Have your say on how transport should be improved from Northampton to Oxford and Peterborough

An economic group is scoping out whether a railway between Oxford and Peterborough via Northampton would be feasible
A consultation has been launched to scope out if a railway link should be created between Northampton, Oxford and Peterborough.A consultation has been launched to scope out if a railway link should be created between Northampton, Oxford and Peterborough.
A consultation has been launched to scope out if a railway link should be created between Northampton, Oxford and Peterborough.

A consultation has been launched on how to improve transport links from Northampton to Oxford and Peterborough - including if a new railway line would be feasible.

Last year, a transport strategy was set out by the England Economic Heartland partnership group (EEH) in a bid to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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Among its proposals was a 'Northern arc' connecting Peterborough, Northampton and Oxford by train to boost job opportunities and growth.

Image by England's Economic Heartland. The 'Northern Arc', shown in red, would create a railway link between Peterborough, Northampton an Oxford.Image by England's Economic Heartland. The 'Northern Arc', shown in red, would create a railway link between Peterborough, Northampton an Oxford.
Image by England's Economic Heartland. The 'Northern Arc', shown in red, would create a railway link between Peterborough, Northampton an Oxford.

Now, a consultation has been launched for residents to give their own evidence on all modes of transport between the three areas and how it could be improved.

The survey - which is being conducted on the Buckinghamshire County Council website - asks participants how all modes of transport could be improved, including rail, as well as what the key journeys people make.

A previous report on the propsed arc reads: "A rail corridor in the north of the region would make significant connectivity improvements to communities.

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"It would reduce reliance on travel via the West and East Midlands; provide a rail alternative to the A43; improve access to places of high population growth not on the rail network, such as Daventry; provide Corby with more journey options; and provide a route into the West Midlands via Leamington Spa, avoiding Leicester."

However, the plan is one of just 10 proposals to link up towns in midlands being considered by EEH, which are all also being scoped out for feasibility.

Additionally, a railway link between Peterborough and Oxford via Northampton would have to be made from scratch and would cut across large areas of rural South and West Northamptonshire, potentially also in the planned path of HS2.

The EEH said: “Your views will be used to define our desired outcomes for the corridor and to shape our understanding of interventions that may be required to improve connectivity in a way which reduces emissions and supports sustainable growth.

The consultation will end at midnight on June 30, 2021.

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A slideshow explaining the study can be found here.To participate in the study, visit the "YourVoiceBucks" website.The EEH is a partnership of local transport authorities and local enterprise groups. It covers an area from Swindon and Oxfordshire in the west to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in the east.