South Bucks residents are being urged to take part in a consultation on plans for a new rail link, which will connect Princes Risborough and High Wycombe with Milton Keynes.

Rail bosses believe the scheme, which will eventually connect Oxford in the west to Cambridge in the east, could become “the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley”.

Transport chiefs said it will “improve rail journeys for potentially millions of passengers by opening up new routes for regional and cross-country travel, and reduce the need to go into London for onward connections”.

The consultation by Network Rail, for Phase Two of the western section, which will run between Bicester Village and Bedford, including a spur between Princes Risborough and Milton Keynes via Aylesbury, will include a public exhibition in Princes Risborough on Friday, July 21, between noon and 8pm at Elim Church, Bell Street.

The consultation is also available online at ewrconsultation.co.uk and the consultation documents can be viewed at Princes Risborough library until August 11.

The scheme is being supported by the East West Rail Consortium, an alliance of councils including Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC), Wycombe District Council (WDC) and Aylesbury Vale District Council.

Councillor Mark Shaw, chairman of the joint delivery board for the western section, and cabinet member for transport at BCC, said: “This part of the scheme will use existing rail lines, some of which have become freight only or, in other areas, have been mothballed.

“Work needed in Princes Risborough is mainly limited to extending its station’s platform as there is already a passenger service between the town and Aylesbury.

“East West Rail is a game-changer for public transport in Buckinghamshire. People will be able to catch trains to Milton Keynes, while Winslow’s new station will sit on both the Milton Keynes – Aylesbury – Risborough – London line and also the Oxford – Bicester – Bedford line.

“However, I recognise that people who live near to the route may have questions about how East West Rail’s construction and new services could affect them.

That’s why I’m encouraging as many people as possible to go along to the public exhibitions and speak directly to the engineers, planners, environmental experts and property specialists involved in the scheme.

“Residents can also submit their views to Network Rail’s consultation, so please, make your voice heard.”

Councillor Alan Turner, deputy cabinet member for transport at WDC, said: “Not only will this project provide vastly improved East West travel services, but will also enable greater North South interconnectivity options via Aylesbury, Princes Risborough, High Wycombe and on to and from London.

“It is a real plus for our local economies.”

Phase One of the western section, a link between Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village, was completed last year.