Fresh delay looms for commuter link (From The Oxford Times)

Fresh delay looms for commuter link

6:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Reg Little

Bats in a railway tunnel near Wolvercote will not hold up a £130m link between Oxford and London.

But moves to press ahead with the long-awaited East-West Rail link could delay Chiltern Railways’ plans to run commuter trains from Oxford to Marylebone via Bicester.

The Government says it is satisfied the rail scheme will pose no serious threat to the bats, and Chiltern hopes to have the first trains running in 2013.

But combining the work with the East-West project – a direct rail link between Oxford and Bedford via Milton Keynes due to be built in 2017 – would mean one contractor could undertake the massive engineering and signalling work involved.

The “big bang” approach would also avoid piecemeal expansion of Oxford Railway Station.

Extra platforms could be created with electrification of the main line and other work, in one operation.

In November, a Government planning inspector said the current risk to bats and great crested newts living in the tunnel ruled out the Oxford-Bicester-London Marylebone service.

But the Department of Transport said a way forward had been found after talks between Chiltern and Natural England. It is believed a ground-breaking lighting system will be used to warn the bats of approaching trains.

Emma Gascoigne, of Chiltern Railways, welcomed the move on the Marylebone link, adding: “A number of other rail projects are being progressed in the Oxford area. We are working with the East-West Rail Consortium and other rail industry partners to determine how these can be delivered in the most cost-effective way and with the least disruption to rail users and local residents.”