The GRIP3 (Guidance on Railway Investment Projects) study was completed earlier in 2008 and again showed positive case for EWRL (Western end –MK-Oxford, although the Aylesbury Link (costed at £35m extra is less favourable). Funds have been raised (£2m) to progress to the next stage- GRIP4. Discussions with DfT (Department  for  Transport) and Network Rail show a desire to include freight and Cross Country -Manchester –Bournemouth services. It is hoped GRIP4 work will take a year. Atkins has been appointed as consultants. A formula, based on a tariff on homes  built as part of the SE Growth Plans is being developed to provide capital funding.

Oxford-Marylebone service proposals have been published by Chiltern Railways. This is an aspiration in their franchise. They would invest in a £200m upgrade and doubling of the Oxford-Bicester line (including Town station), a link to Chiltern Line at Bicester (Garvaray Drive–in Cherwell Council Local Plan) and a new Station at Water Eaton Parkway. DfT and ORR approval is required. Oxford-Bicester would take 14 minutes and be a half hourly service. 2012 is target date. This could cut EWRL costs by £70m.

East of Bedford has been reviewed –via Corby to Peterborough, a new link along A428  and via Stewartby, Luton and Stevenage. Further work is underway. Railfuture-Anglia have produced a leaflet to promote this aspect of EWRL. A meeting with Dr Starkey, MP for MK-SW, however, emphasised the need for EERA and councils to work up a scheme for Dft to consider. (A new station at Corby has been completed and should open in 2009 including two services serving Melton Mowbray).

 The Norwich-Cambridge service, a part of EWRL proposals, has seen 40% growth in users since it started in 2002. 44% of users could have used a car.

Aylesbury Vale Parkway opened, with a temporary building, on 14/12/08 and Chiltern hope to establish the station before travel patterns of new home owners become established. An hourly service is running. 600 parking spaces have been provided.

Oxford-Bicester user group-OBRAG has pressed for improvements and secured a later evening train and extra Saturday services. FGW and Network Rail hope to reduce conflicting moves on to main line with an upgrade the freight line into Oxford bay platform. Extra Xmas trains again ran in 12/08 with support of Bicester Village and Oxon CC. A Sunday service is being considered and some track work to speed services up to allow an hourly service.

Milton Keynes Central has been upgraded as part of WCML modernisation and included a new platform (2a) for EWRL trains. Southern services to East Croydon start at end of January.

Eco Town proposals have been published for Marston Vale and Weston Otmoor (nr Bicester) which would increase use of EWRL. Weston Otmoor is very controversial and opposed by Cherwell and Oxon councils (a major report is on CDC website). Cherwell proposed an alternative Bicester site.

Winslow Green is the latest revised proposals and planning application by Greenway Homes for a development at the former Gt Horwood wartime airfield and surrounding land. This failed to gain support a few years ago and did not make the eco towns shortlist. It includes a new station and some funding for EWRL.

Bicester Military Depot is subject to proposals for a rail linked freight depot which would further enhance EWRL use. Potential users were attending a briefing on 29/1/09