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The massive infrastructure project to deliver the East West Rail line, intended to connect communities between Oxford and Cambridge, is facing continued disruption and setbacks, raising concerns among local residents.
One resident, Frank Mahon, whose pub is near the planned route, expressed that while they expected some disruption, they ‘never imagined it was going to be as bad as it is and has been over the last six years.’ His comment underscores the prolonged nature of the inconvenience for those living along the construction path.
A recent journey to Milton Keynes, the base for the construction management team, demonstrated the ongoing operational difficulties when a train was delayed by over half an hour due to a points failure, subsequently stopping short at Bletchley where the new line is intended to link with the West Coast mainline.
Natalie Wheble, the director of engagement at the business managing the project, conceded that delivering rail projects will ‘always be complex’ but insisted that the infrastructure’s benefits ‘last for generations.’ She stressed that the purpose of the East West Rail project is ‘to make sure the communities along the route have those benefits far into the future.’ However, leaving Mahon’s pub, one quickly encounters another ‘lengthy diversion’ and road closure.
Signs in the area include warnings about HS2 construction traffic and failed road surfaces, suggesting inconsistent management across different projects.
The development reflects a broader historical context, acknowledging that the building of railways, from the first route between Stockton and Darlington 200 years ago, has ‘always been a disruptor,’ whether through construction impact or the politics surrounding it.