first time in nearly 60 years in an area identified by the UK government as having “high growth potential”.
Network Rail has worked with its partners at Chiltern Railways to operate the first train over the newly rebuilt section of the line between Bicester and Bletchley on Monday, as part of testing on the route. The development is significant in that it moves the reopening of the line between Oxford and Milton Keynes — of which the Bicester-Bletchley section is a key part — that much closer, after having been shuttered for nearly six decades amid the major scaledown of the UK’s rail network in the 1960s.
Departing from Oxford station at 9:43 am, a Chiltern Class 168 train made a full journey along the line, travelling from Bicester to Milton Keynes in 42 minutes, with the train reaching speeds of around 160 km/h on several sections of the line.
Successful test ‘a huge milestone’
“Today is a huge milestone for the East West Rail project,” said Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Director of Capital Delivery. “I am incredibly proud of the partnership between Network Rail, our East West Rail Alliance supply chain partners, the DfT, EWR Company and Chiltern Railways, for successfully completing the construction and beginning entry into service of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley.”
“The running of our first test train today is a huge achievement and brings us one step closer to restoring train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers,” he added. Meanwhile, David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Company, said that passenger services would likely begin next year, “delivering the improved connectivity which this region so desperately needs.”
Connecting communities
The event not only marks the first time a train has used this section of the new railway line, but also represents a major stage of the East West Rail project, which is planning to deliver transport connections for communities between Oxford and Cambridge.
Connection Stage One of the project includes the introduction of services from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes, with the aim of the first passenger services starting in 2025, with the idea of better connecting several technology and research hubs that surround London via rail.
Chiltern Railways is supporting both Network Rail and the East West Rail Alliance, which is a partnership between AtkinsRéalis, Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail, and Network Rail, by running test trains as part of technical preparations to open the line. Testing and training will now take place over the coming months, with Network Rail saying the project remains on track to begin passenger services in 2025.
East West Rail test vs. HS2
While the East West Rail project appears to be on track, other UK rail projects aren’t so lucky. The UK government-backed high speed rail project, HS2, is to pass from government oversight to … government oversight. The arms-length government quango set up to deliver the new line between London and Birmingham has been told that the UK government will bring it to heel, in the light of spiralling costs, delays and controversies. Get the full report from our UK correspondent Simon Walton here.
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