Work to pave the way for the proposed East West Rail Link between Oxford, Bicester and Milton Keynes has taken a step forward.

Vegetation is being cleared between Claydon Junction, east of Bicester, and Bletchley, in the south of Milton Keynes, as part of a £1.5m outline design project, which includes a survey of the disused part of the line east of Claydon, where freight trains between Oxford and Aylesbury reverse at present.

If funding can be secured, the £225m project will see trains connect Oxford and Bicester with Milton Keynes and Bedford.

In the longer term it is hoped to reopen the route east of Bedford to Cambridge.

Once design work is complete at the end of this year, the consortium of councils behind the project hopes funding will be available to make a start on relaying the tracks and building new stations at several sites, including Water Eaton Parkway, south of Kidlington.

The section of the route between Bicester Town and Oxford could be upgraded separately if the Government approves Chiltern Railways’ £200m plan for an Oxford-London Marylebone service, via a new link line in Bicester.