Marston Vale Line

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Marston Vale Line

Principal stations Bletchley (for West Coast Main Line) Fenny Stratford (closed Sundays) Bow Brickhill (closed Sundays) Woburn Sands (closed Sundays) Aspley Guise (closed Sundays) Ridgmont (closed Sundays) Lidlington (closed Sundays) Millbrook (closed Sundays) Stewartby (closed Sundays) Kempston Hardwick (closed Sundays) Bedford St Johns (closed Sundays) Bedford (for Midland Main Line)

The Marston Vale Line is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford (Network Rail route MD 140). It is one of two passenger-carrying remnants of the Oxford to Cambridge "Varsity Line".

Passenger services are operated by Silverlink using Class 150/1 diesel multiple units as the line is not electrified.

The towns and villages served by the line are as follows:

• Bletchley
• Fenny Stratford
• Bow Brickhill, Caldecotte, Tilbrook and Walton
• Woburn Sands, Wavendon
• Aspley Guise
• Ridgmont
• Lidlington
• Millbrook
• Stewartby
• Kempston Hardwick
• Bedford St Johns
• Bedford (Midland)

Contents 1 Re-opening campaign 2 Extension to Milton Keynes Central 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Re-opening campaign

Main article: Varsity Line

There is a campaign ("The East-West Link") to re-instate the Oxford-Cambridge "Varsity Line", of which the Marston Vale Line is one of the last remaining parts still in use.^[1] The camaign's current work concentrates on the section between Bletchley and Oxford. The present status of the line is: from Oxford to Bicester, it is open and in use; from Bicester through Winslow to Bletchley, it is closed but could be reinstated; from Bletchley to Bedford, it is open and in use; and from Bedford to Cambridge, the line has been built over. (see main article for details).

[edit] Extension to Milton Keynes Central

In June 2005, Silverlink announced their intent to extend their service to Milton Keynes Central in 2007 (via the West Coast Main Line), when a new platform with associated track is to be built there (alongside the slow mainline "up" track, mirroring the present arrangement for the "down" side). On 4 December 2006, work began at Milton Keynes Central to prepare for a service connection from the Marston Vale line, with completion scheduled for December 2008.^[2][3]

A further increase in service frequency seems likely if the National institute for research into aquatic habitats ^[4] succeeds in its bid ^[5] to build the world's largest freshwater aquarium in Stewartby.

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/reports/documents/GRIPStage2Report.pdf 5.1 p38
2. ^ http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=3598
3. ^ http://www.mk-news.co.uk/news/milton%20keynes/2006/dec/6/new%20rail%20platform%20on%20time%20for%202008.lpf
4. ^ NIRAH
5. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4536809.stm

[edit] External links

• Bletchley to Bedford Rail Users Association

edit Railway lines in Central England:
Main lines:	Cross-Country Route   Midland Main Line   West Coast Main Line  Birmingham-Peterborough via Leicester Line   Birmingham-Worcester via Bromsgrove Line    Birmingham-Worcester via Kidderminster Line   Cherwell Valley Line   Chiltern Main Line    London-Aylesbury Line   Trent Valley Line   Welsh Marches Line   Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury Line
Commuter lines:	Birmingham-Walsall-Rugeley "Chase" Line   Birmingham-Stratford Line    Coventry-Nuneaton Line   Cross-City Line   Erewash Valley Line  Leicester-Loughborough "Ivanhoe" Line   Northampton Loop Line   Robin Hood Line    Rugby-Birmingham-Stafford Line   Stourbridge Junction-Stourbridge Town Line    Walsall-Wolverhampton Line
Rural lines:	Cotswold Line   Crewe-Derby Line   Derwent Valley Line   Leamington-Stratford Line    Marston Vale Line   Nottingham-Lincoln Line   Nottingham to Grantham Line    Oxford-Bicester Line   Princes Risborough-Aylesbury Line   Shrewsbury-Chester Line
Freight lines:	South Staffordshire Line   Sutton Park Line