Flagship Railway Project Faces Significant Setback
The highly anticipated launch of passenger services on the new East West Rail line has been postponed until at least 2026, with operator Chiltern Railways confirming no firm start date exists for the flagship project. The delay represents a major setback for the government's ambitions to create rapid economic growth along the Oxford-Cambridge arc.
Union Dispute Over Train Guards Creates Stumbling Block
The primary obstacle preventing the railway's opening is a contentious dispute over how trains will be staffed. Unions have revealed that Chiltern Railways only recently notified them of plans to operate East West Rail services without guards, moving to driver-only operation. Both the RMT union, representing guards, and Aslef, representing train drivers, formally oppose any extension of driver-only operated trains on the UK railway network.
An RMT spokesperson confirmed that Chiltern management had written formally outlining their plans, with the union now seeking urgent talks. Aslef indicated it was approached last month but awaits the outcome of RMT negotiations before proceeding. This safety concern has likely been reinforced by the recent knife attack on a train in Cambridgeshire.
Completed Infrastructure Stands Idle
Despite track and infrastructure being completed for over a year, with leased passenger trains standing idle, services cannot commence. Passenger trains were originally scheduled to begin running between Oxford and Milton Keynes this autumn. However, Chiltern Railways has yet to formally notify authorities of the start date, meaning trains won't appear in timetables for several months.
Freight trains are already successfully operating on the route, while the single new station built so far at Winslow remains unfinished, with work continuing. The existing agreement with operators is understood to only permit Chiltern to run trains without guards on certain parts of its existing network, not the new East West Rail line.
Broader Implications for the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor
The phased opening of East West Rail represents a critical component of the government's vision for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, dubbed "Europe's Silicon Valley." The project aims to deliver:
- Economic growth and tens of thousands of new homes
- A potential new town at Tempsford
- Up to five trains per hour with 70% more seating capacity
- Faster, greener, and more reliable rail travel
The full opening is now likely pushed further into the 2030s after government confirmed changes to the route scope to accommodate more trains and an additional station serving the planned Universal theme park near Bedford.
A Chiltern Railways spokesperson stated: "We are working with the Department for Transport, trade unions and other industry partners to deliver the first stage of East West Rail for customers and businesses." They emphasized the project would create nearly 100 new permanent jobs and deliver immense regional benefits.
The Department for Transport confirmed it supports Chiltern Railways in working with unions to get services running "as soon as possible," while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the railway a "catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity."
