As it launches its latest consultation today (Tuesday), East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has released updated images of its proposals for Bedford Station, plus the promise of a faster construction schedule and “up to five trains an hour”.
And while some say the project will aid future economic growth in the area, critics have said that these latest announcements do not allay their “fundamental concerns” about the chosen route and station infrastructure.
The latest details are part of East West Rail’s last route-wide consultation on the project, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge before a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to build the railway is submitted in 2027.
The consultation closes at 23:59 on 9 June 2026. You can take part here.
Read: Public urged to have their say as East West Rail enters final route-wide consultation stage
These latest proposals now take into account the plans for the Universal Resort, reflecting the expected increase in passenger demand along the line and include provision for a station at Stewartby to serve the theme park.
‘Delivery phases’ will replace the previous connection stages, which means that news stations and sections of the route will open as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for the full route to be completed – ensuring high-capacity and frequent services to the new theme park resort earlier than EWR’s plans had previously anticipated.
EWR say there will be a core service of four trains per hour across the whole route, with an additional fifth train running at peak times or potentially all day, if required.
It says this fifth train could be used to enable service extensions to and from locations on the wider rail network beyond the EWR route. Five-carriage trains, rather than four carriages, are also being proposed due to increased demand.
David Hughes, CEO of EWR Co, said: “These updated proposals mark a major step forward for East West Rail to help ensure communities see the benefits of the project sooner as we finalise the design.
“More frequent and higher-capacity trains alongside brand-new stations for Bedford, the Marston Vale Line and Tempsford will help unlock housing, support new jobs and attract investment, while giving residents and businesses better connections to Milton Keynes, Oxford and Cambridge and wider destinations across the country.”
What the latest proposals mean for Bedford
Bedford station
- Completion of a brand-new station by mid 2030s
- Four trains an hour between Oxford and Bedford by mid 2030s
- New accessible civic plaza
- New western entrance to improve access for Queen’s Park residents
- New relocated multi-storey car park on Ford End Road, accessed via an upgraded underpass
- Active travel hub
- New platform for fast trains between London St Pancras and Sheffield
- Reduction of the construction programme by two years.
Multi-storey car park
- Following feedback, the proposed location is moving from the east of the station at Ashburnham Road to the west at Ford End Road
- Consultation is seeking feedback on these options.
Bedford St Johns
- Continued assessment of how the railway could best integrate with the Bedford Hospital masterplan
- Aims to achieve a joined-up solution for the area
- Single platform station at St. John’s to be demolished
- Replacement two-platform station to be built 130 metres to the north-west, closer to Bedford Hospital
- The new station would support the regeneration of the area
- A new pedestrian crossing on Britannia Road is proposed to create a gateway towards the station entrance
Curve south of Bedford St. John’s station
- Track curve south of Bedford St Jonns station to be decreased
- Reduction of noise and less wear and tear – enabling the railway to operate more efficiently
- Extra land to create a flatter track layout would be used to provide open space, enhanced with tree planting and an improved play area next to Cauldwell Community Centre
Ampthill Road and Cauldwell Street bridges
- Changes to the design of the station at Bedford St Johns means the height of the railway is lower than in previous designs
- This reduces the likelihood of having to rebuild the bridges on Ampthill Road and Cauldwell Street
- This would avoid road closures and the planned diversion of Prebend Street
- Reduction of impact on traffic during the construction period and at the entrance of the former Britannia Iron Works, a Grade II listed building
Marston Vale Line
- Improvements to the Marston Vale Line would be accelerated
- Four trains an hour to run between Oxford and Stewartby by early 2030s
- Fast-tracking this part of the route means EWR trains can serve the Universal theme park within its first few years of opening
- Proposed plan to consolidate nine underused stations into four modern stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby
- New stations would all have passenger car parking, active travel hubs and taxi and bus facilities
Electrification
Hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains are planned to operate along the railway, including along the Marston Vale Line from Bletchley to Bedford, and from Bedford through to Tempsford.
EWR says this will “enhance decarbonisation, support UK net zero goals, and reduce emissions”.
The full end-to-end service, with up to five trains an hour running from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford, will be operational by the mid to late 2030s.
“Proposals fall short for local people”
Bedford and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin (Labour), told the Bedford Independent that he felt “deeply frustrated” about the decision to place a multi-storey car park on the western side of the station.
Read: Traffic worries in Queen’s Park as EWR proposes location for multi-storey station car park
“It is deeply frustrating that, once again, the latest consultation proposals fall short where it matters most to local people,” he said.
