The government has confirmed £2.5 billion in funding for the next phase of East West Rail (EWR), but the news has sparked sharply differing reactions from across Bedford.
Announced as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Spending Review yesterday (11 June), the funding forms part of a broader plan to boost connectivity, housing and jobs across the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor.
However, EWR itself say this is not new or additional funding. The Chancellor has simply confirmed the next tranche of funding from the existing East West Rail delivery budget, which is around £6 billion overall.
Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin (Labour) welcomed the long-term commitment to infrastructure and growth but repeated his opposition to the loss of homes in his constituency.
“This is an exciting moment for investment in our region, from Universal’s arrival to the broader growth of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor,” he said.
“I’ve consistently supported the kind of infrastructure that underpins sustainable growth. However, I remain firmly of the view that the demolition of homes in my constituency is not necessary to deliver this project. I will continue to make that case strongly on behalf of affected residents.”
Read: Is East West Rail still on the right track after Universal’s announcement?
Imposition
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton (Conservative), issued a strongly worded statement, warning that Route E, the chosen alignment through Bedford, will cause significant harm to homes, countryside and communities.
“Route E is the wrong route. It threatens to demolish homes, divide communities, and carve up swathes of Bedfordshire countryside, while better alternatives have been ignored,” he said.
“This is not investment, it is imposition. The government has chosen to throw billions at a plan that fails basic tests of transparency, public engagement, and sound planning.
“I am calling on the government and East West Rail to pause, review the business case, and put local voices at the centre of the decision-making process.”
North Bedfordshire MP Richard Fuller (Conservative) echoed the Mayor but added further criticism, saying the spending was misplaced.
“On a day where the government was talking about levelling up, it’s ironic that they confirmed £2.5bn for a railway in Bedfordshire that many people don’t want, while spending only £445m on railways in the whole country of Wales,” he said.
“These are wrong priorities and hardly an efficient use of public money.”
Campaigners urge caution
Campaign group Bedford for a Re-Consulted Alignment (BFARe) also responded with concern. While they support the principle of East West Rail and welcome infrastructure investment, they say the announcement “tells us little” about whether the government is listening to local objections.
BFARe opposes the chosen northern route (Route E), which runs through residential areas of North Bedford, requiring the demolition of homes, six-tracking through urban areas, and significant alterations to local green spaces.
“We support the principle of East West Rail. We want to see better transport connectivity across our region,” said a spokesperson. “But funding alone is not a substitute for fair process, sound planning, or meaningful local engagement.”
The group has consistently argued that a southern route, avoiding central Bedford, would be cheaper, less disruptive, and better aligned with regional housing strategies.
However, in February 2024, a review ordered by Mayor Tom Wootton of all route options, including that proposed by BFARe, found that none offered a better alternative than EWR Co’s preferred Route E.
Read: Council’s live-streamed EWR briefing allows public scrutiny of eight potential routes
Further details on how the £2.5bn will be allocated and what parts of the project it will fund are expected in due course.
EWR was asked for comment, but due to their status as an Arm’s-length body (ALB), they cannot comment on the spending review until 24 hours after it has been delivered.
