East West Rail project (Oxford – Cambridge)
Oxford – Cambridge, UK · 2018–2030s (Connection Stage 1: services by 2025; Stages 2 & 3: services by early 2030s) · £5.7bn - £6.6bn (estimated total, 2023 prices)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe project's strategic need and business case have been subject to scrutiny and changes in government approach, such as the cancellation of the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. - Emphasis on supporting economic growth and housing development in the region, with plans for expansion in Cambridge. - Continuous capture of lessons learned from planning and construction phases to inform future stages.
Key engineering challenges
Achieving an efficient timetable for the central section due to existing constraints. - Managing environmental issues including air pollution, noise, flooding, and sustainable use of materials. - Integrating new rail links into existing infrastructure and communities, navigating complex land acquisition and stakeholder engagement.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Department for Transport (DfT), East West Railway Company (EWR Co)
- Lead contractor
- VolkerWessels (Phase 2)
- Lead designers
- Mott MacDonald and WSP (MWJV) (Principal Designer), AtkinsRéalis (design and coordination)
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Three connection stages; 130 miles of transport connections; connects Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Cambridge
- Disciplines
- civil; structural; systems; environmental; planning; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- CDM Regulations
Sources: National Audit Office (Dec 2023, https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/investigation-into-the-east-west-rail-project.pdf); New Civil Engineer (Aug 2025, https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/east-west-rail-stages-2-and-3-being-re-baselined-20-08-2025/); VolkerWessels (https://www.volkerwessels.co.uk/en/projects/east-west-rail-phase-2); Mott MacDonald (Feb 2025, https://www.mottmac.com/en-us/news/mott-macdonald-and-wsp-appointed-as-construction-design-and-management-principal-designer-for-east-west-rail/); AtkinsRéalis (https://www.atkinsrealis.com/en/projects/east-west-rail)