A DIRECT railway link between Oxford and Cambridge would be resurrected if the Liberal Democrats remain in Government after next May, party leader Nick Clegg will say today.

He will tell the party’s conference in Glasgow that about 50,000 new “Garden City” style homes should be built along the railway route.

Passenger trains last ran on the Varsity Line between the cities in 1967 and the tracks were torn up east of Bedford.

The surviving section between Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes and Bedford is to be rebuilt over the next five years as part of the East West Rail project but Mr Clegg now wants to revive a connection all the way to Cambridge. He said this could cut the two-and-a-half hour rail journey, via London, to an hour.

Mr Clegg said: “The Conservatives have held back the development of garden cities, but if we are part of the next government, we will ensure at least 10 get under way.

“Up to five [will be] along this new railway, bringing new homes and jobs to the brain-belt of South East England.”

The party said a planned station at Bedford – linked to a development of 18,000 new homes – was an “example to other locations along the line”.

The East West Rail Consortium, of council and business leaders, said a full reopening would have major economic benefits for Oxfordshire.

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