BRTA says it is time to "Bring Back our Tracks and Trains"!

Dear All,

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) is voluntary and belongs to all its members and a growing membership is exactly what we need to enable more and better along with reliable volunteering.

We want a government supported programme of local rail reopenings on a nationwide basis. This does not necessarily require new money, but a switch from spending £billions on new and upgraded roads, which is a hiding to nowhere. Rail offers more and lowers costs. Modal choice enables alternative transport to the cost of car and other vehicle dependency cultures. Walking, cycling, bus and in urban areas, Light Rapid Transit (LRT)/Trams in old words, can play a role in informing environmentally friendly modal shift from road to rail. The continent never got rid of their trams and they have a head-start in developing their networks. In Great Britain, the post-war closures robbed successive generations, places, communities, land use and the environment of genuine clean rail-based choices. Now demand for rail is up and the wanton failure to protect old railway routes, to fail to keep new-build corridors protected and have a programme for progressively re-railing urban, rural and inter-urban rails means locked-in roads-based agendas, polluting communities, informing bloated NHS waiting lists and getting ever slower as volumes of road-based operations grind to a halt. This is not growth or the best Great Britain can do; rather is lazy, lack-lustre and pandering to quick fixes, rather than doing the right thing. Pluralism x Pluralism = More Pluralism; knowing from historical roots of foundational infrastructure rectification systemic issues, enables a springboard to targetedly address key issues; noticeably here to “bring back out tracks and trains” Walking, cycling, and bus can do a role, but do not handle bulk people and goods on the same rail-based infrastructure. Seaside resorts need re-railing, to bring sustainable footfall and spend minus the land use parking demand intrusions. Likewise, as rail demand rises and routes become congested/overcrowded; duplicate routes are needed. One example is Gloucester – Hereford, which would link Reading and all points to Shrewsbury ‘not via Birmingham’ creating paths for existing lines to have more passenger and freight using them as well as serve the des-res tourist hotspot of Ross-on-Wye. BRTA is calling for a study to shore up credentials and route protection to keep options open. The government must not push down money to Local Levels as per cheese to a grater lost in pluralism agendas, rather, if money is delegated downwards, the government must specify and have a switch of agendas to local rail; the Climate Emergency, Public Health, Land use stewardship and the environment is crying out for that systemic change. It must be nationwide. Policy, Planning and agenda resourcing must reflect and rectify the deficit of rail.

BRTA can readily identify some examples, there’s probably more. The process was good with Restore Your Railway scheme, albeit grossly underfunded. The system is too long, complicated and expensive for lay people and complicated maths, deters both aspiration and bothering, leaving worthy potential to the winds of profit before people, laissez-faire and those who targetedly seem to hold a grudge against supporting, funding and work to achieve better rail outcomes.

Please help BRTA achieve its aims; the wellbeing of the nation desperately needs it!

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill, BRTA CEO

ceo@brtarail.com

https://brtarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/ and https://brtarail.com/our-campaigns/ 

BRTA Essex Forum at Witham Saturday 7th November - All Welcome

 The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) is a voluntary membership based association: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

Our membership is open to all and we welcome people to join and help advocate for the causes we believe in. Principally, we want the following:

1. The government to restore the 'Restore Your Railway' fund and procedure to make local rail reopenings of local railways for passenger and possible freight, more amenable, do-able and help check and balance growing congestion, pollution from too much traffic, not enough rail choices and capacity issues on the network.

2. We want the government to inform a nationwide programme of local rail reopenings. The longer they postpone it and the switch of money from new roads to new local-based rail links, the better for the nation and us all. 

3. We are not asking for new money, we know it is tight, but a switch of government priorities which puts people, places, land use, the environment and modal choices to roads at the heart of governmental departments and tiers of governing and planning at all levels. The push for growth without protecting former routes and new routes is catastrophic as it locks in dysfunction, overcrowding and polluting congestion from day one. This must stop, we are not against growth, we want it on a sustainable platform.

