New Operator Announced for East West Rail Project

In the UK, there’s exciting news on the horizon for rail travel! The Department for Transport has officially tapped Arriva Group’s Chiltern Railways to take charge of passenger services between Oxford and Milton Keynes. This marks a significant step forward as we gear up for the launch of the first phase of the East West Rail line later this year.

Chiltern Railways has announced that they will be utilizing CAF Class 196 diesel multiple-units, which they’ll be leasing from West midlands Trains. They’re planning to operate two trains every hour, which is fantastic news not just for commuters but also because it’s expected to create nearly 100 new jobs, including opportunities for aspiring drivers thru apprenticeships.

“bringing Chiltern Railways on board to manage these initial services is a pivotal move in our journey towards making this line operational later this year,” shared Rail Minister Lord Hendy during an declaration on march 25. “This achievement highlights our commitment to harnessing the potential of the oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, enhancing connectivity throughout the area while fulfilling our Plan for change initiative aimed at boosting economic development.”

The Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, Richard Allan, expressed pride in their history of launching new services and improving infrastructure. He pointed out their successful connections from London to Oxford and recent additions like stations at oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.

Additonally, David Hughes—CEO of East West Railway Co., which promotes this railway project—stated that this development represents just the beginning. “This is merely phase one in our vision; we aim to extend services all the way to Bedford and cambridge,” he noted. “Such expansions will revolutionize connectivity across these regions while opening doors for fresh economic prospects.”

The future looks radiant with plans already set in motion! By around 2030, we anticipate service extensions along an upgraded Bletchley-Bedford route leading into Cambridge via a newly constructed greenfield alignment by mid-2030s. Long-term strategies even include partial electrification at a frequency of 25 kV/50 Hz alongside hybrid battery-electric trains coming into play.