Protecting the environment is central to our decision-making and we remain committed to our environmental principles.

We’ve recently developed our updated Environmental  Sustainability Strategy, which you can read more about on Our approach to the environment page. This includes our ambition to be an operationally net zero carbon railway between Oxford and Cambridge, supporting the government’s commitment to be net zero by 2050. 

Close up of train tracks with sunset in background
Image of station signage

In alignment with this, our proposals include electrification of the railway. The overhead line electrification to power EWR trains could be achieved either by what's known as “discontinuous electrification”, or full electrification. Our preference is to use discontinuous electrification.

With discontinuous electrification, overhead lines would only be required along some sections of the route. In sections where there'd be no overhead lines, the trains would use onboard batteries. In contrast, full electrification would require overhead lines to be installed along the whole length of the route. This would be more expensive and involve more significant and disruptive works to existing railway structures such as road bridges.

East West Rail - Our approach to powering EWR trains

Hybrid battery-electric trains

Hybrid battery-electric trains would use the discontinuous electrification system, which is a relatively new form of technology. Because of this, we’re carrying out additional work to confirm whether  our current preference for discontinuous  electrification needs further refinement, and the extent of electrification required,  particularly in sections of the route that would use the existing rail corridor.

Introducing services as quickly as possible

To help local communities experience the benefits EWR would deliver as quickly as  possible, we’re introducing some services as early as 2025. This means that diesel passenger trains will be used temporarily between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes from 2025 until the required overhead electrification has been installed. The same approach is likely to be needed for the service between Oxford and Bedford which will begin services before the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge, including the  overhead electric line system, is complete.

This is a temporary solution which would enable passenger services to operate as and when sections of the route are built, taking more cars off local roads sooner and helping to deliver public transport solutions to connect communities quicker.