East West Rail said the final design for its Bedford proposals will be made available with its 2027 Development Consent Order submission.
The company was responding to questions regarding technical information on its proposals for Bedford, submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service following a public meeting hosted by Bedford Borough Council.
At that meeting, Jo Branson-Budd, the council’s head of capital projects, infrastructure and sustainable travel, said updated modelling on the six-track versus four-track layout for Bedford “has not yet been forthcoming”.
Read: EWR “less than fruitful” with details of rail line impact on Bedford claims mayor
East West Rail (EWR) said its decision on the need for a six-track layout was confirmed during the 2023 Route Update Announcement, and that its final design will be made available as it submits its Development Consent Order application in 2027.
Antigua Riley Corion, the council’s community engagement officer, told residents that information provided to the council “contradicts the maps that have been provided to residents”.
But EWR said it has shared updated designs with the council through technical workshops, that safeguarding for impacted areas has been updated on its website, and that updated maps will be provided at forthcoming events.
They also added that the latest design and maps are included in its “You Said, We Did” report published in November 2025.
Ms Branson-Budd also said traffic impact assessments and construction sequencing plans for Bedford had not yet been provided.
EWR said its traffic assessment work is ongoing, that information will be shared with the council during technical engagement, and that further information will be submitted with the DCO.
Hospital impact
Concerns were raised about hospital access and a proposed multi-storey car park near Bedford Hospital.
A EWR spokesperson said: “We are working extremely closely with the hospital as we are committed to ensuring both the EWR project and the hospital plans can be delivered for the benefit of the town, with the minimum disruption possible.”
The meeting also heard that residents are no longer statutory consultees at the pre-application DCO stage under recent legislation.
EWR said the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 removes the requirement for a statutory consultation, but that it still intends to carry out a targeted, iterative consultation this year.
The spokesperson added: “Although this legal requirement has been removed, we still intend to carry out a more targeted, iterative consultation this year where local communities along the route will be able to have their say on our updated proposals.
“Importantly, these changes have not caused any delays for the Project, and our target for DCO submission in 2027 hasn’t changed.”
EWR also confirmed it will hold Design Update Sessions in Bedford on February 12 and 14, followed by a route-wide consultation in the spring, including events along the Marston Vale Line and a larger event in Bedford town centre.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
