Rail project to link Wycombe with Milton Keynes (From Bucks Free Press)
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VIDEO: Rail project to link Wycombe with Milton Keynes
1:35pm Sunday 13th January 2013 in Freetime By Lawrence Dunhill
Rail project to link Wycombe with Milton Keynes
CONSTRUCTION plans have been announced for new rail links which will provide direct trains between High Wycombe and Milton Keynes.
Network Rail says the western section of the East West Rail link – between Bedford and Oxford – should be completed by 2017. See video below
The project includes the use of a freight-only line north of Aylesbury, meaning hourly passenger trains can run from south Bucks to Milton Keynes – the “fastest growing city in England”.
The journey from High Wycombe to Milton Keynes is expected to take 63 minutes, calling at Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough, Little Kimble, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, a new station at Winslow, and Bletchley.
The East West Rail Consortium [EWRC], which has promoted the route, says this will give Bucks residents access to further “employment, shopping and leisure opportunities”, as well as West Coast Mainline trains.
The scheme, which is expected to create 12,000 jobs, was confirmed last year after the Government said funding of £270 million would be made available.
Bucks county councillor Peter Hardy, who is also chairman of the Joint Delivery Board for the Western Section for East West Rail, said: “This is really good news for the region.
“The economic, environmental and social benefits of the East West Rail link to the areas it serves in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire and beyond should not be underestimated...
“It will also support the creation of some 12,000 jobs and boost annual regional gross domestic product by £38million.”
The main section of the route from Oxford to Bedford will go through Bicester Town, before using current freight lines and routes which have been out of use through Claydon and Bletchley.
This section is also proposed for electrification.
Meanwhile, EWRC said it retains a “firm aim” to re-introduce a rail link between Bedford and Cambridge and work will soon begin to re-assess the benefits.
A separate project approved in October means High Wycombe is also set to benefit from a new rail link to Oxford from 2015.
See related links for more on this and the East West Rail link.
Comments(20)
freaky
says...
3:27pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Muppetdj
says...
3:33pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Verdamus
says...
4:54pm Sun 13 Jan 13
The High Wycombe /Bourne End line hasn't had the new houses built yet?
That would link us in to Cross Rail. . very short-sighted not to see that!
Verdamus
says...
4:54pm Sun 13 Jan 13
The High Wycombe /Bourne End line hasn't had the new houses built yet?
That would link us in to Cross Rail. . very short-sighted not to see that!
geoffW
says...
4:54pm Sun 13 Jan 13
YorksDavey
says...
7:01pm Sun 13 Jan 13
Verdamus wrote:For the purpose of the route it doesn't need to go south to Berks. Plus some of the original route has been built of in the last 40 years so would need some expensive cpo's to happen. As nice as it would be, it's cheaper to run the number 35 bus than re-bed to surface, lay new track, add bridges or tunnel improvements, install new signalling and build 2 entirely new level crossings to link it to Bourne End station to only run an hourly service that wouldn't really pay for itself.
And wouldn;t it be a good idea if it went on to Maidenhead?
The High Wycombe /Bourne End line hasn't had the new houses built yet?
That would link us in to Cross Rail. . very short-sighted not to see that!
Voyeur
says...
9:39pm Sun 13 Jan 13
realist_highwycombe
says...
7:32am Mon 14 Jan 13
A simple return day travelcard from Wycombe to London off peak is £21.30!!!!!! How an earth can this be justified!?
When I first moved to High Wycombe some 8 years ago I recall the figure was much, much less.
Despite petrol still being expensive it is much cheaper still to drive around the country than use the railways.
It was once described as a rich mans "toy" - how apt!
Windsorian
says...
8:10am Mon 14 Jan 13
Verdamus wrote:Alternatively to extend some of the proposed Crossrail trains from their proposed Maidenhead terminus to Bourne End & eventually High Wycombe.
And wouldn;t it be a good idea if it went on to Maidenhead?
The High Wycombe /Bourne End line hasn't had the new houses built yet?
That would link us in to Cross Rail. . very short-sighted not to see that!
Under the initial Crossrail proposal 4tph (trains per hour) were due to terminate at Maidenhead, however there is now a WRAtH proposal for Crossrail 4tph via Heathrow to Reading also via Maidenhead.
Whether Reading requires more than a Crossrail train every 10 minutes (4tph) is debateable; so 2 of the 8tph Crossrail trains could be used on the Maidhead - Bourne End (High Wycombe) electrified spur line.
King Joke
says...
8:32am Mon 14 Jan 13
Verdamus wrote:Connecting places like MK and Aylesbury to Crossrail at Maidenhead by this route would give a very long journey time into Central London - probably 90 min or more. I doubt many people would want to travel this way when you can go MK-Euston in 30-40 mins.
And wouldn;t it be a good idea if it went on to Maidenhead? The High Wycombe /Bourne End line hasn't had the new houses built yet? That would link us in to Cross Rail. . very short-sighted not to see that!
If you wanted to go to Maidenhead itself you could change at Reading.
