Editing West Coast Main Line (section)

=== Crossrail extension ===
In the ''London & South East Rail Utilisation Strategy'' (RUS) document published by [[Network Rail]] in 2011, a proposal was put forward to extend the [[Crossrail]] lines, currently under construction in central London, along the West Coast Main Line as far as {{rws|Tring}} and {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}}. The scheme would involve the construction of a tunnel in the vicinity of the proposed new station at {{rws|Old Oak Common}} in West London connecting the Crossrail route to the WCML slow lines with a potential for interchange with the planned [[High Speed 2]] line. Under current plans, a proportion of westbound Crossrail trains will terminate at {{rws|Paddington}} due to capacity limitations; the RUS recommends the WCML extension as it will enable these services to continue beyond Paddington, maximising the use of the central London tunnels. The RUS also notes that diversion of WCML regional rail services via Crossrail into central London would alleviate congestion at Euston station, and consequently reduce the need for infrastructure work on the London Underground network which would be required to accommodate HS2 passengers arriving at Euston. The Crossrail extension proposal has not been officially confirmed or funded.<ref name="rus2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4858#page=149 |publisher=Network Rail |title=8. Potential new lines |work=London and South East Route Utilisation Strategy |pages=149–153 |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314070733/http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4858#page=149 |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2014, the government launched a study into the Crossrail extension.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-study-into-potential-crossrail-extension |title=Government launches study into potential Crossrail extension |website=GOV.UK}}</ref>