East-West Rail, Consultation and controversy! Save the Marston Vales local halt stations and shuttle service!

 I'm cutting and pasting here! 17-11-24

Latest plans for EWR published. Major organised opposition on Bedford -Cambridge section. Mush could have been reduced if N/Rail's proposal for extra platform on MML at Bedford had been accepted. Marston Vale line and Bicester? Sec of State at Bletchley today. OBRAC is not directly involved as is Oxford/Aylesbury focussed.

Stations could shut on part of East West Rail line

Image source,Network Rail

East West Rail is asking the public for its views on the project

 

Laura Foster

BBC News, Bedfordshire

• Published   2 hours ago

A number of stations on the railway between Bletchley and Bedford could be closed under proposals for the East West Rail (EWR) line.

EWR said a number of stations may need to be consolidated or built to offer more services.

Trains only began running again on the Marston Vale line a year ago after a maintenance firm went bust.

A 10-week consultation on the plans,, external which could also see changes to stations in Bedford and more financial support for landowners, is under way.

EWR aims to create a railway connecting Oxford to Cambridge, via Milton Keynes and Bedford. The section between Oxford and Bletchley is due to open next year.

The project has been criticised by many local residents and politicians, but was given its backing by the government in the autumn Budget.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "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.

"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 railway line is being built in sections over a number of years

 

Under the current proposals, there would be up to four trains per hour.

EWR said it expected them to run 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.

Under the proposals, stations at Bedford and Bletchley would be upgraded, although Bedford St John's would be moved closer to the town's hospital - onto the former Midland Railway’s Bedford – Hitchin alignment.

But it could mean changes for the other stations on the Marston Vale Line. A new development at Stewartby (on the former brickworks site) and the Universal Studios proposal nearby at Kempston Hardwick, may also affect any likely station relocation proposaals.

Option one involves retaining the existing 12 stations in their current locations, but option two would mean building new combined stations.

Which ones would be closed and where the new ones would be built is not clear.

But EWR stated that changes to this section would provide "a three-fold increase in services and reduce journey times".

The line will provide a direct link between the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge

 

EWR said it would also be giving extra financial help to anyone whose land was affected via the proposals, in the form of "statutory blight provisions".

It said this was in addition to the Need to Sell Property Scheme, external, for people who have seen the value of their homes depreciate because of the proposals.

• What is happening with East West Rail?

 

A survey held earlier this year suggested 75% of people in Bedford supported the rail project.

Martin Yemm, who lives in Chawston and represented a campaign group on the matter, was one of the people surveyed.

Speaking in February, he told 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."

Proposals for the Cambridgeshire section of the route and options for the new station at Tempsford have also been announced.

The consultation on the updated proposals run for 10 weeks, from 14 November to 24 January.

You can take part online, external or attend one of the 16 drop-in events that are being held.

The BRTA Response:

BRTA is opposed to closure of any halts on the MVR LIne. We want to see the local shuttle retained and East-West Rail semi-fasts on the back of it, not instead! Likewise we want to see the local line electrified and then freight from Watford and beyond to Corby could be done with a single electric locomotive, bringing efficiencies. Indeed a 2001 study showed were an extra station at the Retail Park Kempston was added, an extra 100 passengers per day would be added boosting ticket sales. 1 hour end-to-end local shuttle, feeding in at both ends. On Oxford-Bletchley we want a Bletchley West/Newton Longville Station, a Claydon Parkway and Islip not to be closed, but fully integrated with fast and slow trains respectively. It must be a people, community and environment central to decision making and railway identity, not top-down superimposed. 

We are disappointed the Mayor of Bedford does not seem to be engaging with us nor singing with Richard Fuller MP for our route east of Bedford via St John's. That means tweaking around a single route north of Bedford, rather than giving people a choice of routes and allowing them to decide and politicians getting behind it. Some may think the BRTA view is wrong, but greater fantasy is a railway at any cost, steep gradients, expensive tunnels, rather than taking ORR to court and demanding special dispensation for one or two level crossings, which is hindering many local reopenings around the country?

We all need to rally to have a decent East-West Rail, but not throw away the shuttle between Bedford and Bletchley. Owen O'Neil says few are using it, can you not understand the constant casualty of driver shortages and bus substitutes at last minute notice, will deter relying on the train and dent figures? Please let's rally round and support our local railway being retained. 150 Kimberley College students per day need Stewartby right side of the village, Universal Theme Park for an upgraded Kempston Hardwick Station respectively, not merged near a busy access road with many lorry movements for youngsters to navigate?

