The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that it has named the operator for the new East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways.
DfT reports that this announcement comes ahead of East West Rail’s launch later this year, which will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern.
The transport body also estimates that when delivered in full, East West Rail is set to generate £6.7bn of growth per year in Oxford-Cambridge by 2050, supporting up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone.
Serving 6 stations, the new line will initially link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in nearly 60 years.
A brand-new station at Winslow will also reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with trains also stopping at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village and Bletchley station.
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The announcement comes following a 10-week consultation period giving local people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s.
Managing director of Chiltern Railways Richard Allan said: “The first stage of East West Rail will provide fast, direct train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and we are delighted that Chiltern has been announced as operator.”
“Chiltern has a proud track record of delivering new services and infrastructure, including our London to Oxford connections and introduction of new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.
“We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK’s economic growth.”
Achievements and innovations in public transport planning will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