“I have been unequivocal in my opposition to placing a multi-storey car park on the western side. Hundreds of Queens Park residents turned out to meetings with East West Rail to explain clearly why the proposed western entrance would not work and would worsen congestion.
“I have consistently called for a range of properly modelled alternatives, with clear evidence setting out the pros and cons of each. Instead, we are once again being shoehorned into a single proposal, with only vague assurances that mitigation and detailed modelling might come later.”
Mr Yasin said that residents feared that the current plans would create a rat run and that some people could be forced to pay for parking permits just to prove they live on their own streets.
Lack of clarity from council
“There also remains a lack of clarity from Bedford Borough Council,” said the MP.
“I am repeatedly told the final decision on the car park location rests with the Council, but residents still do not have a clear answer: do they support a car park on the western side, or do they favour development at the front of the station? It cannot be both.
“While I welcome the fact that East West Rail has listened to residents on some important issues, it is encouraging to see movement on avoiding rail bridge closures, alongside a clear commitment to accelerate improvements at Bedford station and regeneration around the Ashburnham Road area.
“This aligns with the opportunities presented by the proposed Universal development and improved connections to Bedford Hospital.”
He urged everyone to respond to the consultation, which runs until 9 June.
“At present, many feel that while they have spoken, they have not truly been heard.”
“A kick in the teeth”
Ben Foley, Green councillor for the Greyfriars ward, which includes homes facing demolition on Ashburnham Road, told the Bedford Independent that the images released by EWR do little to set his constituents’ minds at rest.
“East West Rail’s illustration of a new station entrance on Ashburnham Road and a nine storey building a little further up the road are a massive kick in the teeth for people who currently live in homes on that side of Ashburnham Road that EWR are planning to demolish, and those living on the other side of Ashburnham Road whose homes will be dwarfed,” said cllr Foley.
“It makes residents suspicious that homes are being demolished for property development, rather than being necessary for building the railway.
“Following my successful motion at the Borough Council meeting in November, the council is now committed to making the best possible case to avoid these demolitions.
“It is massively important that the technical experts the council are commissioning after that motion make a really good case to protect residents. Convincing the Planning Inspectorate is our best hope of avoiding demolitions.”
Read: Councillors vote to create “strongest possible case” against EWR demolitions
“Serious questions remain unanswered”
Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Graeme Coombes, said that EWR has left “serious questions unanswered”.
“While we note the updated proposals, these announcements do not change our fundamental concerns and the Bedford Borough Conservative Group remains opposed to the northern route in its current form,” he said.
“We have still not seen a credible business case. The numbers do not stack up, the disruption will be enormous, and serious questions remain unanswered.”
He said the construction disruption would have an “unacceptable impact” on communities across the Borough.
“Changes to station design and infrastructure may address some issues, but they do not resolve the core problem, a route that risks significant harm to Bedford and its residents.”
Bedford Borough Council declined to comment.
Future growth
David Hughes, CEO of EWR Co, encouraged Bedfordians to take part in the latest consultation.
“By bringing forward key elements of the railway and planning for increased demand, we are helping to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support future growth and opportunities for our communities,” he said.
“I encourage residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation and share their views on our latest plans.”
Others who feel the project will bring economic growth to the area include Gidon Freeman of Universal Destinations and Experiences, who are investing in a new theme park in Bedfordshire.
“One of the reasons we selected our site for a new entertainment resort complex featuring a world-class theme park is its central location and excellent transport links,” said Mr Freeman.
“East West Rail can further improve that connectivity – its proposed station by Universal would enhance guest and team member arrival with a new link to our resort from across the Ox-Cam Corridor.”
Dr Andy Williams, Chair, Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, and senior strategy and policy advisor at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, believes the route will be transformational for the area.
“East West Rail will greatly improve connectivity between Oxford, Cambridge and the towns in between, stimulating the flow of talented people, innovation and investment needed to secure the UK’s position as a global science supercluster.
“It will boost business confidence in the region, providing opportunities to expand to other locations along the route, such as Bedford and Milton Keynes, and connecting a region of 3.5 million people ready to compete with other global superclusters like Silicon Valley.”
Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs for the railway are finalised, ready for the submission of a Development Consent Order in 2027.
The consultation will run for eight weeks from April 14 to June 9, 2026 and you can make your views known here.
A series of public drop-in events are being held across the route to provide opportunities to meet the EWR Co team.
The event in Bedford will take place at Kings House on Ampthill Road on Saturday, 23 May from 11am – 6pm.
For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, visit the consultation page, contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at contact@eastwestrail.co.uk or call 0330 134 0067.
