WORK must begin as soon as possible on the next stage of a railway link between Oxford and Cambridge, Oxfordshire County Council's deputy leader has warned.

In yesterday's Autumn Statement Chancellor Philip Hammond announced £110m of funding for East West Rail and committed to deliver a new road expressway between the two cities.

Deputy leader Rodney Rose, who is chairman of the joint delivery board for East West Rail Western Section, said there should be no further delay on the next stage of the project – the link from Bicester to Bedford.

Mr Rose said: "It has now been put into control period six which goes from 2019 to 2024.

"I want work to start in the first month of 2019.

"It should be a case of putting some shingle down and putting some rail on top and getting diesel engines running.

"I am meeting with Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy in January to press again."

Mr Rose added that developers would not build much-needed housing until they could see the railway starting to take shape.

Mr Hammond's announcement came after the National Infrastructure Commission urged the Government to seize a 'once in a generation opportunity' to invest in links between Oxford and Cambridge.

Mr Hammond said: "This project can be more than just a transport link.

"It can become a transformational tech-corridor, drawing on the world-class research strengths of our two best-known universities."

Public transport advocate Hugh Jaeger welcomed the investment in East West Rail but said the expressway alongside it was a 'complete waste of money'.

He said: "It is a 1960s solution to a 21st century problem.

"Look at global temperatures this year and what that is doing to the Arctic ice cap.

"It will produce carbon if that road is built and even more carbon from cars driving up and down it.

"It is not necessary in any way."