Skip to main content

UK plans fully integrated transport network to high tech hot spots

The UK government’s plans to support the country’s burgeoning high-tech industry, centred on London, Cambridge and Oxford, are being facilitated by the Department for Transport (DfT) and its plans for a fully integrated transport network linking each of the three core technical clusters, as well as the wider technical community. The DfT is developing proposals for the construction of a new railway line from Bedford to Cambridge. This would build on the ongoing work on the east-west rail project and compl
December 9, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The UK government’s plans to support the country’s burgeoning high-tech industry, centred on London, Cambridge and Oxford, are being facilitated by the 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) and its plans for a fully integrated transport network linking each of the three core technical clusters, as well as the wider technical community.

The DfT is developing proposals for the construction of a new railway line from Bedford to Cambridge. This would build on the ongoing work on the east-west rail project and complete the London-Cambridge-Oxford tech triangle.

Once both of these lines are completed they will allow for fast direct rail services between Cambridge and Oxford for the first time in a generation.

The government is already committed to a huge expansion of the existing railway; a US$62 billion spending programme between 2014 and 2019 will improve and maintain the national network.

From 2019 the new Thameslink and Crossrail services will improve access from London to the other tech clusters but also to Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports; a proposed new station in Cambridge will provide access to the SciencePark and tech locations cutting journey times; in Oxford the total rebuild and expansion of the existing station and new bus station will again significantly improve access to tech locations within the city; from 2018 the Thameslink scheme allows for direct trains between Farringdon and City Thameslink within London and Cambridge and improves service to 3249 Gatwick Airport; and the electrification of the Great Western Mainline which allows for the new Super Express to be operational by 2017 will reduce journey times and improve services between London to Oxford and beyond.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Caltrans to focus on traffic management in 2014
    February 21, 2014
    Although San Diego County may see a downturn new freeway infrastructure projects during 2014, many projects, from rail to highways and cycle paths, are still in the pipeline for 2014, according to the region's transportation planning agencies. Laurie Berman, district director for the regional office of the California Department of Transportation, said last week that Caltrans' focus is transitioning from general purpose lane expansions to more traffic management. The new direction is meant to provide trav
  • Running on empty
    May 2, 2018
    Drivers are an increasingly rare species on Europe’s commuter metros as unattended train operation is embraced. David Crawford takes a low-speed tour of the continent’s capitals to see what’s happening. Unattended train operation (UTO) is fast becoming the norm for Europe’s metros, on existing as well as new lines. November 2017 statistics published by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) show the continent as having 28% of the global total of route km on lines operating at the ultimate
  • Home based real time travel information drives reduction in car use
    January 20, 2012
    David Crawford investigates a new approach to discouraging car use - the 'kitchen as travel centre'. ITS technology working together with UK planning legislation is driving an innovative 'kitchen as travel centre' approach to home design which is boosting public transport as an alternative to car use. The combination is already proving powerful enough to assuage environmentalist opposition to major urban developments. It is also being seen as a way of delivering wider social and community benefits inside an
  • UK government to invest in autonomous cars, low emission vehicles
    November 24, 2016
    Presenting his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced investment in transportation, including £390 million for future transport and a major new investment in the UK transport infrastructure. The £390 million investment in future technology includes: investment in testing infrastructure for driverless cars; provision of at least 550 new electric and hydrogen buses, reduce the emissions of 1,500 existing buses and support taxis to become zero emission; installation of more charging points fo