East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has confirmed details of its final route‑wide public consultation, marking a critical milestone in the delivery of the East West Rail project linking Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
The eight‑week consultation, running from 14 April to 9 June 2026, will give communities, businesses and stakeholders along the corridor a final opportunity to influence the scheme’s design before EWR Co submits its Development Consent Order (DCO) in 2027.
This final consultation sets out the most advanced designs to date and reflects extensive feedback gathered from previous engagement stages. It also outlines how the project could begin delivering benefits earlier through phased construction, while supporting the UK’s net zero and biodiversity objectives.
What the final consultation includes
The consultation will present a comprehensive package of updated information on East West Rail, including:
- New visualisation images of stations and fly‑through animations of key route sections
- Further detail on phased construction, enabling parts of the railway to open sooner
- New stations and upgrades to existing stations along the route
- Proposed service patterns and carriage lengths, designed to meet forecast demand, including future demand linked to the Universal theme park
- Updated proposals for level crossings
- Plans for discontinuous electrification, supported by hybrid electric/battery trains, aligning with decarbonisation goals
- Measures to reduce environmental impacts and deliver biodiversity net gain
Public events and digital access
To maximise participation, EWR Co will host a series of public drop‑in events across the route, giving attendees the chance to speak directly with project specialists, ask questions and submit feedback.
The programme includes weekend sessions and online events, alongside a Virtual Consultation Room, allowing people to view all consultation materials online in a fully digital environment.
For those unable to attend events, all consultation materials will be available online, with multiple options for submitting feedback throughout the consultation period.
While this represents the last route‑wide consultation, EWR Co has confirmed that ongoing engagement with communities and stakeholders will continue as the design is finalised ahead of the DCO submission.
Leadership perspective
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.
“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.”
Image credit: iStock
