Public urged to have their say as East West Rail enters final route-wide consultation stage

Bedfordians will have their final say on the latest designs for the East West Rail link this month, one of the biggest infrastructure projects to affect the region.

From 14 April, the last route-wide consultation will begin for the project that will link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, and local leaders are urging the public to take part.

The event in Bedford will take place at Kings House on Ampthill Road on Saturday, 23 May from 11am – 6pm. Full details of all in-person consultations are at the bottom of this article.

East West Rail Company say that this consultation will help shape the final design of the railway before a Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027. 

Read: East West Rail under renewed pressure as Bedfordians and leaders demand answers

Read: East West Rail says final design for Bedford proposals to be made available in 2027

As well as in-person events, which are held along the route, there are also several webinars for those who cannot attend.

Additional detail

At each of the drop-in events, experts from East West Rail Co will be on hand to talk about the updated proposals and answer questions from the public.

In addition, residents will find out:

• New visualisation images of stations and fly-through animations of route sections
  
• More details on a phased construction period to deliver parts of the project earlier, so that communities feel the benefits sooner
  
• New stations/upgrades to existing stations
  
• Proposed service patterns and carriage lengths to meet the demand for the Universal theme park 
  
• Level crossings
  
• Discontinuous electrification with hybrid electric/battery trains to support net-zero goals 
  
• Reducing environmental impacts and a commitment to biodiversity net gain

A Virtual Consultation Room will also be available, where all the information shown at the public events can be accessed online in a virtual room.

For those unable to attend in person, all consultation materials will be available online, with multiple ways to provide feedback. 

While this is the last route-wide consultation, EWR Co will be continuing to engage with communities as the design is finalised ahead of DCO submission.  

Important opportunity

Ben Foley, Green councillor for Greyfriars Ward, which includes homes facing demolition in Ashburnham Road, told the Bedford Independent, “It’s important that affected residents take this opportunity to send a clear message that whatever the advantages of EWR, it is unacceptable to demolish people’s homes to build it.

“After my successful motion was passed by the council in November, the council are working with consultants on making the ‘best possible case’ for avoiding demolitions. This consultation will give residents an opportunity to add their voices to that need.” 

Read: Councillors vote to create “strongest possible case” against EWR demolitions

He said: “I’m really frustrated that once again, EWR have chosen a consultation venue in Bedford that is so far from the town centre. Many of those most affected don’t have private motor vehicles, but it appears to have been more important to EWR to have a venue with its own carparking than one that can be walked to by those most affected.”  

Bedford Borough Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Graeme Coombes, urged Bedfordians to attend the events.

“We strongly recommend residents take part in this latest consultation from East West Railway Company (EWR), but let’s be clear, this consultation must mean more than simply presenting finished plans and asking people to accept them,” he said.

“Bedford Borough Conservative Group has been consistently clear that we remain fundamentally opposed to the northern route in its current form. We have not seen a credible business case.

“Homes would be demolished, communities disrupted, and serious questions remain over hospital access, town centre impact, and construction. That is not a route we can support.

Read: Shock as a further 10 Bedford properties could be demolished as EWR unveils “design changes”

“This consultation is an important opportunity for residents, councillors and businesses of Bedford Borough, and we urge everyone to take part, make their views known, and help us continue to press for a better, less damaging outcome for Bedford Borough.”

Once-in-a-generation

David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “This consultation marks a major milestone for East West Rail as we move closer to delivering a once-in-a-generation project that will transform connectivity across the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor.

“East West Rail is about far more than a new railway — it’s about unlocking opportunities for people and places, supporting new homes and jobs, and making it easier, faster and greener to travel between some of the UK’s most dynamic destinations.

“We’ve listened carefully to feedback to shape these latest designs, which include plans to deliver benefits earlier through phased construction, improve accessibility, and support our net zero ambitions through innovative, lower-carbon technology.

“I’d strongly encourage everyone along the route to take part in our last consultation. Your views are vital in helping us refine our plans and ensure East West Rail delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and the wider region for generations to come.”

Feedback must be received by 23:59 on 9 June 2026.    

For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, visit: eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation/consultation2026. Or contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at contact@eastwestrail.co.uk or call 0330 134 0067.