The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a new scheme to connect three 'tech clusters' in the UK.

It is developing plans to better link London, Oxford and Cambridge together with an integrated network, arguing they hold important technology communities that could benefit from greater access.

Part of this will involve new track spanning between Bedford and Cambridge, building on recent progress at DfT's East-West rail project and finishing the "London-Cambridge-Oxford tech triangle".

A spokesperson said: "Once both of these lines are completed they will allow for fast direct rail services between Cambridge and Oxford for the first time in a generation."

The department's other schemes will also add connectivity across these areas. In 2018 the Thameslink will allow direct services from Farringdon in London to Cambridge.

Crossrail, on the other hand, will add access to Heathrow, Luton and Gatwick airports, as well as providing links to Cambridge. The first sections are expected to come online during 2018 and Transport for London is already consulting for Crossrail Two options.

DfT claims it is committed to expanding existing infrastructure, with a £38 billion rail spending programme slated for the five years between 2014 and 2019.