East West Rail’s route through Bedford has been decided and will not change, the project’s chief executive has said, as he urged residents to focus on influencing the finer details of how the scheme will be delivered.
Speaking to the Bedford Independent following the latest design consultation, East West Railway Company chief executive David Hughes said the major decisions on the route had already been taken and confirmed by successive governments.
However, he stressed that local feedback still has a role to play in shaping key elements of the project, including traffic management, station design and parking.
Read: Latest EWR update shows new Bedford station and faster services but critics still concerned
Route decision fixed
Hughes said the current consultation marks the point where East West Rail is moving from broad route options to detailed design.
“The big decisions are in the past,” he said. “The big choices have now been made in some cases many years ago, and the scheme has been developed on that basis.”
The route through Bedford was selected in 2023 and reviewed again after the 2024 general election, when the new government confirmed it would proceed.
“My job is to develop a railway along the route that the government has asked me to adopt,” Hughes said.
His comments come amid continued criticism from some local politicians and campaigners who oppose the northern route through Bedford.
Political tensions remain
The issue has been a central part of local political debate in recent years.
Bedford Borough’s elected mayor, Tom Wootton, previously campaigned against the northern route, with some voters supporting him on the basis that it could be changed or stopped.
Hughes, however, indicated that such an outcome was never within the control of local decision-makers.
While declining to criticise politicians directly, he made clear that the final decision lies with the national government.
“People might still think there were other options, better options,” he said. “Frankly, we’ve moved on.”
Read: East West Rail welcomes faster planning rules as Bedfordians face ‘weaker’ formal say
Despite those differences, Hughes said he meets the mayor regularly and described their relationship as “respectful”, with both sides now focused on working together to improve the scheme for Bedford.
“What I want to do is work as collaboratively as possible with the council to make sure that the scheme we are developing is the best possible scheme for Bedford,” he said.
Focus shifts to detail
With the route fixed, Hughes said the current consultation is about refining the design rather than revisiting fundamental decisions.
“We’re not having a consultation about route choice,” he said. “We are having a consultation about the details of the scheme.”
That includes issues such as traffic flow, station layout and public spaces.
Hughes said feedback from previous consultations had already led to significant changes, with more than 80 design adjustments made across the wider project.
In Bedford, one of the most contentious issues remains parking at the new station.
Proposals have already been revised following earlier feedback, with a multi-storey car park moved from the east side of the station to the west, near Ford End Road.
Read: Traffic worries in Queen’s Park as EWR proposes location for multi-storey station car park
However, Hughes acknowledged that the revised plans have also been met with opposition.
“That’s not landed well,” he said. “We’re hearing loud and clear that people don’t like this solution either. I don’t think we’ve nailed the car parking solution.”
He added that discussions with the council are ongoing, including meetings taking place this week to explore alternatives.
Universal and timeline pressures
The proposed Universal Studios theme park is influencing the delivery of East West Rail and shaping the limits of what can be achieved within current timescales.
In a separate interview with the LDRS, Hughes said plans for the line had been reworked in response to expected demand from the development, including bringing forward upgrades to the Marston Vale Line, electrification, and new stations such as Stewartby.
However, he confirmed the railway will not be ready in time for the park’s planned 2030 opening, with planning consent not expected until late 2028 or early 2029.
Hughes said earlier proposals for a single hourly service between Oxford and Bedford had been dropped after discussions with Universal, acknowledging that such a limited service would not meet demand.
While he rejected suggestions that the changes were primarily to benefit a private developer, he argued that improved rail links would bring wider benefits, including better connectivity for Bedford Hospital and the surrounding area.
The LDRS also reported ongoing concerns from residents about the extent to which the scheme is being shaped by local input.
Hughes said more than 80 design changes had already been made following previous consultations, adding that while feedback continues to influence the project, the current phase is focused on refining the agreed design rather than revisiting the route itself.
Impact on residents
While much of the debate has focused on strategy and infrastructure, Hughes acknowledged to the Bedford Independent the very real impact on residents living along the route.
In areas such as Poets and Ashburnham Road, properties are set to be demolished to make way for the railway.
“We know exactly now which properties are affected,” he said.
Hughes said the project has moved from uncertainty to clarity, though he acknowledged that clarity does not make the outcome any easier for those affected.
“If you’re saying to someone we need to demolish this property to build a railway, I can’t sugar that pill,” he said.
He added that engagement with affected residents is ongoing, with teams meeting property owners to discuss the next steps.
The campaign group Protect Poets – Save Our Homes! confirmed in a Facebook post this morning that they had been invited to meet with EWR Co this week.
Read: Councillors vote to create “strongest possible case” against EWR demolitions
Traffic challenges
Traffic remains one of the biggest concerns raised by residents, and Hughes acknowledged it is an issue that has not yet been fully resolved.
“Traffic is a big challenge in Bedford,” he said. “It’s not that you’ve got a fantastic traffic situation today and East West Rail is going to come along and make that difference. The traffic is logjammed today.”
He said the project should be seen as an opportunity to take a broader approach to transport in the town.
“What I say to the council is work with us,” he said. “Look at East West Rail as an opportunity to take a holistic approach to how we get a better transport solution for Bedford.”
Hughes argued that the long-term benefits of East West Rail would be significant, particularly for economic growth and connectivity.
He pointed to the planned Universal development as an example of the type of investment the project is expected to support.
“Why is Universal coming to Bedford?” he said. “It’s going to be one of the best-connected parts of the country.”
He added that both the previous and current governments view East West Rail as a key part of plans to improve productivity and drive economic growth.
“It’s more important than ever,” he said.
Call for feedback
Hughes encouraged residents to take part in the consultation process, but stressed that responses would be most effective if focused on practical improvements rather than revisiting settled decisions.
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 20 April | 6pm–8pm | Online webinar |
| Thursday 30 April | 12pm–5pm | Stewartby Village Hall, Stewartby Way, Stewartby, Bedford, MK43 9LU |
| Wednesday 6 May | 2.30pm–4.30pm | Online webinar |
| Thursday 14 May | 2pm–7pm | Lidlington Village Hall, High Street, Lidlington, Bedford, MK43 0RN |
| Saturday 23 May | 11am–6pm | King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ |
| Tuesday 2 June | 10am–12pm | Online webinar |
“If you turn up and say you’ve chosen the wrong route, I’ll note that, but I’m not going to stop the project,” he said.
“If you come and say, ‘have you thought about the car parking in this way?’ or ‘have you thought about the public space around the station?’, that’s where feedback makes a real difference.”
The consultation is expected to inform the final design ahead of a Development Consent Order application, which is due to be submitted in the second half of next year.
For Bedford residents, the message is clear: the railway is coming, but how it fits into the town is still open to influence.
You can take part in the 2026 EWR consultation from today (14 April) until 23:59 on 9 June 2026 via the EWR website.
