[3][4] The plan proposed to develop the Varsity Line as a freight link from the East Coast ports to South Wales, capable of handling up to 2,400 wagons of coal class traffic and empties daily.

[5] However, following British Railways deciding not to proceed with the Swanbourne sidings plan, the line saw little use, with most freight traffic taking other routes.

[8] As part of the East West Rail project that will reopen the Oxford – Cambridge route, work to replace 14 of the spans began in April 2020.

[15] During summer 2021, a new structure was built for use by East West Rail, in the form of a box tunnel around the WCML;[16] by February 2022, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) of track had been installed over the new flyover, enabling engineering trains to reach the eastern end of the construction site.

[17] The renovation project includes a plan to construct high level platforms for Bletchley station, just after the eastern end of the flyover.