MARSTON VALE LINE

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The 'Marston Vale Line' (Network Rail route MD 140) is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford. It is one of two passenger-carrying remnants of the Oxford to Cambridge "Varsity Line".

Contents

Current Operations

Re-opening campaign

Extension to Milton Keynes Central

References

External links

Current Operations

Passenger services are operated by Silverlink using Class 150/1 diesel multiple units as the line is not electrified.
The towns and villages served by the line are as follows:

★ Bletchley

★ Fenny Stratford

★ Bow Brickhill, Caldecotte, Tilbrook and Walton

★ Woburn Sands, Wavendon

★ Aspley Guise

★ Ridgmont

★ Lidlington

★ Millbrook

★ Stewartby

★ Kempston Hardwick

★ Bedford St Johns

★ Bedford (Midland)

Re-opening campaign

Main articles: Varsity Line

There is a campaign ("The East-West Link") to re-instate the Oxford-Cambridge "Varsity Line", of which the Marston Vale Line is one of the last remaining parts still in use.^[1] The campaign's current work concentrates on the section between Bletchley and Oxford. The present status of the line is: from Oxford to Bicester, it is open and in use; from Bicester through Winslow to Bletchley, it is closed but could be reinstated; from Bletchley to Bedford, it is open and in use; and from Bedford to Cambridge, the line has been built over. ''(see main article for details).''

Extension to Milton Keynes Central

In June 2005, Silverlink announced their intent to extend their service to Milton Keynes Central in 2007 (via the West Coast Main Line), when a new platform with associated track is to be built there (alongside the slow mainline "up" track, mirroring the present arrangement for the "down" side). On 4 December 2006, work began at Milton Keynes Central to prepare for a service connection from the Marston Vale line, with completion scheduled for December 2008.^[2][3]
A further increase in service frequency seems likely if the National institute for research into aquatic habitats ^[4] succeeds in its bid ^[5] to build the world's largest freshwater aquarium in Stewartby.

References

1. http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/reports/documents/GRIPStage2Report.pdf 5.1 p38
2. http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=3598
3. http://www.mk-news.co.uk/news/milton%20keynes/2006/dec/6/new%20rail%20platform%20on%20time%20for%202008.lpf
4. NIRAH
5. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4536809.stm

External links

★ Bletchley to Bedford Rail Users Association

★ East West Rail Link consortium

★ East West Rail Link support group

★ East West Rail Link petition