Date: 13/11/2013

Seven councils have contributed a total of £45m to help fund the restoration of a section of rail line between Cambridge and Oxford. The section between Bicester and Bletchley was closed in 1963, but has been earmarked for restoration as part of a scheme to link the two cities. The Department for Transport said work on the new section could begin by 2017. [From Mark Bartlett]

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East west rail link gets £45m boost

BBC News

Seven councils contribute a total of £45m to help fund the restoration of a section of rail line between Cambridge and Oxford.

Related images

Platform view looking east from Bicester Town in September 2009. This is currently the end of the passenger service from Oxford. The line continues east to serve a rubbish compaction and landfill site at Calvert. Beyond there the track is disused through to Bletchley, with some short sections lifted. The reversing spur on the right is used to access a nearby MOD establishment.
Location: Bicester Town
Company: Buckinghamshire Railway
06/09/2009 Ewan Crawford

A down 350 calls at Bletchley in June 2011. The viaduct in the background was built about 1960 for access to Swanbourne yard - which was never built, due to the rapid decline in wagonload traffic. The viaduct may yet be used for a revived East-West link, if they can afford to attach a platform and lifts to it. In 1985, I saw an empty stock DMU with saloon lights lit crossing from East to West - a rather fetching sight at dusk.
Location: Bletchley
Company: London and Birmingham Railway
10/06/2011 Ken Strachan