John B wrote:

Aidan Stanger wrote:
I also remember that the heads of agreement for this particular
refranchise contained proposals for an M1/M6 parkway and a reopened
portion of the Great Central to serve it. And a new/relaid line from
Princes Risborough to Oxford. That kind of vision in a franchise bid
seems so far away now.

The former is still a possibility, unless the GCML is transformed into
the NSHSL. The latter will never happen, as it would require too many
disruptive alterations to the M40 at Junction 8.

Why would it require any at all? Surely it could just bridge it?


That would be the cause of the disruptive alterations. It's generally
frowned upon to build a new bridge over an operating motorway...

--
I read somewhere that Chiltern have definitely abandoned their plan to
rebuild the Risborough-Oxford line. However they are still interested
in reaching Oxford from the north via a new chord at Bicester. I'm not
sure whether they've actually purchased the land for the chord, but it
is officially protected from being built on.

Andy