HL Deb 30 March 2004 vol 659 c149WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will safeguard the disused rail track bed between Bedford and Sandy to facilitate the possible reopening of the rail link between Oxford and Cambridge. [HL2014]

Lord Davies of Oldham

No. The London to South Midlands Multi-Modal study considered the potential for reopening the east-west rail link. The study concluded that while such schemes could merit further consideration in the longer term, the Government would not ask the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to carry out further work on them at this stage. The projects are not, therefore, being pursued at present, although the Government have subsequently received and are considering a business case for the western section. Local authorities have the power to safeguard routes and alignments for such projects should they so wish.