The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has launched a market engagement exercise on a new ‘Enterprise Partner’ model to support the company in the development and launch of the new Oxford to Cambridge railway service.

EWR Co aims to test the market’s appetite to deliver train operations and asset management, and support the strategic leadership of the project at an early stage and through the launch phase of the railway. 

Simon Blanchflower CBE, Chief Executive of East West Railway Company said: “The Enterprise Partner model we have been developing over the past few months is an exciting opportunity for the right organisation or organisations to join us early and at a strategic level to deliver our ambitious vision for East West Rail. 

“The model represents a unique way of drawing together the ideas and concepts at the forefront of industry thinking - an enterprise approach, a long-term focus on outcomes and early involvement from the supply chain – in a way which achieves the best outcome for passengers, local residents and for the taxpayer.

“ The rail industry is going through a period of real change, so it feels right to share our proposition with the market and seek their views on the model to help us develop something that delivers real value.”