Cambridge and Oxford rail line likened to Britain’s bendiest road
The winding path of a proposed rail route between Cambridge[1] and Oxford[2] has been likened to Britain’s bendiest road. If built a section of the East West Rail line running between Bedford and Cambridge has been described as “full of twists and turns, and ups and downs”.
By connecting the two University cities it is hoped the East West Rail line will boost economic growth across the region. Some of the western sections of the route will use existing lines but a new section of track will need to be built between Bedford and Cambridge. Its design has faced criticism.
In a Westminster Hall debate, Richard Fuller, Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, said: “East West Rail, the route chosen is so full of twists and turns and ups and downs, it surely competes with what is probably our country’s bendiest road – I am not sure if the minister knows this, the B3081 at Cann Common in Dorset, that ‘twists and turns more than many an Alpine climb’. Words that could be transposed to the route chosen by East West Rail.
“Back when governments and other people knew how to build railways in the Victorian age, of course, they chose a straighter, less hilly route.”
Mr Fuller claimed MPs were misled about whether the railway line would be electrified. Currently plans state that it will run diesel trains but it is now being suggested it could run some electric trains as well.
He added: “Originally, as the minister will know, in the 2005 Railways Act it was going to be an electrified line as part of the electric spine. In July 2012 in the high level output specification, East-West Rail was listed as a new electric railway line.
“It was then dropped by East West Rail company, but now in their latest document, well, they say it may come back. Well minister, which is it? Are we electrified? Are we not electrified? Is it battery-powered? Is it not?”
Transport Minister Huw Merriman has claimed the line could have the option of “hybrid” rolling stock. Mr Merriman said: “Phase one, which is the part that goes from Oxford over to Bletchley, is of course a mix of an existing line and (what) once was a railway line. Phase two that goes from Bletchley to Bedford is an existing line. In that sense it is a more difficult challenge in terms of electrification because bridges and other infrastructure matters are already in place and would have to be significantly changed.
“Where we have built in new bridges, new infrastructure, we have done that with electrification for the future in mind. So it does have that pathway available to it and of course we look with the future towards hybrid options as far as trains are concerned, with the ability to make for a better decarbonised line of route.”
Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse (Bath) also came out in favour of the line be electrified. She said: “We are in a climate emergency. If people want to really see the benefits of a new infrastructure, they need to see the benefits to the environment, but also to their health.
“The Government is not making electrification the main priority, isn’t that really what this line should be about, electrification?”
Labour MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner added: “I think in the end electrification, she is absolutely right, is obviously the way we should be going.”