Rail campaigners have welcomed the government’s green light for the Universal theme park near Bedford, but say the resort will only be truly sustainable if major rail upgrades promised by East West Rail are delivered in full and built on.
The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) was responding after ministers confirmed planning permission for the 268-hectare Universal resort at Kempston Hardwick via a Special Development Order.
The park, due to open in 2031, is expected to attract between 8.5 and 12 million visitors a year and create thousands of jobs.
Alongside new A421 slip roads and an expanded Wixams station, East West Rail’s own 277-page You Said, We Did report, published in November, set out a series of rail changes that are intended to support Universal and wider growth along the Marston Vale corridor.
Universal-ready EWR?
Under its latest plans, East West Rail says Stewartby station would be moved north of Broadmead Road.
The company argues that this location offers better value for taxpayers, avoids clashing with the redevelopment of the former brickworks, and provides better road access.
Particularly in light of Universal’s proposed theme park and Bedford Borough Council’s draft Local Plan for new homes and jobs in the area.
Read: Bedford Borough’s Local Plan 2040 has “no credible future” in light of Universal plans
The same report confirms that the current Marston Vale Line would be upgraded to run up to five trains per hour at peak times between Bedford and Bletchley.
East West Rail says this increase from the previously suggested three trains per hour is intended to cater for visitor demand at the Universal resort and for growth along the corridor.
In Bedford itself, the document provides more detail on a major overhaul of Bedford Midland, including relocating the multi-storey car park to the west of the station and revised bridge works at Ampthill Road and Cauldwell Street.
Along the Marston Vale Line, the new Stewartby station would be designed to serve the proposed Universal resort when it opens.
BRTA says these commitments are welcome but must be treated as the starting point rather than the end of the conversation about sustainable travel.
Rail rethink for Bedford
BRTA’s Richard Pill said Universal’s projected crowds of up to 55,000 visitors a day make good public transport absolutely essential.
He said: “The Universal Park plan hugely ramps up the need for a ‘fit for purpose’ new Bedford Midland railway station, able to reliably deal with the volume of trains and passengers Bedford will need, all at the same time as being able to offer routes to freight carried sustainably by rail.
“East West Rail must now deliver a reliable and expandable Oxford to Bedford service, properly connecting the existing Marston Vale line stations, Universal and other services at Bedford.
“The theme park development, with the associated rail improvements, will underline Bedfordshire as a dynamic area to visit, invest in and live.
Getting away from road travel as a default choice is vital if emissions are to be kept down and gridlock avoided.”
The campaign group has also raised concerns that, at the same time as Universal is set to boost demand, East West Rail’s preferred option still points to the closure of several intermediate halts between Bedford and Bletchley and the loss of the existing hourly shuttle.
They say that reduced options for local people who want to travel to the resort for work or pleasure by train.
Read: Green light given for Bedford Universal Studios theme park
Northampton link
BRTA is also warning that Northampton risks missing out if it does not have a direct rail link into the Universal site.
The group has long called for the reopening of the 20-mile Bedford to Northampton line, via a new Olney Parkway station, Brackmills and the University of Northampton.
With around 8,000 permanent jobs expected at the resort and a huge increase in demand for visitor accommodation across the region, BRTA says now is the time to protect the old rail corridor from development and commission a fresh study into bringing the line back.
BRTA’s Andrew Williams said: “Northampton used to be a major rail hub, but since the 1980s it now only has a single rail line, allowing journeys to London, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Coventry.
“For far too long, Northamptonshire has been left out of the considerable opportunities afforded by rail reopenings, all of which in the UK have exceeded their most optimistic passenger forecasts.
“Within Northants, reopening one or more closed lines would transform commuting between Northampton, Kettering, Leicester and Market Harborough, as well as dramatically cutting the rail journey time to the Universal theme park in Bedford.
“We urge everyone to give their support to the BRTA campaign for railway and station reopenings.”
Campaigners say the decisions taken in the next few years on rail capacity, station design and wider connections will shape how the benefits are shared fairly and sustainably across Bedfordshire and beyond for decades to come.
