East - West Rail update (Oxford to Bedford) - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Campaigners fighting a £5bn rail project have said they just "want somebody to make a decision".

Bedford's Protect Poets group oppose the East-West Rail link being built between Oxford and Cambridge.

When doubt was cast on its future in July, the Department of Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) said it would be decided by the new prime minister, now known as Liz Truss.

East-West Rail said it would "work closely with the new government to make important decisions".

[Bmblbzzz]

Is E-W to be put into the Portishead permaloop?

[IndustryInsider]

Detailed update of the progress of the project:

https://sway.office.com/8LrERvg8WBAKMOrn?ref=Link&loc=play

[IndustryInsider]

A few images showing progress on East West Rail between Bicester and Launton I took today:

1)  From the new Charbridge Way footbridge in Bicester looking under the replacement Charbridge Lane road bridge and beyond towards Launton with a Class 66 waiting duties.

2 and 3)  From the new Grange Farm footbridge, Launton, looking towards Bicester.  One track laid waiting ballast, the other still to be laid.  A temporary crossover to allow engineering train access visible in the zoom shot along with the Class 66.  This bridge has replaced three former foot crossings on the route.

4)  From the same footbridge looking towards Launton.  Another Class 66 heads a construction train in the distance which is by the new Station Road bridge at Launton, which replaced a level crossing on the old line.  This long zoom shot shows how straight the alignment is, and it's a lot less bumpy than the shortened perspective suggests!