East West Rail Unveils Electrification Plans

East West Rail (EWR) has announced its preference for electric traction power as it confirmed that it would only be partly electrifying the line.

EWR will use discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains, for the line between Bedford and Cambridge. The news follows the announcement by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the budget on October 30 that the Government will continue to fund the rest of the project. In her speech, Reeves stipulated that the line should be electric.

David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: "We're excited to confirm our plans for electrification, which support our environmental goals by delivering sustainable low carbon journeys and supporting the UK's transition to an overall net zero carbon economy.”

EWR had been considering its options in terms of its traction choices, with diesel a very real possibility for some time. However, its decision to choose electric and in turn discontinuous electrification along the route “would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would reduce disruption to existing structures and potentially reduce visual impacts in more sensitive locations on the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge”, according to EWR.

Currently, Chiltern Railways is expected to begin services in 2025 on the western section of the line, connecting Oxford to Milton Keynes. Work is continuing rebuilding the line between Milton Keynes and Bedford, which is using the currently freight-only Marston Vale line.

EWR are now planning on gathering feedback on its central section, which will see Bedford connect with Cambridge. The chosen route was announced last year and will be a completely new track.

It will be launching a 10-week non-statutory consultation on November 14. The consultation will cover various aspects of the project, including upgrades to stations, service patterns, upgrades to the Marston Vale Line and the environmental impact of the scheme.

Hughes expressed enthusiasm about the consultation, stating, “This consultation is a crucial step in creating a railway that benefits our communities and drives sustainable growth. It will help us shape the future of the railway and improve access to jobs, education, and public services.”

Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railways (GWR) began testing on the route between Oxford and Milton Keynes in October with Chiltern running a Class 168 and GWR running a class 800.