Transport Insights

The shambles that is East West Rail continues, with very junior minister Keir Mather unable to say when actual passenger services might start.

He was asked by South Devon MP (but Transport Committee member) Rebecca Smith:

in which month will the first East West Rail services operate from Winslow to Bletchley.

And replied:

The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first EWR services between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central via Winslow. For passenger services to commence, trains will need to have been modified and fully tested, and driver training will need to have been completed. Winslow station also needs to be fully handed over, and future staffing arrangements also remain to be agreed.

We knew all of this already so the only thing that Mather’s non-answer reveals is that he hasn’t a clue.