The controversial East West Rail project is now back on track following on from the Budget announcement on October 30.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, confirmed in her Budget announcement that the Labour government is committed to delivering East West Rail, and a consultation will be underway in November.

From November 14, 2024 East West Rail will run a 10 week consultation across the route - beginning in Oxford and finishing in Cherry Hinton. 

The consultation will be an opportunity for people likely to impacted by the construction of the East West Rail network to have their say on the plans.

The upcoming consultation will include information regarding the use of green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains on the line.

The discontinuous electrification would mean that overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would ease the visual impacts on the railway. 

In-person East West Rail consultation events will be held in Cambridgeshire on the following dates:

  • Great Shelford, Shelford Rugby Club, 22 November 2024, 2pm - 7pm
  • Cambourne, Cambridge Belfry, 3 December 2024, 2pm - 7pm
  • Tempsford, Stuart Memorial Hall, 13 December 2024, 2pm - 7pm
  • St Neots, St Neots Town Football Club, 7 January 2025, 2pm - 7pm
  • Comberton, Comberton Village Hall, 10 January 2025, 2pm - 7pm
  • Cambridge, The Clayton Hotel, 18 January 2025, 12pm - 5pm
  • Cherry Hinton, St Andrews, 21 January 2025, 2pm - 7pm

CEO of East West Rail, David Hughes, said: "This consultation is a pivotal moment in our journey to create a railway that truly serves the needs of our communities and delivers sustainable growth for the region and the whole country by improving access to jobs, education and public services."

Information regarding the online consultation events and the virtual consultation room will be published on the East West Rail website on November 14.