Early-stage ground investigations along the proposed East West Rail route have revealed a surprising connection to the distant past in the form of fossils including sharks’ teeth and ammonites dating back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
As part of preparations for the new rail link between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is undertaking borehole testing and soil sampling to better understand ground conditions. These efforts will ensure the railway is designed and built in a way that is safe, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective.
The investigations, expected to last several months, are not only uncovering vital geological data but also fascinating glimpses into the region’s prehistoric marine past. The work is helping inform design decisions that minimise land use, reduce construction risks, and avoid delays when construction starts.
To help explain the work being carried out by our Ground Investigations teams and why their work is so important, EWR Co has released a short video which was filmed at one of the test sites.
Neil Esslemont, Geotechnical Engineering Specialist at EWR Co, explained: “We need to understand the ground conditions to allow us to construct the railway safely and in an efficient manner. By understanding the ground conditions thoroughly, we can design the railway to be cheaper to build, so we spend less taxpayers’ money on construction.”
East West Rail is a once in a generational project which will transform connectivity across the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor and EWR Co is committed to working collaboratively with all landowners and stakeholders to ensure this vital work is done in the least disruptive way possible
Learn more about the ground investigations by visiting our page here.