§ 27. Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance he will make available to secure the re-opening of the Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes railway line for passenger traffic. [34710]
§ Mr. WattsThe proposal by a consortium of interested local authorities is currently at feasibility stage. I understand that the phase 1 study covered the potential of a number of east-west routes and recommended further work on a central corridor which would use existing rail infrastructure via Bletchley. Railtrack has now joined the steering group but it is too early to say whether this will result in a viable proposal worthy of Government support.