Wycombite
says...
9:06am Mon 14 Jan 13
realist_highwycombe wrote:Actually, I think £21.30 (if it that) represents pretty good value if you factor in that you are getting a train to London plus use of the underground and buses for 24 hours.
I agree with the above. The cost of using the railways now is beyond a joke. A simple return day travelcard from Wycombe to London off peak is £21.30!!!!!! How an earth can this be justified!? When I first moved to High Wycombe some 8 years ago I recall the figure was much, much less. Despite petrol still being expensive it is much cheaper still to drive around the country than use the railways. It was once described as a rich mans "toy" - how apt!
I appreciate the train is not going to be as cheap as a car journey to London but as a 1-2-1 comparison (assuming 1 person in the car) I think it's pretty good. Granted the more in the car then this is a more practical solution - just depends on whether you like to sit in traffic or not.
Windsorian
says...
9:11am Mon 14 Jan 13
Wycombite wrote:... and don't forget the cost of parking a car when you get to London 1
realist_highwycombe wrote:Actually, I think £21.30 (if it that) represents pretty good value if you factor in that you are getting a train to London plus use of the underground and buses for 24 hours.
I agree with the above. The cost of using the railways now is beyond a joke. A simple return day travelcard from Wycombe to London off peak is £21.30!!!!!! How an earth can this be justified!? When I first moved to High Wycombe some 8 years ago I recall the figure was much, much less. Despite petrol still being expensive it is much cheaper still to drive around the country than use the railways. It was once described as a rich mans "toy" - how apt!
I appreciate the train is not going to be as cheap as a car journey to London but as a 1-2-1 comparison (assuming 1 person in the car) I think it's pretty good. Granted the more in the car then this is a more practical solution - just depends on whether you like to sit in traffic or not.
Kadoogan
says...
10:16am Mon 14 Jan 13
Milton Keynes – the “fastest growing city in England”
******
When was Milton Keynes granted city status? To my knowledge it is still a town.
Still, this is a good plan. Nothing like visiting MK town centre occasionally in order to make you feel better about living in Wycombe.
prorail
says...
11:49am Mon 14 Jan 13
Why doesn't the government consider electrifying the Chiltern lines, the last non electrified commuter line into London? Its time BCC and our MPs put some pressure on for this to be included in Network Rails plans.
Windsorian
says...
12:07pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Kadoogan wrote:I think it is proposed the Chiltern line trains will stop at Old Oak Common on their existing route from High Wycombe to their terminus at Marylebone; as you point out the Chiltern line is not electrified, so not suitable for Crossrail.
From the article:
Milton Keynes – the “fastest growing city in England”
******
When was Milton Keynes granted city status? To my knowledge it is still a town.
Still, this is a good plan. Nothing like visiting MK town centre occasionally in order to make you feel better about living in Wycombe.
The Maidenhead - Bourne End line is due to be electrified as part of the CP5 GWML electrification scheme, so extending Crossrail to Bourne End (instead of terminating at Maidenhead) could be a stepping stone to its eventual extension the High Wycombe.
If some of these Crossrail trains ran through Heathrow (T5 & CTA) it would benefit the airport workers as well as passengers.
prorail
says...
1:32pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Windsorian wrote:Unfortunately the route from High Wycombe to Marylebone doesn't go via Old Oak Common, therefore your suggestion of stopping current Chiltern Line services there isn't possible.
Kadoogan wrote: From the article: Milton Keynes – the “fastest growing city in England” ****** When was Milton Keynes granted city status? To my knowledge it is still a town. Still, this is a good plan. Nothing like visiting MK town centre occasionally in order to make you feel better about living in Wycombe.I think it is proposed the Chiltern line trains will stop at Old Oak Common on their existing route from High Wycombe to their terminus at Marylebone; as you point out the Chiltern line is not electrified, so not suitable for Crossrail. The Maidenhead - Bourne End line is due to be electrified as part of the CP5 GWML electrification scheme, so extending Crossrail to Bourne End (instead of terminating at Maidenhead) could be a stepping stone to its eventual extension the High Wycombe. If some of these Crossrail trains ran through Heathrow (T5 & CTA) it would benefit the airport workers as well as passengers.
The electrification of the existing route from Old Oak Common to High Wycombe would support Crossrail services without any new line needing to be built.
Yorkshiretyke1
says...
1:46pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Heathen
says...
11:03pm Mon 14 Jan 13
Only the Oxford - Bletchley line will be electrified.
saoj393
says...
11:33pm Mon 14 Jan 13
I was born in Bedford, and now live in High Wycombe and i find it so hard visiting family because i cannot drive.
I either have to get 3 buses to get there, which takes many hours, or get 3 trains, which takes just as long, and also cost's quite a bit! as a teenage girl, that was not very helpful.
This has given me great pleasure, in knowing that at some point, i will be able to regularly visit family and not worry about cost and time but concentrate on enjoying myself
Muppetdj says...
3:13pm Sun 13 Jan 13