The government has confirmed Chiltern Railways will run the first services on the long-anticipated East West Rail line.
Announced by Rail Minister Lord Hendy on 25 March, the new line will initially connect Oxford and Milton Keynes, with services launching later in 2025. Though Cambridge isn’t yet on the direct route, this marks a vital milestone for the region’s Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, laying the groundwork for future links to Bedford and eventually Cambridge in the mid-2030s.
The line’s first stage will serve six stations including Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village, Winslow (with a brand-new station), and a modernised Bletchley station. This reopening marks the first direct rail link between Oxford and Milton Keynes in nearly 60 years.
For Cambridge, this means future faster travel options, more business and research collaborations, and better access to jobs across the tech and science hubs of southern England. When fully operational, East West Rail is expected to support £6.7 billion of annual economic growth in the region and create up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone.
Chiltern Railways will also manage the new Winslow station, bringing employment opportunities and reducing car dependency through improved public transport access.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy called the move “one of the crucial last steps” before launch, adding it demonstrates the government’s commitment to unlocking the corridor’s full potential.
While full Cambridge services are still a decade away, the current progress — including 70km of new track and 17 bridges — signals real momentum. Future stages will bring hybrid battery-electric trains, aligning with green transport goals and offering cleaner, faster journeys.
Cambridge commuters and businesses can expect future phases to unlock even more opportunities, with East West Rail set to become a game-changer for the region.
