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OUR CAMPAIGN: GETTING EWR ON TRACK

The tracks are laid. The stations are built. The signals are active. Yet, the platforms at Winslow remain empty. The East West Rail Action Group is campaigning to end the "Mothballing" of the Oxford-to-Bletchley line and secure a firm, unshakeable start date for passenger services.

The Problem: Ready for Rails, Waiting for Will

Connection Stage 1 (Oxford to Bletchley/Milton Keynes) was physically completed in late 2024. Despite this, we have seen: 

  • The "Ghost Train" Era: Empty trains running for "route learning" while commuters are forced back onto the congested A421 and A413. 
  • Excuses over Execution: Successive delays attributed to rolling stock modifications, staffing disputes (single-manning), and last-minute platform rebuilds. 
  • Economic Stagnation: Local businesses in Winslow and surrounding villages made plans based on a 2025 opening. They are being left in the dark.

Our Three Key Demands

  1. A Definitive Launch Date: We demand that the Department for Transport (DfT) and Chiltern Railways stop providing "estimated windows" and commit to a fixed commencement date for passenger services.
  2. Transparency on Rolling Stock: We want clear reporting on the status of the train fleet dedicated to this line. No more "reallocating" our carriages to other parts of the network.
  3. End the Deadlock: We call on the RMT, ASLEF, and Chiltern Railways to reach a resolution on operating arrangements immediately. The public should not be the collateral damage of industrial disputes on a line that hasn't even opened yet.

What We Are Doing

  • Direct Lobbying: We are planning on engaging with MPs from the region to ensure East West Rail remains a high-priority "Growth Mission."
  • Petitions: We are gathering thousands of signatures to prove the overwhelming demand for this service.
  • Public Awareness: Through our "Day Counter" on the website and our facebook groups we are ensuring the delay stays in the headlines.

How You Can Help
Our voice is louder when we speak together.

  • Sign the Petition: Join the thousands of local residents demanding action.
  • Write to Your MP: The full list and their contact details are to the right of this page, tell your representative that "nearly ready" is not good enough.
  • Share the website, the group, the mission indeed anything you can!: Help us highlight that every day of delay is a day of wasted public investment.