Contractor appointed for Oxford-Bicester line construction

A joint venture between Carillion and Buckingham Group Contracting is to deliver an £87 million project to create a new rail route between London Marylebone and Oxford.

The new Chiltern Railways route will become the first new railway line built between London and another major UK city in over 100 years.

As well as building a new spur line between Bicester and Oxford, the joint venture will construct the western section of the East West Rail scheme to Bedford and Milton Keynes.

Altogether, the project will include; building a new one kilometre section of railway to connect the Bicester Town to Oxford line to the Chiltern main line, widening the existing track bed, doubling over 18 kilometres of track, constructing new overbridges, underbridges and footbridges, closing 37 level crossings, building a new station at Oxford Parkway, upgrading Bicester Town and Islip stations, and installing a new signalling system.


The western phase of the East West Rail scheme will involve the reconstruction and doubling of disused track between Claydon junction and Bletchley, upgrade and double track between Bicester and Claydon junction, and Aylesbury and Claydon junction, and the construction of a new station at Winslow.

Dyan Crowther, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “The new Oxford to London line and wider East West Rail scheme will deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits to Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and beyond.”

Mark Davies, managing director of Carillion Infrastructure, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this important contract that in itself facilitates two strategically important rail links, one between Oxford and London and another as the first phase of the East West Rail Scheme.

“The Carillion Buckingham Joint Venture brings a wealth of experience and skills which are required to safely deliver this demanding project, embracing the highest standards of sustainability.”




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