East West Rail will transform the economic geography of the region. It is vital the scheme leaves the best possible legacy, not just for the UK economy, but for the communities and businesses throughout the region. This work, including around door-to-door connectivity and the scheme's legacy in terms of areas such as tourism, will be a major part of EEH's work in 2025.
EEH's Strategic Transport Leadership Board, which met earlier this month, agreed the broad principles which will guide our response to the East West Railway Company's consultation on the scheme.
This includes ensuring it is delivered in line with EEH's transport strategy, addressing issues such as decarbonisation; maximising door-to-door connectivity; and integration with other opportunities, for example around broader rail connectivity, active travel links, digital fibre (see below) and bus services.
Following a request from a number of our leaders, to coincide with the consultation EEH collated an information booklet which sets out the positive case for East West Rail from the perspective of a potential user. For example, this includes around access to new jobs and leisure opportunities. The information booklet, ‘East West Rail: a legacy for the region’ is available on our website.
Additionally passengers and businesses are set to benefit from enhanced broadband connectivity along the section of East West Rail between Bicester Village and Bletchley.
On behalf of England’s Connected Heartland, Oxfordshire County Council has selected AWTG, a 5G mobile private network supplier, to install infrastructure along the route following a public procurement exercise. AWTG will begin work on the project over coming weeks.
Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (following a bid formally supported by EEH), the project aims to enhance rail passenger connectivity and bring benefits to businesses and residents along the route. There will be an extension of fixed wireless broadband to rural communities and trackside business parks, and to farms to support agritech applications.
The 5G rail project aims to develop a combined revenue commercial model for delivering enhanced passenger connectivity through onboard WiFi. Train companies will also be able to offload data collected onboard their services for operational purposes.