East West Railway Company has launched a public consultation on its updated plans for its rail project connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
Passenger services are due to start along the first stage of East West Rail (EWR) between Oxford and Bletchley in 2025, with track all laid and line testing underway on this section.
The updated proposals, which can be viewed during the third non-statutory public consultation on EWR, contain revised infrastructure and design plans for a new stretch of railway between Bedford and Cambridge, plus essential railway improvement works to upgrade the existing railway between Oxford and Bedford.
The plans have been updated following feedback of their previous non-statutory consultation and further technical design work. The consultation comes after the Government committed to delivering EWR in full in last month’s Budget.
East West Rail will unlock access to jobs and space for businesses to grow, regenerate town centres, improve connectivity across the region and the rest of the UK, and support new affordable housing.
The updated proposals include:
- Their preference for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains – as well as the environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would reduce disruption during construction and potentially decrease visual impacts in more sensitive locations along the new railway. This option would also cost less than full electrification, reducing the need to alter current structures.
- Station upgrades - this includes relocating Bedford St Johns station to the west to better serve Bedford Hospital and providing alternative car parking for staff, patients and visitors. They would also improve Bedford station by building a new station plaza, extra platforms, footbridges and providing replacement car parking, all to give passengers the best possible experience. They are also planning upgrades to Cambridge station and facilities to accommodate four passenger trains per hour, including two new railway tracks next to the West Anglia Main Line from Shepreth Junction to Cambridge Station, a new platform, platform extensions, footbridges and building upgrades. Potential further station enhancements are earmarked for Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village and Bletchley stations, including to parking facilities to meet future demand
- Two options for station options/service patterns for retaining/consolidating stations on the Marston Vale Line – to provide a three-fold increase in services and reduce journey times, options include retaining existing stations in their current locations or consolidating and delivering new stations
- A new station at Tempsford – they have designed two options for a new station at Tempsford
- A new station at Cambourne – they are planning a new station at Cambourne to make it easier and quicker for people to travel into Cambridge. It would also help to bring more people within commuting distance of new jobs in the region, reduce congestion and support the future growth of the town
- A tunnel beneath the A428 and Bourn Airfield development – following public feedback and to reduce the environmental impact of the railway, they plan to build a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel beneath the A428, the proposed Bourn Airfield development and Highfields Road, with associated temporary diversion of the A428 and other local roads
- A tunnel through Chapel Hill, near Haslingfield - this would avoid having to construct a very large cutting, which would require significant construction works and could affect the flight paths of Barbastelle bats which live in the area
- Work to reduce the environmental and construction impacts of our route design – this includes plans to improve the environment in line with their commitment to delivering 10% biodiversity net gain across the whole route
- Train service hours of operation – East West Rail anticipate that passenger services would run between 6am and midnight from Monday to Thursday, between 6am to 1am on Friday and Saturday, and between 7am to 11pm on Sunday.
David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “East West Rail will improve people’s everyday lives by creating more job opportunities, easier and quicker ways to get to work and enjoy days out, and more affordable places to live, while crucially boosting economic growth both across the route and the entire country.
“This is why I’m excited to present our updated proposals, which include electrification to reflect our commitment to running a net zero carbon railway.
“Local authorities and businesses have been calling for this railway for three decades and our revised plans aim to maximise the benefits of the project.
“Our updated proposals have been influenced by the huge number of conversations we’ve had with local people and businesses, and thousands of responses we have had to our last public consultation. I encourage people to read our updated proposals in this consultation, attend one of the public events across the route and share your views to help us refine our designs further so East West Rail can best serve its local communities.”
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “East West Rail will boost access to education and business opportunities while unlocking economic growth and productivity right across the region, including Cambridge’s world-leading life science cluster.
“With these proposals, passengers can get ready for more frequent, faster and greener journeys through an electrified line, demonstrating our drive to deliver infrastructure that is truly fit for the future.
“This consultation marks a significant moment for the project, offering the public an exciting opportunity to shape the development of this transformational line. I encourage local residents and businesses to get involved and have their say.”
Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, the sub-national transport body for the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge region, said: “East West Rail will transform the way people can sustainably access jobs, skills, leisure and housing across the region. Our world class universities, science parks and knowledge-intensive businesses will finally be linked together: fuelling innovation, attracting inward investment, creating prosperity and boosting economic growth.
“The launch of this consultation represents a significant milestone for a project the region has campaigned for over several decades. It is crucial that people now respond to the proposals. We must ensure the scheme to be delivered is planned, built and operated in a way which leaves the best possible legacy for our communities, businesses, environment and wider transport system.”
Image and video credits: East West Rail