I know some of us have had and do have our differences, but we do need a railway east-west and it is only Bedford-Tempsford which is disputed on route and practical grounds, not the idea as a whole. Andrew Long emailed me to say all rail groups wanted the Northern Route, but I dispute that when no alternative is being presented to the public since the 2019 consultation. Yet our route more or less was 'in' from 1995-2017! Please let me have your views. 

Please give us your support when responding to the consultation: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024

Join our email loop for updates and other rail-based news: richard.brta@gmail.com

See also: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/news/2024/bedford-borough-council-gives-clearer-insight-future-east-west-rail-routes

Mid Wales Rail Crisis? It can be resolved amicably by balancing investment around Cardiff to be equitable to rural heartlands too?

re: https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/24699551.knighton-meeting-future-heart-wales-line/

1. This line has been deprived of upgrades and investment as per the Cambrian Network.

2. It could do more if upgraded with double track and through originating journeys starting like Swansea to Shrewbury and maybe onwards to Manchester Airport?

3. There is a feeling that The Welsh Assembly is Cardiff centric. Understandable from an electoral point of view, but other places suffer like Swansea by capacity into Cardiff and outwards - better rail links and options are needed.

Upgrading Heart of Wales line to a modern operational standard, means faster speeds/consistency and a diversity of all stopping trains and faster semi-fast principal end-to-end operations and routing freight too/looking at local sourced freight potential and not container views only, but smaller loads like post, parcels and pallets for example and designing rolling stock to do it all/be more versatile/bikes, prams, buggies and more!

4. Do stations need upgrade

- parking, coffee shops, post offices, utilising space and buildings, toilets, hotels for visitorship? It needs looking at study, scope and on-the-ground.

Maybe also a study of a Mid Wales rail link like Carmarthen - Aberystwyth (new build with modifications) to enable West Wales to be doing more business and also a link between Cambrian and Builth Wells with curves to link the lines for diverse audiences and better access. Cost? Yes, so build the coalitions and treat it like Cardiff Metro and realise unless a positive way forward can be hatched, models and grades of ideas can be adapted, closure could be a cost-laden result too? However, you have to see going forward with rail means less traffic on roads, less road upgrades (intrusion/land take), better preservation of rural tranquility and a more versatile balance?

How much of West Wales can sustain an all-year-round rail-based access hotel accommodation? Self catering, camping or top notch fine, but family hotel access seems lacking, has Barmouth got a hotel still? Is there a new-flow opportunity there? Access and timings are critical, but rail offers more than roads, but price and accessibility have to be balanced.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Builth+Wells/@52.1509258,-3.4166899,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x486fc415bd5dd3f9:0x41ded9e4c6fc6007!8m2!3d52.150023!4d-3.404592!16zL20vMDJ4bTJo?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

What you can do:

1. Write to ylour MP in support of what we are saying: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

2. Email the 'Cardiff Centric' Welsh Assembly: https://senedd.wales/find-a-member-of-the-senedd/

3. Join BRTA: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

Should they meet at Llandudno, Machynlleth and Swansea to get a better appreciation?!

Only by a growing membership, can BRTA resource financially and humanly, getting more and better. It needs us all to work together, to make the breakthroughs more. If you wish to be emailed on Welsh rail matters and forums, please send to richard.brta@gmail.com

BRTA's Vision for the Weat Midlands, grow radial and orbital rail links to enable more by rail!

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA), a voluntary association seeking more, better and affordable public transport. Local rail solutions and local reopenings and select pieces of new-build as well are main focuses. We have a nationwide vision and aspiration. We are always seeking champions, promoters, voluntary speakers at meetings and network accordingly for progressing things.

We support the following for the West Midlands:

1. Orbital rail links with parkway stations for London, Birmningham and Manchester to enable more and better without clustering on core radial main lines.

2. Stratford upon Avon - Long Marston for second Oxford-Birmingham route and also a south to west curve onto the Cotswold Line to bring Evesham and link arcingly to Worcester from eastern Birmingham in wrap around terms. Useful for freight by rail and growth and commuting patterning.

3. Rugby-Leicester needs a new-build rail link serving Lutterworth (growth area) and Magna Park, one of the biggest industrial parks in Europe without rail access. Potential is there, if not re-railed focuses into and out of Birmingham which congests roads and rails more. Capacity is needed, on the back of restoring some missing gaps in the network.

4. A study for Bridgnorth to Shrewsbury 'new-build' for western flank of Birmingham orbital rail using Severn Valley Railway. Surely an arrangement for paths could be done if a through route were feasibly to be recovered?

