Passengers travelling in the Milton Keynes area are set to benefit from more train services – and more reliable services - as Network Rail begins the early stages of work to remodel the tracks and upgrade the signalling in the area.

The £200 million Milton Keynes project will increase capacity and improve rail links into the growing town. Improvements will include:
* A third northbound fast line and platform, which will enable consecutive trains to call at Milton Keynes during peak times
* A new platform capable of handling future services to and from Bedford – and the possibility of future trains from Oxford or Aylesbury
*Better ‘turnback’ facilities for trains that will improve the reliability of London to Northampton services

Network Rail’s West Coast Programme Director Tom McCarthy said: “The start of work on the site represents an important milestone in the Milton Keynes project. The extensive track and signalling improvements will improve reliability and allow for the future growth of services to the expanding town of Milton Keynes. This is an exciting first step towards delivering improved performance and increased capacity for thousands of passengers.”

The early stages of the two year programme began on Monday 4 December and will involve clearing the land between the existing northbound fast line and the A5 motorway, which will provide the location for the new northbound tracks. Fencing will be used to enclose the clearance work and act as a barrier to members of the public. There will be no disruption to road traffic and all footpaths will remain open during this phase of the work which is scheduled to be completed by April 2007.

Any vegetation removed during clearance work will be mulched and redistributed along the top of existing embankments. Once the track remodelling works have been completed at the end of 2008, replanting and landscaping will take place.