East West Rail Company Could Be Absorbed into Network Rail

East West Rail Company (EWR Co) could be brought under Network Rail’s control within the next few months, according to board documents released by Network Rail.

Minutes from a Network Rail board meeting published in December reveal that directors encouraged the preparation of a formal paper before the end of 2025, setting out the next steps for a potential integration.

EWR Co was established by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2017 as an arm’s length public body to oversee the development of the Oxford–Cambridge railway. While the original intention was for the organisation to operate independently from Network Rail, that approach has since evolved.

During the meeting, EWR Co chief executive David Hughes acknowledged that the project had become increasingly intertwined with Network Rail’s infrastructure and operations. Around half of the scheme’s value is expected to be delivered directly by Network Rail, reflecting the scale of collaboration between the two organisations.

Hughes expressed support for the idea of integrating EWR Co into Network Rail, arguing that it could strengthen confidence in the project’s ability to fulfil its integration role across the wider rail network. The Network Rail board also welcomed the prospect of incorporation, particularly ahead of the creation of Great British Railways and amid a broader government review of arm’s length bodies.

However, EWR Co has emphasised that no final decision has been taken. A spokesperson said the company would remain independent for now and retain responsibility for delivering the route end-to-end, while its corporate structure continues to be reviewed in the context of rail reform and government policy.

Alongside organisational changes, EWR Co is progressing plans for the future operation of the line. The company is working with the DfT on the procurement of battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs), which are intended to run services once the route is fully open. Any new trains must support a five-trains-per-hour timetable, be 120 metres in length and capable of speeds up to 100 mph.

EWR Co has also outlined potential service patterns for the mid-2030s, including two stopping trains per hour between Oxford and Cambridge, two services per hour between Bletchley and Cambridge, and an hourly limited-stop service between Oxford and a new Stewartby station near Bedford.

Oxford’s bay platforms are expected to become available once Chiltern Railways extends its London Marylebone–Oxford services to Cowley, while Stewartby is planned to serve the proposed Universal theme park, currently targeted to open in 2031.

Freight provision is also built into the scheme, with up to ten freight paths per day in each direction between Oxford and the West Coast Main Line, and the potential for additional services between Oxford and Cambridge.