East-West Rail will link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge by rail. The first phase, between Oxford and Bicester, is complete. Funding has recently been announced for phase 2, from Bicester to Bletchley.
However the Government does not currently plan for the route to be electrified, and has put other benefits of the scheme, such as a link to Aylesbury, on hold.
With the expensive Oxford-Cambridge Expressway project now cancelled, we believe that money should be re-allocated to enhance the plans for East-West Rail.
Liberal Democrats want to see real investment in sustainable transport, and that East-West Rail should be as environmentally sustainable as possible from the start.
We call on the Government to get on with the whole East-West Rail project and to design it to be as environmentally sustainable as possible from the start.
I/we the undersigned call on the Government to fully fund and electrify East-West Rail.