In Essex, we wish for support for:

1. Extend the rail link into Stansted eastwards to link with Colchester and/or Braintree to reunited by rail east and west Essex. A new Parkway Station for Great Dunmow could be added. It would ease congestion on the A120 for example and boost existing public transport networks. Stansted is due to grow, but no requirement to invest in extending the railway nor protecting a corridor for a rail eastwards have been set aside amidst huge housing developments bereft of rail access.

2. The Lower Thames Crossing is £11 billion, at a time for many other calls, the government is saying £no money" including local rail reopening agendas. It will link Kent and Essex by road, we have called for it to be a rail-based provision instead, enabling more freight and passenger movements by rail, cutting congestion, pollution and waste. Norwich-Ipswich-Colchester-Chelmsford-Kent and the Channel Tunnel and vice versa sustainable visitorship, footfall and spend could be the real oyster of gain, instead areas will be blighted by congestion, delay and loss of open spaces.

3. A rail link to Maldon is tabled, but some believe an alternative route is possible. We wish to see a study on it and make the case to add to the list of nationwide local links by rail which could make a huge difference to inward footfall and spend to the resort, and easier commuting with less drive time going out.

Our agenda and details are attached and we clome your kind support. Other events appear on our events page on our website: https://brtarail.com/events/ Thank you. ceo@brtarail.com

BRTA Essex Forum (Witham) Saturday 7^th November 2026 starting 1pm food and 2pm business at the Batesford Court, 100-102 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, CM8 1AH 01376-504080 Convenor Simon Barber: admin@brtarail.com 020-8940-4399 and 07522-374740

Agenda.

1.   Appointment of a chairperson

2.   Appointment of a note taker

3.   Introduction to BRTA (3 sentences)

4.   Sign the attendance List

5.   Apologies for absence

6.       Stansted Airport Expansion (to Braintree)

7.       Lower Thames River Crossing 

8.       Maldon Branch reopening – what route, pooling resources for a study and build the case.

9.       East-West Rail including Stansted-Braintree/Colchester?

10.                         Cambridge-Haverhill: Nice idea, is it feasible, demand may be overwhelming, but the practicalities and onwards to Colchester? Direct freight that way to East-West Rail instead of London?

11.                         LT Central Line to Harlow? Does it need a study?

12.                         Existing Rail/Buses issues and services – adequate or discrepancies?

13.                     Any Other Business

14.                     Day, Date and Time for next BRTA Forum at Witham for Essex?

Notes: BRTA is only as good as a growing, contributory and reliable participatory membership informs – please join/donate today! https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

~ Get Essex sustainably moving minus the emissions roads bring! ~

BRTA Press Release 28-10-2026 Northampton-Bedford today, nationwide policy tomorrow?!

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) has welcomed confirmation from Network Rail that discussions, draft proposals and technical work relating to Northampton's future rail connectivity are currently underway as part of wider transport planning.

The confirmation came in response to a Freedom of Information request seeking information concerning potential rail links associated with the proposed Universal Studios UK Resort, East West Rail, Northampton Gateway and the former Northampton-Bedford railway corridor.

In its response, Network Rail stated:

"We hold some of the information you're looking for."

The organisation further confirmed that the request relates to:

"a variety of discussions, draft documents, proposals and other scheme information that are ongoing and which have a bearing on a larger piece of work still in progress."

Although the information has not been released at this stage, Network Rail stated that the material is being withheld because it relates to ongoing work and unfinished proposals.

BRTA Response

Richard Pill, Chief Executive of the British Regional Transport Association, said:

"This response confirms that discussions and technical assessments relevant to Northampton's rail future are taking place. While the documents have not yet been disclosed, it is important that Northampton remains fully represented as these discussions progress.

The proposed Universal Studios UK Resort presents a major opportunity for the wider region. Northampton is one of the largest towns in England and should be fully connected to the economic and transport benefits that emerge from future investment.

The BRTA believes there is a strong case for examining all opportunities to improve east-west connectivity, including proposals linked to East West Rail, Northampton Gateway and the reopening of the Northampton-Bedford railway corridor."

