This is part of the second phase of the East-West Rail project to link Oxford to Bedford and Milton Keynes via Aylesbury and Princes Risborough to London Marylebone.
The work would involve upgrading and reconstructing underused and mothballed sections of the railway linking the Great Western, Chiltern, West Coast and Midland main lines north of London and providing a strategic east-west route.
Once complete, this work would enable the following train journeys:
- Oxford-Milton Keynes (calling at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley)
- Oxford-Bedford (calling at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands and Ridgmont)
- Milton Keynes-Aylesbury-London Marylebone (with stops at Bletchley, Winslow, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe).
Plans include the construction of a new station at Winslow, two new platforms at Bletchley, 18 new overbridges and 22 new footbridges/subways.
After a series of public exhibitions, Network Rail hopes to submit an application to the secretary of state for transport in summer 2016 to gain the necessary permissions to complete the work.
The first phase of the East West Rail project between Oxford and Bicester is almost complete.
Network Rail route managing director Martin Frobisher said: “I am really pleased to have delivered phase one of East-West Rail. A new service from Oxford to Marylebone, from late October, will be a great new option for people travelling to and from the capital.
“As our attention now turns to the future, we want to hear your views in order to properly understand what’s needed for the next phase of this scheme."
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