During a speech at Siemens in Oxfordshire, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves backed plans to establish the East West Rail line, connecting Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes.

In the short term, Reeves announced that the delivery of a new East Coast Mainline station in Tempsford will be accelerated by 3-5 years. This station will eventually serve as an interchange with the East West Rail line, linking services directly to London.

Construction on the East West Rail project began in November 2021, and currently spans between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Reeves has now endorsed funding to extend the route to Cambridge, but has not committed to full electrification of the line, meaning diesel trains will likely run on the route.

Silviya Barrett, from Campaign for Better Transport, said:

The commitment to build around existing and any future railway stations is very welcome and something we have long campaigned for. As is the commitment to improve rail links between Oxford and Cambridge, but we are very disappointed that the line will not be electrified. The Government has missed a trick here. Few countries in Europe have built any non-electrified track in recent years and not committing to a fully electric East West Rail looks like a failure to future-proof the project.

The government’s commitment to East West Rail is part of its ambition to create an Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor that will add up to 78 billion GBP to the UK economy.

Specifically, Reeves has highlighted that the new rail infrastructure will catalyse housing development, with 18 new towns proposed along the East West Rail line.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said:

Well connected communities are a cornerstone for growth. East West Rail will not only provide better links and lasting benefits to Oxford and Cambridge, but to all the surrounding areas.

I’m also delighted to announce a brand new station at Tempsford, which will be game changing for the region – allowing a new community and businesses to grow, unlocking faster and smoother access to opportunities, and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

Despite this potential for growth and economic prosperity, the project has also received notable criticism for its potential to harm the environment and natural ecosystems. However, in her speech, Reeves stated that she wanted to “focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about the bats and the newts”.

Notably, Reeves has also expressed support for the plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport to meet increased air travel demands.

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