Importance for Northampton

Professor Andrew N. Williams said:

"This response demonstrates that discussions are taking place and that some technical work is underway. While the documents themselves have not been disclosed, it is encouraging that these issues remain under active consideration.

Northampton's residents, businesses and institutions will naturally wish to know whether the county's largest town is being fully integrated into planning for one of the most significant single economic developments in modern British history.

Unless there is bold action leading to significant investment in railway infrastructure serving Northampton, there is a real risk that the town could fail to secure its full share of the economic and transport benefits arising from the project.

The Government has recently committed £1.3 billion towards transport infrastructure associated with the Bedford area and the proposed Universal destination resort. To date, Northampton has seen no equivalent commitment despite its size, strategic location and economic importance.

For many years there have been growing concerns that Northampton has been overlooked in discussions about rail investment despite its strategic location, growing population and economic importance.

Northampton should not be an afterthought. It should be an active participant in conversations about the railway network of the future."

The BRTA is calling upon Network Rail, East West Rail, local authorities, Members of Parliament and central government to ensure Northampton's transport needs are fully considered as future rail investment proposals develop.

Improved rail connectivity has the potential to support economic growth, widen access to employment, reduce dependence on road transport and help ensure that Northamptonshire shares fully in the opportunities arising from major regional developments.

ENDS

Notes to Editors
Freedom of Information Reference: FOI202601914.
Request submitted to Network Rail on 28 September 2026.
The request concerned the proposed Universal Studios UK Resort, East West Rail, Northampton Gateway Strategic Rail Freight Interchange and the former Northampton-Bedford railway corridor.
Network Rail confirmed that it holds relevant information but declined disclosure under Regulation 12(4)(d) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 because the material relates to ongoing work and unfinished proposals.
The British Regional Transport Association campaigns for improved regional rail connectivity and the reopening of strategically important railway routes.
Media Enquiries

British Regional Transport Association (BRTA)
 Email: Richard Pill ceo@brtarail.com and Professor Andrew N. Williams anw@doctors.org.uk 07923 489254

 Website: https://brtarail.com/b2n/

Blogspot: https://brtarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/   

Protecting former rail routes, studying credentials for reopening and not writing off, is essential for more rail-based modal chocies!

 The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) sees and hears the cries of many commuters that it does not take much for the existing rail network across the South East to get overcrowded; one hitch can ripple across the network resulting in delays and cancellations.

With the push for growth through development, without more and better railway infrastructure, duplicate routes and indeed, new routes tapping into new flows and enabling quicker journeys; exacerbation of dysfunction in transport on and off the rails, is highly likely.

We are calling on Government to protect former rail routes to help keep reopening options open and study proposals to explore if there is in fact a case for reopening/new-build and pursue it in the name of modal choices, cutting road building blight and reducing congestion and harmful pollution.

On rail routes to Brighton; Lewes – Uckfield is one; but the push stops short of pursuit of reopening. On the matter of Shoreham-Horsham-Guildford for direct running to/from Reading and Heathrow; getting commitment to route protection and deviation lands as well as studies to make the case (BRTA is not resourced to do so); is what is required to optimise reasonable recovery. National Government has a pivotal role to play and people can email their local MP in support of the BRTA calls: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1

BRTA is voluntary and welcomes members of the public to join and offer to help as volunteers. We welcome all ages and backgrounds as long as people can be reliable, flexible and work with the grain of what we are seeking to achieve.

Please see our website for more: https://brtarail.com/

This is the time for action!

BRTA Update - going forward as a team

 Outlining key challenges - the model repeats. Mind the gap! Northampton faces disenfranchising unless a new rail link to Bedford gets government push, not indifference. Likewise, Bedford-Cambridge rail link, needs a new vote on routing, ours stands as the best. Northern Route unsatisfactory, bypassing Bedford southern route then has Universal blocking it and our route needs editing of 1000 houses at Willington to ensure a twin track railway with electrification can get through. These sorts of issues repeat, failure to protect rail routes and lack of government commitment to treating road and rail fairly; is the root of the problem.

