INTRODUCTION: - 

The government is promoting a scheme called EAST WEST RAIL.

This will restore the railway line between Cambridge and Oxford and provide a major cross country railway link.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1870179/new-train-line-east-west-rail-oxford-cambridge

https://eastwestrail.co.uk/

https://eastwestrail.org.uk/

Background Information:-

The original Cambridge to Oxford railway line was closed in the 1960's (1968.01.01)

The scheme to reinstate the Oxford to Cambridge railway was founded in 1995.

The original railway is still available between Oxford and Bedford having been retained for freight trains and limited passenger services after closure to through services and is being re-used. 

Between Bedford and Cambridge the original railway is not available because the original railway via Sandy and Potton was dismantled after closure and the land sold off, and so a new alignment via Tempsford and Cambourne is proposed which is called 'Route E' – although this is very highly controversial in the Bedford area alone.

THE EFFECT OF EAST WEST RAIL: - 

EAST WEST RAIL will revolutionize transport links across South East England.

It will enable fast cross - country railway journeys in the area without having to travel via London.

The new EAST WEST RAIL link is a major opportunity for the county of Essex and it must not be allowed to slip by without being exploited.

EXISTING TRANSPORT LINKS

Colchester and Sudbury have terrible transport links to Cambridge where the EAST WEST RAIL route starts from.

The distance is 51 miles, there are no through buses or coaches, and existing bus links West of Sudbury and Halstead to Haverhill are very poor.

PROPOSED NEW RAILWAY TO PROVIDE SERVICES FROM COLCHESTER AND NE ESSEX TO EAST WEST RAIL

A new project to restore and re-open the closed and dismantled heavy rail railway line between Sudbury, Haverhill and Shelford / Cambridge that was closed on 06 March 1967 has just been started.