Date: 20/05/2016

The UK Department for Transport has revealed proposals for a new East-West rail franchise to reflect expectations of future passenger growth. In an updated franchising schedule, the DfT said it was considering a small franchise to operate services between Bletchley, Oxford, Aylesbury and Bicester “ the western section of the future East West Rail corridor. According to the schedule, the franchise would operate from 2018.[From Richard Buckby]

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Currently closed to passengers, there is clearly a major upgrade in progress at Bicester Town in August 2015. The rebuilt station is due to open in October, with trains running between Oxford and London Marylebone via High Wycombe, via the new curve to the east of the town [see image 47183]. In the longer term the station will also be served by trains on the Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford section of the East-West Rail Link, due to open by 2019.
Location: Bicester Town
Company: Buckinghamshire Railway
14/08/2015 Ken Strachan

Brick City. Stewartby (originally Wootton Pillinge), Bedfordshire, on the Oxford - Bedford line in 1974. Built to house workers of the London Brick Co, with kilns and chimneys surrounding the station and dominating the landscape. At its peak, this enormous site boasted 167 chimneys and produced 16 million bricks per day. [Editor's note: The last bricks were made here on 29 Feb 2008 following a rundown by owners Hanson, due to failure to meet limits for sulphur dioxide emissions. The 4 remaining chimneys on the site are now listed structures.]
Location: Stewartby
Company: Bedford Railway
16/02/1974 Ian Dinmore

Looking west to the level crossing by the remains of Claydon station on the Buckinghamshire Railway. Many of the rails going east from Shepherd's Furze have been lifted.
Location: Claydon
Company: Buckinghamshire Railway
06/09/2009 Ewan Crawford