MK Green Party has responded to East West Rail Ltd’s latest consultation. While generally welcoming the proposals the party is critical of some aspects.
Alan Francis, Policy Officer for MKGP said, “We have been campaigning for EWR for more than 40 years so we are pleased to see this latest proposal. Trains will begin operating between Oxford and MK Central some time this year and we are very much looking forward to that.
We also want to see a direct train service between MK Central and Cambridge via Marston Vale stations and Bedford. But that is not in the current proposals. A service between Oxford and Cambridge via Bletchley is proposed but that will not serve MK Central. We think that another planned service from Cambridge to Bedford and Stewartby should be extended to MK Central with a reversal in Bletchley station. That would provide a direct service to MK Central from stations to the east of MK.”
Other points about EWR in the Milton Keynes area made in the MK Green Party response include:
Eastern entrance at Bletchley station should be included in EWR
Trains should be able to operate between MK Central and Bedford/Cambridge by reversing in any of platforms 5, 6, 7 or 8 in either direction at Bletchley.
Bow Brickhill station should be retained. We support the proposal for new overbridge east of existing level crossing,
Woburn Sands
Support relocation of Woburn Sands station to new site and a new bridge over the railway near to Woodleys crossing, to be provided by developers as part of SEMK development.
All stations on Marston Vale line, except Fenny Stratford, Aspley Guise, Millbrook should be retained with improved connections to neighbouring stations for those that are closed.
Fenny Stratford. Close subject to eastern entrance at Bletchley station being built and bus service between Fenny Stratford and Bletchley, hourly or better frequency.
We support discontinuous electrification, with battery-electric trains, as a first stage with full electrification some time later.
For the full MK Green Party response on the whole EWR Oxford to Cambridge route please see: here
For more detail on extending services from Bedford/Cambridge to MK Central please see: here
