Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on funding and delivery for remaining phases of East West Rail.

The East West Rail project is planned to create a direct rail link between Oxford and Cambridge. Connection Stage 2 (Bletchley to Bedford) and Connection Stage 3 (Bedford to Cambridge) of East West Rail are at development stage, and options for the sections were consulted on as part of a wide-ranging non-statutory consultation from March-June 2021.

East West Rail Company is currently reviewing submissions to this and intends to publish the response to the consultation later this year.

Following the 2021 Spending Review, funding has been remitted to East West Rail Company over the next three years to continue the development and design of the proposed railway between Bletchley and Cambridge.