East-West Railway Company (EWR Co) has appointed Arcadis as a commercial partner to support its work driving long-term social and economic value for local communities between Oxford and Cambridge in the UK.

The contract is part of a wider commercial services contract focused on the development of the EWR Co business case. This contract includes a core responsibility to generate positive social impacts for communities along the route of the East-West Rail project and the wider economy. The scope of works consists of supporting job creation, upskilling and training and increasing awareness of career opportunities with a focus on young people, among other activities. 

The PPP project involves the development of East-West Rail, connecting Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge. It will bring back into use a section of railway that was closed to passengers in the 1960s, refurbish existing railway lines between Oxford and Bedford, and build new railway infrastructure between Bedford and Cambridge.