TSSA Urges Westminster to Rethink Oxford-Cambridge Line Funding Classification

Rail union TSSA has called on the UK government to urgently reconsider its classification of the new Oxford to Cambridge rail line as an “England and Wales” project – a move that would deny Wales vital transport funding, despite the line offering no direct benefit to the country.

The multi-billion-pound “East West Rail” project, linking Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, will not extend into Wales. However, the UK government has confirmed that the scheme falls under the England and Wales funding envelope within the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP), meaning it could impact the allocation of transport infrastructure funding for Wales under the Barnett Formula.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said:

“Our union strongly supports rail investment wherever it happens – and we welcome new projects like East West Rail that expand and modernise our network. But Ministers in Westminster must be honest with the people of Wales.

“Labeling this project as benefiting ‘England and Wales’ when it delivers no new infrastructure in Wales undermines trust and risks depriving Welsh communities of much-needed funding for their own railways.

“We’re calling for a rethink. Wales must receive its fair share of transport investment, with decisions made transparently and in the spirit of devolution.”

TSSA believes all nations and regions of the UK should benefit fairly from rail investment, and that meaningful devolution must include control over transport spending decisions.