The long-awaited project to restore rail connections between Oxford and Cambridge and then on to the East Coast has been underway for some years and is now moving slowly through the next phase. This will bring the prospect of an easy public transport route for residents in Berkhamsted, Northchurch and Tring to either Oxford or Cambridge within sight. By using a regular bus to Aylesbury and then accessing rail services over rebuilt lines passengers could then reach Winslow, Bletchley, Milton Keynes and Bedford. Alternatively they could travel by train to Bletchley as usual and with one change reach Bicester, Oxford and beyond or Bedford via the Marston Vale Line.
In time the third phase will be built along a completely new line to Cambridge and the east coast towns.
A major obstacle is however the Bletchley Rail Flyover (dating from 1959) which takes trains across the West Coast Main Line for onward travel to Beford and Cambridge. This has now reached a critical phase since, with the remainder being refurbished, 14 flyover arches will need to be replaced on a different alignment and a new high level platform built at Bletchley.
Three of the largest cranes in the UK have been required to work together to move the huge concrete spans, fitting them to the new realigned piers. This work is still in progress and has required the closure of Buckingham Road for much of July and until 30th August.
Meanwhile clearance work is taking place between Bletchley and Aylesbury Vale Parkway as well as down to Bicester going west.