5. Rebuild a new Stratford upon Avon-Cheltenham rail link. Lickey Incline south of Birmingham is inadequate for long, heavy freight rains, but apart from more roads (bad), it is all there is currently. Stratford upon Avon-Cheltenham would give more capacity, gentler gradients and enable more by rail spread and scope. It needs studying, solutions of problems resolved and cross-border working. Too many places are taking insular and parochial outlooks, when we need more than ever a nationwide and regional vision starting at the grassroots upwards and outwards."

Plus

"What you can do"

1. Join BRTA and give us your support

2. Write to your local MP: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

3. Write/email the Elected Mayor for the West Midlands: https://governance.wmca.org.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=2555

BRTA Northampton Forum Public Meeting 09-11-24 - All welcome/admission free

Update and minutes from 21-11-24:

BRTA Northampton Forum Public Meeting Minutes held at Northampton Quakers 09-11-24 14.00 start.
 
Present: Mike Reader MP (Northampton South Constituency). Simon Barber, Professor Andrew N. Williams, David Ferguson, Richard Pill, Tim Page, and Mike Macmain.
 
1.             Apologies: Pat Mayall (BRTA Member), Jan Hall of Thomas Fund for Northampton.
2.             Mike Reader MP said he had previously studied engineering at Loughborough University focusing on human aspects and flooding, civil engineering progressed to Severn Trent Water. He did public bodies projects, and then the Criminal Justice Centre (CJC), SCAPE procurement body, Pick Everard the MACE including transport and global UK arcing. He was a lead for the Hudson Tunnel in USA and did Iceland and Saudi Arabia. He was elected for Northampton South Constituency in the July 4^th General Election 2024. He regretted that former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had cancelled the Crewe arm of HS2 which he worked on, but now the new government has confirmed the Euston southern terminal and revising the Crewe option. This brings in the need the retain corridors and land for rail purposes. He said HS2 will bring capacity creation. On buses he reminded us that the £2 cap had risen to £3 but better than full fares. Housing and infrastructure are key focuses of his. Louise Haigh is the new Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Philip Hendy (Transport Rail Minister) has a son who works at MACE. Mike is also a member of the Labour Infrastructure Forum. His pet agendas are roads, rail, buses. He said “Northampton has the worst air quality problem.” And that we need to “decarbonise logistics” (Northampton area being a main hub for it). Mike Reader MP is also on the Northampton Forward Board. Rail Stations, in particular Northampton need reform. * (see notes). As far as Northampton Station is concerned, the MP is looking at more multi-modal interchange potential with more and better parking and bus integrations. Rails to Brackmills Industrial Estate from Northampton Castle Station (see note 4) and road improvements in the Pine ham area (Pro Logis mentioned).
On Northampton to Market Harborough (N2MH) rail link, the MP said “I fully back it”. He also said he supports a Northampton-Old Oak Common (OOC) – which has connections with HS2, Heathrow/Elizabethan Line and GWR Servings to Reading and beyond. This would be Northampton-Milton Keynes-Aylesbury-Old Oak Common. See note 5. Tackling the agencies to show more interest and support like SEMLEP and successor organisations, EEH, Midlands Connect and especially West Northants Council to tango more with us and the project. Mr Reader was actually in charge of the Birmingham to Crewe HS2 link section and had given 3 years of his life to it when it was cancelled by Rishi Sunak.
 
3.     Questions and Answers (Q&A):
a.     A question about a southern curve off the A14 south to Northampton on the M1 would be useful. MP replied it is in Stuart Andrew MP Daventry area, may be best to write to on it. His constituency and other MP’s along N2MH cover the line, about 4-5 MP’s and it would be good to have them working collectively to support N2MH and making joint representations to get a coalition/consortium buying into the idea.
b.     Another question/comment was that the hard sell to everyone was the Northampton Northern Relief Road would solve congestion, but congestion and air pollution claims 100+ lives a year, is getting worse, development goes in but no new rail links and satellite stations and time is running out on land-use options. There is a need to recover the rail corridor from the impact of the ring road; bridge or level crossing. Council priorities and that of government need to turn from roads prioritising to rail agendas for traffic relief. Roads as a panacea have been hard-sold for decades as ‘the answer’ to regeneration, it has not worked, rail can sustainably deliver results.
c.      Comments were raised on re-railing Brackmills. Basically, reconnecting the Brackmills Branch to the main lines south of Platform 1 (current) to London Road, would enable a 12-coach/long train siding and triangle run around for passenger and freight use – waitover off the main lines and would be a first step to make reopening to Brackmills (useful for getting workers to the estate and potential freight - needs canvassing) and lower future upgrade costs. London Road needs a level crossing or road bridge (hard in confines of listed buildings adjacent to it – so an Officer for Road and Rail (ORR) needs ‘special dispensation.’
4.     Professor Andrew N. Williams:
a.     City status for Northampton
b.     Northampton has a rich history
c.      It is a major growing principal conurbation and place.
d.     It has some of the poorest places to do by rail for a place of its size and needs expanded rail options.
e.     N2MH would bring more jobs and investment to the area.
f.       N2MH would reduce 103 per annum deaths through air pollution mainly from tyres and exhaust from fossil fuel burning vehicles. (see notes)
g.     N2MH would also reduce poverty with more opportunities and sustainability agendas.
h.     Leicester/Market Harborough 35 minutes each way transit times.
 