1. BRTA Well Being: We face a mammoth task whilst larger groups like Railfuture and Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) seem to have lost their way somewhat. Laudable to be resourced to publish reports and call conferences, but unless the vital spade work of protecting routes is well peopled, organised and being done nationwide; the effort falls down.

BRTA is under-resourced. Our goals are clear:

a. push as much as we can for a nationwide government supported programme of local rail reopenings, select pieces of new-build and existing rail upgrades and capacity enhancements.

b. a programme of former rail routes, lands and especially where junctions existed, to be protected from non rail related intrusive development. We must have former rail routes and new proposed route corridors kept open for possible future reopening/rebuild. Failure to do that at least adds to cost and upheaval and closed down modal choices in a context of growth, development and exacerbates all the bads of road building agendas and their spin-off consequences and impacts.

2. In order to do that, we need a steady flow of people joining, donating and providing reliable volunteering on fronts we need filling and strengthening BRTA internally with reliable administration, ensuring the Executive Committee on and off line is quorum and ensuring the proper lead-management of the forums, which can play a role, but need proactive follow up, marketing and team building.

3. Update on Campaigns:

a. Great Central Corridor Old Oak Common to Leicester Central: Like all other reopening route options under attack and pressure. It needs a team loosely working together in a coordinated manner. Great need for it, HS2 is not a silver bullet and we ideally need both, and if you, like me, believe conventional rail is essential now, then join in with us to help progress our projects.

b. Gloucester-Ross-on-Wye-Hereford. We need local people to join, take a lead and help usher the feasibility study it needs, protect the remaining corridor and deviation spaces. 

c. Twin Track Rail Bridge across the Severn Estuary, much needed to give more capacity for more by rail. It needs someone to court council and other outlets to support and get a study done.

d. Guildford-Cranleigh-Horsham and Shoreham: West Sussex County Council admit it would be a god-send now, but in the name of encroachments are pursuing a policy of proliferated abandonment and blockages more! Such belligerent beggars belief when all they are doing is adding to congestion, new roads and traffic blight, when they say they want a better environment?! The project needs a team to work on progressing it.

As Campaigns Coordinator, I can give guidance, but I cannot pursue every campaign myself, sorry, but that is unrealistic.

4. Area Reps: You can do your own forums on and off line, recruit members, build a team, delegate down and advance the cordoned agendas as laid out on our website. You don't have to do it all, but doing something, liaising and sending up updates for dissemination, is the minimum we do need please. Everyone needs to be tolerant, able to forgive discrepancies and get on with the tasks set before us conjointly.

Area Reps are needed for North West, East Anglia, West Midlands, West Country (Wilts, Hants, Gloucestershire and Bristol area for example). 

We have 50 members, we need more like 500 members. We will do our bit; but must be a team effort. Organising any 5 people in any constituency to email their MP in support of BRTA is powerful, costs little time and yet if that model is repeated, turns interest more to us.

Thanks very much.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill

BRTA CEO

https://brtarail.com/our-campaigns/ and https://brtarail.com/events/

Re-Rail Dunstable! A commitment is needed.

https://brtarail.com/dunstable/

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) calls for support for re-railing #Dunstable! Much is against it on all sides and ways, but rail delivers footfall, spend and regeneration in its wake which few other options do. Dunstable is caught in a catch 22 whereby Central Bedfordshire Council is too spread out and under resourced to strum up such a vision, pluralism melts when singularity and focus demands dedicated commitment!

In a nut shell, it is a clear choice #Luton (separate Unitary Council) and Dunstable which they need to determine and decide on principally "Busway versus Railway" in modal choices, futures and directions. Busways are cheaper, but do not do bulk, rarely inform modal shift from cars to rubber wheeled buses and concrete renewal is an on-going cost, do bus revenues justify it? That leave Dunstable out on a limb from the rail network and 5 miles to the nearest rail station, is a set back to well-being in numerous ways to get out and go anywhere by rail beyond the mere locked-in 'locals' which buses only agendas inform sadly majoritively?

