East West Rail reveals design for train depot

East West Rail (EWR) has chosen its preferred layout for a maintenance depot it wants to build as part of the multi-billion pound scheme linking Oxford and Cambridge via Milton Keynes.

It said a bow-tie design would allow trains to enter and leave from either direction at the proposed site near Newton Longville, Buckinghamshire.

Mike Chapman, a parish councillor in Newton Longville, said residents feel they have not be consulted over the plan, particularly those who were at risk of losing land to the development.

Natalie Wheble, from EWR, said: "This layout offers the strongest overall balance between environmental impacts, costs and crucially provides operational flexibility."

The rail company said it wanted to build on land alongside Whaddon Road, west of Bletchley and Newton Longville.

EWR said it would create 100 jobs and that it had considered two other layouts but after stakeholder engagement would push ahead with a third bow-tie option.

If the plan is approved, the depot would include sidings capable of housing 20 five-car trains, each about 120m (393ft) long, along with workshops for multiple trains which would be cleaned, inspected and maintained.

The main maintenance facilities would be built at the Newton Longville end of the site and the stabling sidings at the Mursley end.

EWR confirmed the majority of the site would be built on greenfield land.

There have been a number of concerns about all three layout options with 150 people attending a meeting over the depot in March.

Issues were raised around drainage and the risk of flooding to the east of the proposed depot and residents said the bow-tie option would require the demolition and rebuilding of three road bridges.

At a separate Buckinghamshire Council meeting on Wednesday, Chapman said: "We have significant concerns about the impact on both the long-term success of the line in terms of meeting its targets and providing the level of service the travelling public deserve, as well as on our community.

"The impact on taxpayers from the wrong decisions being made because issues are not being taken seriously enough, which I believe is a repetition of the mistakes made for HS2."

Peter Martin, Buckinghamshire Council's deputy cabinet member for transport, added: "We need to have an honest and open engagement and not have information that's published trying to wrong foot the select committee here causing a great deal of disruption.

"You knew about the preferred location before Friday and yet you didn't tell the residents although you told us you had told them. I don't see any meaningful engagement, I'm afraid."

The final plans are expected to go to the government in 2027 and if approved construction work could start at the end of the decade.

Wheble, who is external affairs director for EWR, said: "We have been doing extensive development work on the layout design, using feedback from impacted landowners and stakeholders over the summer, and have selected the bow-tie option.

"We believe this layout offers the strongest overall balance between environmental impacts, costs and provides operational flexibility as it allows trains to enter and leave the depot from different directions.

"Stakeholder feedback will continue to inform the design as it develops, and we remain committed to working with those affected to identify opportunities to reduce or mitigate impacts wherever possible."

Wheble added that another public meeting would take place in Newton Longville by the end of the year.

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