5.     Response: MP Mike Reader asked for:
a.     A list of people/outlets he should write to (to be provided).
b.     List of councils on the line (N2MH).
c.      Fellow MP’s
d.     Naomi Green (England’s Economic Heartlands/EEH)
e.     Compile a one-pager outline on the scheme (see also: https://brtarail.com/n2mh/
f.       Other: send link of brochure to Mike Reader MP.
6.     Simon Barber Consultations:
a.     2040 Consultation West Northants Unitary Council
b.     Local Plan 2024
c.      3 years ago, Strategic Plan 2050.
People need to be vigilant and engage with planning applications, studies, and consultations to optimise outcomes for the rail agenda.
7.     Station Stall for BRTA at Northampton Railway Station. Simon to write to London North Western again and Richard to ask the MP Mike Reader to see what is reasonable, even a noticeboard space to enable BRTA/N2MH to engage with active rail users.
8.     Local Elections:
a.     List of candidates, for engagement
b.     Emails is all we can afford, saves cost of printing and postage.
9.     Roade Station: Simon and David to arrange a date at the pub for a forum and to market it to discuss the station idea. Bogus view of single platform for the station, it must be 2 platforms on two slow lines with parking and a decent road access. Richard to notify Parish Councillors when a date is notified to him. 2025 sometime. Limited leafleting.
10.Any Other Business: Northampton-Lamport Railway doing sterling work and we have no problem with them.
11.Date of next meeting (to be announced): Market Harborough subject to no-cost-to-BRTA Market Harborough April Saturday in 2025. Then Northampton later in 2025 at same venue (Quakers) similar format. MH meeting to be asked to invite the local MH MP and other forums to loop in and invite other MPs to attend.
Meeting closed 15.45pm
 
Notes:
1.     It may be worth talking to Chris Wragg at West Northamptonshire Council – been around a long time and has professional knowledge on transport and planning.
2.     Northampton Forward Board: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/regeneration/northampton-forward
3.     Station Reforms: must not be a purely car capacity parking and aesthetical exercise. Northampton needs:
a.     More capacity tracks to enable through freight trains to get through without conflicting with passenger movements and platform capacity/access
b.     A study is needed for a new twin platform on the slow line station at Roade (south of Northampton) which would act as a relief/time saver for rail users from Hunsbury southwards, avoiding the need to drive into Northampton for accessing rail services. Current talk in closer to Northampton on the loop or Blisworth further out, whereas Roade serves and intercepts both lines potentially. Wixams Station (South of Bedford is estimated to be upwards of £20 million): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nger6lk83o#:~:text=On%20Wednesday%20Bedford%20Borough%20Council,Conservative%20councillor%20Graeme%20Coombes%20said.
4.           BRTA supports a study into a new rail route linking Northampton with Bedford. Studies were done independently from 2001 to 2003, latter government funded. It, with Bedford-Cambridge were long-grassed by Rt Hon. Alistair Darling as Secretary of State for Transport, Bedford-Cambridge revived by East-West Rail, Northampton-Bedford long grassed/lacked such an organisational champion. However, Thameslink does Brighton-Bedford, serves at least 2 airports and Eurostar St Pancras, Northampton-Birmingham has many connections also. The gap is Northampton-Bedford a 21.5-mile gap. Relaying to Brackmills, would go on to serve Great Houghton thence tunnel under Castle Ashby lower estate, south of Yardley Hastings, new station to serve the A428/A509 intersection area, under or northern arcing of Lavendon and then towards the former trackbed/Stevington Walk to a new flyover to the slow lines on the Midland Main Line and into Bedford Midland. Bedford Borough Council wrote to Northampton Council about protecting the rail route when development threatened it via the Ransome Road/Delapre Abbey developments. BRTA is concerned to be assured the land saved will have sufficient width for a double track railway (new rebuild) with 25 KV electrification for continuum. This would bring Thameslink to Northampton, enable faster access (study indicated 35 minutes transit times end-to-end Northampton to Bedford serving 2 stations). It would also enable a Birmingham-Northampton-Bedford-Cambridge South Midlands rail corridor, handy for cross-country rail passengers and freight potentially. It needs route studies to identify options (Olney is majorly blocked with no deviation enablement) and work updating the business case, courting and round tabling of interested parties including East-West Rail and that consortium taking it forward. See page 64 of this report: https://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ewr-cs_-_cos_-_final_report_08-08-2014.pdf Northampton is a large place worthy of City Status and should be rail-connected as a ‘Y’ on its side, with Oxford, Cambridge via Bedford.
5.     Northampton-Market Harborough (N2MH) means a 35-minute end-to-end transit between Northampton and Leicester. A perfect complement to OOC-Northampton linking in the East Midlands areas as well, making Northampton pivotal on a new rail corridor! Such rail links would give more options to use rail and boost regenerative footfall and spend for the town centre.

6.     Northampton air pollution: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-66939602

BRTA Northampton Forum and Public Meeting –

Saturday 9 November 2024 2pm - 4pm business,

Venue:  The Emmeline Davis Room (upstairs), Northampton Quaker Meeting House, Wellington St, Northampton NN1 3AS https://northamptonshirequakers.org/ Note, parking is limited!

 

Agenda

1.              Apologies for absence

2.              Mike Reader MP, Northampton South, a few words of introduction, being in government, transport, and local issues, followed by Q&A.

3.              Update on N2MH* by Professor Andrew N. Williams followed by discussion and the next steps N2MH Project

4.              Local Plans (Simon Barber) and what they said on rail generally and specifically.

5.              Bedford-Northampton – is there any hope?

a.              Ransome Road: Has development curtailed 25KV access to Northampton?

b.              Do we agree the new-build route from Great Houghton-Stevington Walk via Yardley Hastings, A509/A428 Roundabout vicinity and tunnel under Lavendon/bypass it? It needs an updated study and collaboration with other councils and agencies. Does it make any sense to block the access into Northampton Castle Station* or to go south, change at Bletchley to come east to get to Bedford and Cambridge/East Anglia by rail, when Bedford-Northampton enables direct 35-minute transit to Bedford studies have shown. That is sustainable footfall for Northampton/regeneration!

6. Station Stall at Northampton plus other outlets/Umbrella Fair reports/volunteers/helpers needed.

7. Local Elections 2025

8. Roade Station scope

9. Any Other Business

10. Day, Date, Time, and Place of Next Meeting: Suggested 1^st or 2^nd Saturday in April 2025 at Market Harborough Methodist Hall with Cllr James? Maybe their local MP as a front-line speaker also and someone from the Harborough District Council plans?

 

Notes:

1.                       BRTA personnel will meet at The Cordwainer, The Ridings, Northampton, Northants. NN1 2AQ
Venue Website: https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/northamptonshire/the-cordwainer-northampton
Venue Phone: 01604 -609000 For lunch at 12 Noon, proceeding to set up the room at 1pm for a 2pm start.

2.                      No eating at the venue.

3.                      For further information please contact Simon Barber, 20 Fitzherbert House, Kingsmead, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6HT
Email address:  simon4barber@gmail.com
Phone (landline): 020-8940-4399
Phone (mobile): 07522-374740

4.                      Please bring some cash to BRTA events and stalls so you can join, peruse our second-hand books and magazines, or donate.

5.                      *N2MH stands for Northampton to Market Harborough Rail Link Project! Northampton to Leicester/East Midlands and vice versa in just 35 minutes end-to-end time.

6.                      These timings are approximate and agenda subject to review.

7.                      BRTA wants political and council support as well as that of the public. These projects are not just a ‘local’ matter, they have regional significance.

8.                      Northampton Castle Station needs more tracks for through freight and platform access for more trains to call at Northampton. Say a 10-year time-frame, it needs planning now as per any additional satellite stations like North of Northampton and Roade Parkway for example. Latter has a new A508 bypass, but no rail access, despite being at the gateway to the 2 lines northwards merging going southwards! Milton Keynes is not a 10-minute drive, Northampton a costly, time-consuming drive to come south by rail! Development is going in without these infrastructures and the result is unsustainability on any front from air quality, public health, and socio-economic performance. These rail links would sustainably help!

E. richard.brta@gmail.com