East West Rail to carry first passengers for one weekend diversion
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 16:32 · Archive
Great Western Railway services will use the £7bn East West Rail line for the first time in November as a weekend diversion during engineering works.
The £7bn East West Rail line will carry its first passengers in November, but only for one weekend and as a temporary diversion. Great Western Railway services will be rerouted along the new tracks during engineering works on 28 and 29 November, when their usual line closes. The trains will travel from Swindon to London Euston instead of their normal terminus at Paddington, which will be closed during the works. However, the trains will not stop at the brand-new Winslow station on the route.
Despite the completion of the first phase of East West Rail a year ago, the line has yet to open for regular passenger services. An ongoing dispute between Chiltern Railways and the RMT union is preventing passenger services from beginning. The disagreement centres on whether guards should be employed on new trains. Chiltern operates most of its services using driver-only operation, without guards. Under union rules, guards are responsible for opening and closing train doors, giving the RMT leverage in negotiations.
How it is being reported
- £7bn East West Rail line to welcome passenger trains for one weekendThe first passengers to travel on the new East West Rail line will not be on the train company initially thought to be using the line.Oxford Mail · 13 Oct, 16:00
- £7bn East West Rail line to welcome passenger trains for one weekendThe first passengers to travel on the new East West Rail line will not be on the train company initially thought to be using the line.Oxfordshire Guardian · 13 Oct, 16:00
In this story: East West Rail · Great Western Railway · Chiltern Railways · RMT · Winslow · Swindon · Heidi Alexander
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