New stations and tunnels revealed in £6bn East West Rail plans

EWR unveiled the updated proposals as part of newly launched public consultation, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed support to the scheme in full in the Autumn budget.

The plans include a new section between Oxford and Bletchley, due to open next year, as well as two tunnels to reduce the environmental impact of the railway.

According to the BBC, the project has been criticised by many local residents and politicians.

In 2019, EWR Co ran a public consultation on the proposals for the Bedford to Cambridge section of the route and found from the more than 7,000 respondents, that ‘environmental impacts and opportunities’ and ‘benefits to transport users’ were the two most important factors.

Transport secretary Louise Haigh has claimed the project is expected to boost the Oxford-Cambridge economy by £6.7 billion per year by 2050.

The new line also aims to bolster the area’s life sciences cluster and enable new housing developments along the route and support up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone.

The updated proposals include:  

• Relocating Bedford St Johns station to the west.
• Improve Bedford station with a new station plaza, extra platforms, footbridges and providing replacement car parking.

• Upgrades to Cambridge station and facilities to accommodate four passenger trains per hour, including two new railway tracks, a new platform, platform extensions, footbridges and building upgrades. 
• Potential station enhancements for Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester Village and Bletchley stations, including parking facilities to meet future demand.
• A new station at Tempsford. 
• A new station at Cambourne. 
• A ‘cut and cover’ tunnel beneath the A428 and Bourn Airfield development. 
• A tunnel through Chapel Hill, near Haslingfield. 
• Work to reduce the environmental and construction impacts of our route design – including delivering 10 per cent biodiversity net gain across the whole route. 

East West Rail Company CEO, David Hughes, said: “The government set out its support for delivering East West Rail in full in the Autumn Budget,

“East West Rail will support the government’s economic growth by providing faster, easier and more reliable journeys, which will improve access to jobs, education and days out. 

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.

“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.”

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