East West Rail

News

East West Rail working timetable drawn up as first freight train uses route

First freight service along East West Rail coincides with opening of Northampton Gateway terminal.

East West Rail 19 Jun

HS2 viaduct on the approach to Birmingham Curzon Street. HS2 LTD.

News

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

Government commits more than £10bn to projects across England and Wales, and more than £23bn to HS2.

Government 11 Jun

An aerial view of Wixams in April 2025. WANDERING NORTHERNER.

News

New station on Midland Main Line set to be expanded after Universal Park approval

Wixams near Bedford was originally planned as a two-platform station.

Midland Main Line 24 Apr

News

Freight paths exist on East West Rail, Rail Minister confirms

Lord Hendy responds to question asking about pathing for freight on the route

East West Rail 23 Apr

Chiltern Railways train on the Oxford - Milton Keynes route

News

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Chiltern Railways has been confirmed as the operator of the first leg of East West Rail by the Rail Minister, Lord Hendy.

East West Rail 25 Mar

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a press conference following her statement to the House of Commons on the findings of the Treasury audit into the state of the public finances. Picture date: Monday July 29, 2024. ALAMY

News

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

New station at Tempsford was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in January.

East West Rail 21 Mar

The GWR-organised inspection train passes Claydon on East West Rail. JACK BOSKETT.

News

GWR-organised train travels along East West Rail to show HS2 mitigation plans

Chartered inspection train visits East West Rail and other sites in trip arranged by Great Western Railway.

East West Rail 13 Feb

Feature

Reopenings special: Progress from west to east in three stages

The first section of East West Rail is due to open this year, but ultimately the line will continue to Cambridge. Peter Plisner looks at the latest progress.

Major projects 10 Feb

News

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Chancellor stopped short of confirming it will be on East West Rail, though said customers could reach Cambridge in 'under 30 minutes'.

East Coast Main Line 30 Jan

Chiltern's first East West Rail train at Winslow. Photo by Network Rail

News

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

Rail Minister Lord Hendy is in favour of discontinuous electrification, but the freight sector wants a longer-term strategy for full electrification

East West Rail 2 Jan

News

East West Rail proposes moving station as consultation into updated designs opens

East West Rail is opening a 10-week consultation into its updated plans to reconnect Oxford and Cambridge

TOCs 14 Nov

News

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

East West Rail (EWR) has announced its preference for green traction power as it confirmed that it would only be partly electrifying the line.

East West Rail 1 Nov

News

East West Rail: Chiltern and GWR run first test trains between Oxford and West Coast Main Line

Chiltern Railways and GWR both rain their first test trains along East West Rail on Monday October 21 between Oxford and Bletchley, with the Chiltern unit reaching Milton Keynes

East West Rail 22 Oct

News

East West Rail excursion

Rail passengers will have the opportunity to travel from Oxford to Milton Keynes direct for the first time since the 1990s.

rail 9 Oct

News

Shapps to cut back East West Rail?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has cast doubt on the second and third phases of East West Rail

23 Jul

News

Cambridge signals to receive £194m upgrade

The Cambridge area’s 40-year-old signalling system is to be replaced over the next two years, following the award of £194 million worth of contracts.

25 Feb

News

Pipeline of investment plan for Economic Heartland

Electrification forms key part of England's Economic Heartland's plans to boost capacity and reach net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.

27 Jul

News

EWR targets short-term fleet ahead of possible electrification

East West Railway Company issues tender for interim fleet as Government reconsiders electrifying the route

16 Mar

News

Tender set to be issued for East West Rail rolling stock

Invitation to Tender to be issued for three-car trains for East West Rail.

12 Jul

News

East-West rolling stock to be decided ‘later’

Rolling stock yet to be decided for East-West Rail

11 Sept

East West Rail

East West Rail working timetable drawn up as first freight train uses route

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

New station on Midland Main Line set to be expanded after Universal Park approval

Freight paths exist on East West Rail, Rail Minister confirms

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

GWR-organised train travels along East West Rail to show HS2 mitigation plans

Reopenings special: Progress from west to east in three stages

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

East West Rail proposes moving station as consultation into updated designs opens

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

East West Rail: Chiltern and GWR run first test trains between Oxford and West Coast Main Line

East West Rail excursion

Shapps to cut back East West Rail?

Cambridge signals to receive £194m upgrade

Pipeline of investment plan for Economic Heartland

EWR targets short-term fleet ahead of possible electrification

Tender set to be issued for East West Rail rolling stock

East-West rolling stock to be decided ‘later’

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

East West Rail

East West Rail working timetable drawn up as first freight train uses route

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

New station on Midland Main Line set to be expanded after Universal Park approval

Freight paths exist on East West Rail, Rail Minister confirms

Operator for first leg of East West Rail announced

Government gives more details on East West Rail and East Coat Main Line interchange station

GWR-organised train travels along East West Rail to show HS2 mitigation plans

Reopenings special: Progress from west to east in three stages

Rachel Reeves announces new East Coast Main Line station during Oxfordshire speech

Calls grow for full East West Rail electrification to boost freight

East West Rail proposes moving station as consultation into updated designs opens

East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

East West Rail: Chiltern and GWR run first test trains between Oxford and West Coast Main Line

East West Rail excursion

Shapps to cut back East West Rail?

Cambridge signals to receive £194m upgrade

Pipeline of investment plan for Economic Heartland

EWR targets short-term fleet ahead of possible electrification

Tender set to be issued for East West Rail rolling stock

East-West rolling stock to be decided ‘later’

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains