East West Rail confirms next phase of construction, boosting Oxford-Cambridge links with more frequent trains, new stations and major economic growth
Millions of people across the Oxford to Cambridge corridor are set to benefit from more frequent trains as the East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has revealed the next steps for the second phase of the project today (19 November 2025).
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As one of Britain’s largest transport projects, East West Rail forms a cornerstone of the government’s Plan for Change, unlocking £6.7 billion of regional economic growth by 2050, enabling up to 100,000 new homes and supporting tens of thousands of new jobs along the route.
Following extensive consultation with local communities, the multi-billion-pound project has confirmed it is exploring a series of transformative plans including increasing the proposed frequency of trains from 3 or 4 to up to 5 per hour.
These enhancements could provide up to 70% more seating across the route, easing overcrowding and speeding up boarding, as well as cutting average waiting times, improving service resilience and creating a smoother, more reliable passenger experience.
Several other improvements across the route have also been confirmed, including new station entrances at Bletchley, Cambridge and Bedford, as well as four brand-new stations along the Marston Vale Line – the first significant investment since the 1960s.
With the current stations on the Marston Vale Line seeing some of the lowest usage in the country, the new stations will better serve local communities by providing faster, more frequent services, as well as helping to serve the upcoming Universal theme park.
A new station at Stewartby has been confirmed to not only serve the growing needs of the community but will ensure vital connectivity for the multi-billion-pound attraction, which is set to add almost £50 billion to the economy by 2055 and expected to welcome over 8.5 million visitors in its opening year alone.
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
David Hughes, CEO, East West Railway Company, said:
A spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences said:
Other plans include 7 new stations, and the use of cutting-edge hybrid battery-electric trains to deliver faster, greener services along the partially electrified route while keeping costs down.
As well as a new eastern entrance at Cambridge Central, set to significantly improve access to the surrounding communities, EWR Co’s plans also include a new Cambridge East station, designed to drive major economic growth and reduce congestion for the area.
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By unlocking a connection via the newly upgraded Newmarket Line, the station will offer faster, more reliable journeys as well as providing direct links to Norwich, Felixstowe and Ipswich, opening up opportunities for businesses and local development.
Jonny Haseldine, Head of Corporate Governance & Business Environment Policy, British Chambers of Commerce said:
Today’s announcement not only builds on the government’s promise to build a modern rail network with passengers at its heart, but it also marks the latest milestone in its mission to make the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor Europe’s Silicon Valley.
By building on a decade of work that has delivered 43,000 jobs, £27.5 billion of investment and seen the cities ranked as the top two innovation engines in Europe, the government is boosting growth and building an economy that works for working people.
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