A NEW train service is set to launch in the UK next year – connecting two popular tourist destinations for the first time in five decades.
The first part of the East West Railway (EWR) Line is slated to open in 2025, providing a direct service between Oxford and Bletchley.
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The first stage of the EWR Line, which one day hopes to connect South Wales with East Anglia, is nearing completion.
While trains already operate between Oxford and Bletchley, a huge construction project is currently underway to bring the new route to life.
In March of this year, the train tracks between Bicester and Bletchley were officially laid down, with systems testing currently underway, according to the New Civil Engineer.
It is though that trains will be able to operate at 160km/h when the track opens to passengers next year.
Two new train stations are already being built along the route, including Bletchley High Level Station and Winslow Station.
Bletchley High Level Station will be connected to the existing Bletchley Station by a footbridge.
The new train station will feature two new platforms, with work on the station building nearly complete.
Construction work on other parts of the station, including station lighting, fire safety and CCTV systems, is ongoing.
Installation and construction work on platforms at Winslow Train Station is also nearing completion.
The project is being delivered by the EWR Alliance on behalf of the EWR Co, with companies like AtkinsRéalis, Laing O’Rourke, VolkerRail and Network Rail involved in the work.
Passenger services are slated to start on the line from 2025.
Earlier this year, Rail Minister Huw Merriman said the following: “This is a significant milestone for one of the country’s most important rail projects and part of this Government’s plan to invest in rail infrastructure.Â
“Having grown up in the area, I know just how much of a boost East West Rail will bring to local people.
“When complete, it will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in the region, bringing communities closer to job opportunities and education while making it easier to see friends and family.”
It is hoped that the line will be extended to Bedford by 2030 with further expansion to other parts of the country like Cambridge also planned.
Cambridge South Station is slated to open in Cambridgeshire in 2025.
The brand-new train station is currently being built next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Construction work started on the site in January 2023 after plans were approved by the Department for Transport one month earlier.
New train stations
There are plenty of new train stations opening up across the UK, including Moseley Village Train Station.
Moseley Village Train Station first opened to the public in 1867 before closing down in 1941 as a wartime economy measure.
It will be one of three stations to reopen along the Camp Hill line in Birmingham, with the other two stations being Pineapple Road and Kings Heath.
The new stations will provide regular train services into Birmingham New Street.
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
Cornish Coast – One trip that rail enthusiasts seem to love is along a stretch of the Cornish coast and takes just 10 minutes to complete.
The route from St Erth to St Ives only stops at Carbis Bay en route to its final destination, but the views out the window for the whole journey are pretty spectacular.
Another highlight of the journey is that St Ives station is situated right next to Porthminster beach, meaning the sand and sea can be accessed almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the station is less than a ten minute walk into town, where the harbour, shops, galleries and pubs can be explored.
Durham to Edinburgh – Another train route that people in the UK love is the East Coast train line between Durham and Edinburgh, with coastal views and city landscapes among the sights that can be seen out the window.
Newcastle, Berwick, Lindisfarne and Durham Cathedral are all among the highlights on that route.
Scotland’s West Highland Line – While Scotland is home to plenty of famous landmarks and top attractions, it also has one of the most breathtaking train routes in the world.
Scotland’s West Highland Line has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world by Wanderlust – and it’s easy to see why.
The journey from Glasgow to Fort William is one of my favourite train routes – and I’ve interrailed through mainland Europe.
With mountain landscapes, serene lochs, wistful moors, and wildlife all visible through the train window, it’s certainly a route all holidaymakers should consider doing at least once.
Northern Ireland will also benefit from a huge new transport hub when Belfast Grand Central eventually opens.
Meanwhile, Aldridge station in Walsall, West Midlands, is also set to reopen following a £30million revamp.
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