Press release

Clearing the way for East-West Rail design

Around 20 kilometres of disused railway line between Bletchley and Claydon Junction stations will be cleared of scrub, brambles and overgrown vegetation so that survey and investigation work can be carried out for the design development phase of the East-West Rail project.

Starting on 26 January, the clearance will take two to three weeks and some will be done with manual equipment, although the more densely overgrown areas will need to be cleared with chainsaws and tractor mounted flails.

All of the waste materials will be left chipped and spread on the site.   Patrick O’Sullivan, East-West Rail Project Manager at Milton Keynes Partnership, said: “While this work is happening the contractors will be making every effort to keep any disruption to a minimum. Once the site clearance is completed, the engineers and surveyors will begin their technical surveys and ground investigations to enable the design work of the new track and associated railway engineering works for the western section of the East-West Rail project.”  

The design development work is being undertaken by Atkins Consultancy who were recently appointed to carry out the design work (Guidance for Railway Investment Projects - GRIP Stage 4) on the Western Section of the East-West Rail project.  

Residents who have any questions about the clearance works between Bletchley and Claydon should contact Jez Baldock of Atkins Consultancy (who are project managing the works programme on behalf of Milton Keynes Partnership) on 0121 483 5323, or Patrick O’Sullivan of Milton Keynes Partnership on 01908 353752.

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact: Helen Carvalho or Nadir Farrell, Milton Keynes Partnership press office on 01908 353981 or 353913
helen.carvalho@hca.gsx.gov.uk
nadir.farrell@hca.gsx.gov.uk