Bedford East West Rail and Thameslink Meeting 01-03-2025

 Bedford East West Rail and Thameslink Meeting 01-03-2025

Key feedback points were:

1. East West Rail Northern Route leaves much to be desired and a feeling they are not listening. If their route flounders, they have only themselves to blame and by which time, our route will probably be built over. Problems with our route is ORR’s ruling against new-build Level Crossings and a lack of champions at strategic or council level. The southern route bypassing the town centre station, would mainly be Park and Ride and disenfranchise swathes of people who do not drive. However, if it is found Heathrow Third Runway is unpopular and defeated, but capacity and spreading out more from the heated South East is required, any consideration of Thurleigh as a London 4th Airport, would not be served by the current East-West Rail Link which in tunnel would serve no-one but end-to-end users but for Tempsford Station, which without physical rail links, and incremental sprawl development locks out connectivity and optimal operations for winning to rail from further afield like York, Peterborough and in-between from the north and Stevenage, East Bedfordshire from the south. Direct travel is better than changing in the middle of a housing estate bereft of infrastructure!

2. Buses need to loop the bus and rail stations as a part of overall journeys. If the corner going towards Greyfriars off Ashburnham Road is a problem, which the current No. 41 bus manages, then loop out via Midland Road to Ashburnham Road and back via Bromham Road and Hassett Street for example. Not rocket science, but needs a determined effort and lead. Pre-privatisation the 108 to Clapham did for example. But it has been a 40-year gap and orbital buses out of the station to/from rural areas and indeed serving Tavistock Street and the High Street could boost spread of footfall and spend.

3. Concerns at blurring kerbside with pavement space and roads. The St Paul’s Square project may look aesthetically nice, but scooters and bikes on pavements has become a hazard for pedestrians, especially disabled, partially sighted, and elderly people who are taken by surprise, shocked and disturbed at pedestrian space being disregarded.

4. East-West Rail puts a spin on more rail usership coming to Bedford Midland and rightly so. But a new trainshed for passengers of a larger size, more retain outlets for affordable snacks and quality food like St Albans has, buses linking with the railway and better disabled ramps at the front not sidelined and toilets likewise should all be considered. On the railway, Thameslink offers a comprehensive network and was reminded of Pre-Privatisation Network South East used to have a Rail Day whereby people could use the railway free for a day and with the arcing rail link between Bedford and Oxford, could really draw many hearts, minds and users back to the railways. Likewise extending Thameslink to Corby and cascading East Midlands Trains should focus on a. better corridor rolling stock, b. longer trains, c. a seamless single journey between Bedford and Leicester and d. one direct train from Bedford to Leeds. Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and indeed Carlisle should all be served by East Midlands from Bedford without changing trains. Reopening Matlock to Buxton/Chinley for East Midlands-Manchester rail journeys should also be facilitated without change of trains anywhere. Generally, councils have constrained budgets but need to talk and work with us to focus on key projects more. Bedford-Bletchley needs upgrading and better rolling stock, longer trains and good quality facilities. The year-on year fare increases across the rail network is another bug-bear. 18+ ages need concessionary bus and rail cards, as cost of living, acces to court work, welfare curtailments and leaving home arcing’s all means high costs and low incomes leave gaps which cannot be filled easily. So we need outlets bringing together and creatively tackled to enable more and quality of life experiences on and off the rails to be people, places and society cohesively nurtured.

5. Our impression from the meeting was that many are aware and moves to these ends understood. Now the map, plan and implementation carrying people and users with us is also highly desired.