Well it's helpful to see what the definition of it is, helpfully Network Rail have this statement:
"How the East West Rail project will make travel across Britain easier
The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford to improve connections between East Anglia and central, southern and western England."
The East West Rail scheme will re-establish a rail link between Cambridge and Oxford, making travel across Britain easier.
www.networkrail.co.uk
So actually use cases like East Anglia to North West England *aren't* part of EWR's rationale.
And that statement will have been the one which in turn informs the benefits case for the project etc.
Surely Cambridge to Manchester is "travel across Britain" ? So this proves the point - this statement is so broad - if this is the hill we are dying on for the project's official purpose.
The sub-heading is admittedly more specific (it excludes the north), but that could imply even more quirky journeys than Cambridge-Manchester or Oxford-Nottingham which could become fairly common pairings, if made easier.
I have to say, East Anglia to Southern and Western England is already better (from Cambridge anyway) via Thameslink - and then imminent Crossrail at Farringdon out west. But good to have options. Oxford is 'western' (its connections are in any case) - and if EWR ever gets to Reading or west of Didcot, even better connections there. I do hope there are some extensions at the western end. I'm less convinced by the Ipswich and Norwich demand.
To be fair that brochure will be partly a PR exercise. If you read the route scoping report for the central section, there was a huge emphasis on potential for commuting for example, because it's key to viability, and I think there was a fair bit of thought given to the potential for connections for onward travel.
But, I agree fundamentally about the MK-Bedford curve idea - although not because I think the reasons for wanting it are silly, it's just that it seems to me that it's not really necessary, if you can squeeze a reversal at Bletchley into the timetable.
Yep. And I agree that for now, Cambridge to MKC should be via a reversal, if it can be platformed and pathed. Bletchley will have the platforms to layover until a WCML service passes, to follow it into the bay. Or up to Northampton. But maybe only 1tph will work (and be sufficient - hopefully connecting into the Manchester and Birmingham services well enough) - Only if that is not possible would we see a study into an additional running line.
And if 1tph can get to MKC, there will be 1tph terminating at Bletchley (presumably low level too), and then 2tph onwards to Oxford. If there is a max of 6tph from Cambridge onto EWR, it'll be interesting to see what else comes. Could well be a Bedford shuttle at this rate - or take over the Marston slows.