BRTA would welcome people to join, offer reliable voluntary services and help over a 20 year period nurture policy and practises which move Luton and Dunstable towards a shared rail link re-conversion and benefits shared. It needs a study on confirming the case, why and how and scoping for taking it forward to link Milton Keynes with Luton Parkway Railway Station. Integrated to Thameslink, it offers a bolt-hole off the Midland Main Line (MML) enabling more trains to serve and go through Luton Railway Stations.

Existing stone freight sidings at Luton could be relocated to a new freight servicing depot adjacent to the main line at Sundon, enabling a new 5 track, new under-arch at Hitchin Road Bridge and a duck-under to plough through existing Luton Interchange with a railway - bus shared land space with a new Luton Railway Booking Hall.

BRTA makes suggestions, plants ideas but a study can work up practicals and leaders must decide if the re-railing is a sense of direction our leaders at all levels wish to go over a 20 year plan, relocate, policy and development strategy? National Government has a role too and people can email their local MP's to call for support, research and working up tangible options to give the public a say, a choice and invest for the best outcomes. Contrast this to the staus quo languishing of the two town centres.

Likewise, with growth approved, £billions pour into the profits of London Luton Airport and associates, a portion of that money should be re-directed to invest in re-railing a new Luton-Dunstable-Milton Keynes rail link and an eastward extension via the #Knebworth area to link from the south to #Stevenage and enabling onwards to #Cambridge for excample. Not either Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge versus Milton Keynes-Dunstable-Luton and beyond, we need both, serving different markets, different populations, complementing each other and enabling more by rail, lowering congestion, pollution, ill-health and bringing tangible benefits on and off the rails.

Our diagrams are illustrative of a vision, they need working up to a specification; but our faith and what we hold out, is if taken up and progressed, everyone will benefit from local to regional and integrated to the national too! ceo@brtarail.com  

Bedford-Northampton Rail Campaign: A call for action!

Update 14-10-2026:

BRTA Press Release 14th October 2026

BRTA dismayed at the lack of advocacy at strategic regional planning and transport matters by Northampton Council and Agency Representatives:

Why is Northampton being left out? Why is Northampton not represented at The Forums Meetings? A direct rail link from Northampton to Bedford/Universal and vice versa is needed and we need the councils to speak up and not be silent or withdrawn. That serves no-one!

The British Regional Transport calls on the councils to wade in and get involved:

1. Advocate for a new-build Northampton-Bedford rail link via Brackmills and Bromham Bedford to link with tracks and integrated rail service to Universal, East-West Rail and expanding Luton Airport and vice versa those audiences at a transit end-to-end time of 35 minutes to footfall, spend and regenerate Northampton!

2. Missing out on the action, even though Northampton is part of the Oxbridge Arc, is a failure to represent, serve and advocate for the Northampton interest, a missed opportunity and roads will be strained as with land use parking demand, which otherwise in impact terms would be mitigated.

3. MP Mike Reader has spoken up to Lord Hendy about the Northampton Rail Link angle but Lord Hendy is not showing any interest - he should. It is a once in a generation opportunity to make a lasting fixed rail public transport infrastructure conducive with growth and sustainability; government should be calling in the 93 houses passed to block lands at Bromham wanted for the Northampton rail link to link physically with existing lines north of Bedford.

BRTA CEO Richard Pill says "The development of the national Universal Theme Park and associated developments present a magnetic appeal for visitorship to and from but also employment and supply chain opportunities to the tune of 26, 000 jobs. Government must be lobbied to realise the facility needs better rail access from all directions and should ensure this can be done as a golden opportunity to make growth real for Northampton benefitting from it. Currently Northampton is out on a limb and under-represented. All parties and councils need to coalesce and work together more.

Bedford Areas Traffic is reaching gridlock at times now, so 55, 000 extra visitors per month, will exacerbate unless we get the rail link; a lasting legacy and of national significance; it must not be allowed to be lost in these critical discussions or absence thereof! It is time to update the previous studies."

