HC Deb 15 October 2002 vol 390 c712W
Mr. Djanogly

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the initiation of the train service between Huntingdon and Oxford. [74219]

Mr. Jamieson

The Strategic Rail Authority commissioned a study of the wider strategic options for services on the East-West corridor. This confirmed that viable options exist for services on the Oxford-Milton Keynes corridor, but found little evidence that services east of Bedford would be economically viable or provide value for money if supported by public funds. However, the SRA is exploring with Network Rail and other relevant parties options for keeping parts of the East-West route in railway ownership and safeguarding potential infrastructure alignments in the West Coast and East Coast Main Line upgrades.