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East West Rail Line: Iron and Steel

Asked by Alex MayerLabourDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 9 June 2025UIN 55600

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the volume of British-produced steel used in the construction of the East West Rail project from Bletchley to Oxford; and what estimate she has made of the volume required for the new build section to Cambridge.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

All rail used in the build of Connection Stage 1 (Oxford to Milton Keynes) was British Steel supplied via Network Rail SCO operations, which amounts to just under 4,100 tonnes. There would also have been a small additional amount used in built structures and stations.

The section between Bedford and Cambridge is still at the preliminary design phase and a total estimate of the volume of steel required is not yet available. However, current estimates suggest around 12,300 tonnes of new plain line track will be required.

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