End Press Release

Contacts: Professor Andrew N. Williams BRTA Northampton Area Rep anw@doctors.org.uk and 

Richard Pill BRTA CEO ceo@brtarail.com 

Webpage: https://brtarail.com/b2n/

https://universallybedford.com/northampton-bedford-rail-reopening-linked-to-universal-resort?fbclid=IwY2xjawU1_VlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMGlLN1FqUDZKcERjQTdOS2VzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSbL7DLk40s0PeoeBdNtd_-CN9azv_8z-BM4ktFcLU_Czh68zqBl8pNbOU0U_aem_KDehJVpKibuA3T8HV5ahAg

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/transport/calls-to-reopen-northampton-to-bedford-railway-line-to-serve-universal-theme-park-and-brackmills-9274237?fbclid=IwY2xjawU0WWlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMGt0NlVUWE1MUlJ0b3JYVGJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeTWWwrMd_jQClrinOdM6sWPIhOcxuzMC-zlsEB6QGp4F1Eax0uPoIh19nceQ_aem_YHI80lR_0bKUKP3akgiArg

BRTA Press Release 06 October 2026

British Regional Transport Association concern for wider rail linkages

to serve Brackmills Industrial Estate and that of the Universal Theme

Park from Northampton.

The BRTA concern is that the current WNCC travel plan may have missed

an important opportunity to secure Government support for assessing

the potential reopening of the Northampton-Bedford railway line. With

the proposed Universal Resort theme park expected to open in 2031,

significant Government investment is already being directed towards

transport infrastructure in the Bedford area. This presents a unique

opportunity to revisit a scheme that could deliver substantial

economic benefits to Northampton and the wider county.

At present, despite the two towns being only 23 miles apart, rail

journeys between Northampton and Bedford typically take between one

and three hours, often requiring multiple changes. By contrast, a 2014

feasibility study concluded that a reopened direct railway could

provide a journey time of approximately 27 minutes.

https://brtarail.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ewr-cs_-cos-_final_report_08-08-2014-2.pdf

Page 64

A direct rail link would significantly improve access between

Northamptonshire and the Universal Resort development. It could help

residents access the estimated 26,000 jobs associated with the scheme,

while also encouraging visitors to use Northampton as a base for

overnight stays and onward travel.

There is also a wider strategic case. Concerns have been raised

regarding the ability of existing rail routes, particularly the

Midland Main Line and West Coast Main Line, to accommodate future

demand generated by the resort. A reopened Northampton-Bedford railway

could provide valuable additional capacity and resilience within the

regional transport network.

Given the national importance attached to the Universal Resort

project, BRTA believes there may be a compelling case for seeking

Government support for a detailed feasibility assessment of reopening

the line. Even a relatively modest investment in a fresh strategic

study could help determine whether this long-standing proposal has a

viable role to play in supporting economic growth across

Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

BRTA would be very grateful for any support individuals,

professionals, businesses and the elected representatives along the

line can give and ideally join or affiliate to BRTA in support:

https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

End

Further comment: Professor Andrew N. Williams BRTA Northampton Area

Rep: 07923 489254 

The go ahead to block the rail route was given by a one vote majority, so very close. End of the B2N Campaign? We never say never, but it is against what we want, let's build BRTA to help save the day elsewhere where we may.

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/people/housing-plan-branded-historical-vandalism-and-failing-bromham-residents-approved-by-just-one-vote-9218417

Thanks to all those who emailed in.

 re: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/93-home-bromham-plan-faces-backlash-over-countryside-loss-and-rail-impacts/

The planning committee at Bedford Borough Council meets tonight - please see the attached.

We have notified councillors and the media of our view. The lack of champions beyond BRTA is underwhelming sadly.

We never say never here, but this is a critical development and set back. 

The wider point is development is being pushed by governments of all tiers, but the rail infrastructure is not being provided and this defaults to more roads and carving up of land, more brownfield and more patterning spiralling up negatively. It is a far cry from sustainability agendas and that is bad for public health and well-being.

Wade in by all means, but we have done our best and will focus elsewhere unless we get a decision that relocates the proposal for this development elsewhere and supports the rail link as much in Bedford and Universals interest!

Join our free email loop/help get us more support, media interviews and members! ceo@brtarail.com