Marston Vale Line
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| Marston Vale Line |
| Principal stations Bletchley |
The Marston Vale Line is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford (Network Rail route MD 140). It is the passenger-carrying remnant of the Oxford to Cambridge "Varsity Line". The line beyond Bletchley through Winslow to Bicester is closed.
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)
Contents |
[edit] Re-opening campaign
There is a campaign to re-open the line to passenger traffic from at least Bicester and ideally rebuild it from Oxford right through to Cambridge.
[edit] 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.[1][2]
A further increase in service frequency seems likely if the National institute for research into aquatic habitats [3] succeeds in its bid [4] to build the world's largest freshwater aquarium in Stewartby.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=3598
- ^ http://www.mk-news.co.uk/news/milton%20keynes/2006/dec/6/new%20rail%20platform%20on%20time%20for%202008.lpf
- ^ NIRAH
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4536809.stm
