East West Rail plans could lead to station closures between Bletchley and Bedford

Plans for the East West Rail (EWR) line suggest the potential closure of several stations situated along the railway segment connecting Bletchley and Bedford. EWR indicated that consolidating or constructing new stations might be necessary to facilitate an increased number of services. Operations on the Marston Vale line recommenced merely a year prior, following the collapse of a maintenance company. A 10-week public consultation period regarding these proposals, which also encompass potential modifications to stations in Bedford and enhanced financial assistance for landowners, has commenced. The objective of EWR is to establish a railway link spanning from Oxford to Cambridge, passing through Milton Keynes and Bedford. The segment between Oxford and Bletchley is scheduled to become operational next year. Despite receiving criticism from numerous local residents and politicians, the government endorsed the project within the autumn Budget. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stated: “More than £6bn in economic growth, 28,000 new jobs and tens of thousands of new homes are just some of the benefits East West Rail will deliver.” She added: “Today marks a major milestone for the project as we encourage communities to have their say on this transformational line that will offer so much more than simply getting people from A to B.” The existing proposals outline a service frequency of up to four trains every hour. EWR indicated that these services are anticipated to operate from 06:00-00:00 Monday – Thursday, from 06:00 – 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and between 07:00 and 23:00 on Sundays. The proposals include upgrades for stations at Bedford and Bletchley, with Bedford St John’s specifically slated for relocation nearer to the town’s hospital. However, this could entail alterations for the remaining stations situated on the Marston Vale Line. One option involves maintaining the current 12 stations at their present sites, while a second option proposes the construction of new, consolidated stations. The specific stations designated for closure and the locations for new constructions remain undetermined. Nevertheless, EWR affirmed that modifications to this particular section would result in “a three-fold increase in services and reduce journey times”. EWR also stated its intention to offer additional financial assistance to individuals whose land is impacted by the proposals, through “statutory blight provisions”. This aid, it clarified, would supplement the Need to Sell Property Scheme, which assists individuals whose property values have declined due to the proposals. A poll conducted earlier this year indicated that 75% of residents in Bedford expressed support for the rail project. Martin Yemm, a resident of Chawston and a representative for a campaign group concerning the issue, was among those surveyed. In February, he informed the BBC: “I find time and time again that you make a comment, that is then misconstrued completely and you get given an answer to something totally different.” Additionally, proposals for the Cambridgeshire segment of the route and potential designs for the new Tempsford station have been unveiled. The consultation period for these revised proposals spans 10 weeks, commencing on 14 November and concluding on 24 January. Participation is available online or by attending one of the 16 scheduled drop-in events. For updates on Beds, Herts and Bucks news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.