Bedford, East-West Rail, Northampton Station and radial rails under attack by dithering otherly government!

03-12-2025 Update:

re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxiOp1RhExc

FYI - please click the link and get the latest. Does it mention suitability of the northern route for freight? Does the closure of 4 stations between Bedford and Bletchley mean the end of local shuttle service serving rural communities which are growing and reliant on the railway? No mention of a Claydon Station, no mention of a Bletchley West Station (Newton Longville area) and what of the Aylesbury link - parked up, but should be there from day one surely? Physical lines linking the main north-south railway north of Tempsford are needed for Peterborough, East Beds and Stevenage to Bedford and the Oxford corridor a likewise Huntingdon to Addenbrookes (Cambridge South) and does Cambridge East new station mean end of stations aspirations for Fulbourn and Cherry Hinton? Food for thought. Although our route east of Bedford via St John's is rejected, the corridor should be protected as a back-up and default or even an extra. Do not forget 40, 000 + new town at Tempsford - will it get a new A&E Hospital (Bedford and elsewhere existing are at capacity)? All food for thought - enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxiOp1RhExc Indeed, 2031 is when Oxford-Bedford services arrive, Bedford-Cambridge Northern Route has no opening date as yet declared; so the 8-coach trains will need baying until the through tracks are implemented; so our option remains but the threat of 1000 houses west of Willington Bedford, will block our preferred route option, we have no champions for it and as night follows day, when the line at 1984 St Johns in moved towards the west nearer Bedford Hospital, that brownfield land again will probably be swallowed up by social housing or whatever. All change!

BRTA believes Conductor Guard should be on the trains, as the recent incident at Huntingdon found staff on a train very useful and led in helping passenger. They can in other contexts collect fares, give information, double up security and alert the BTP is required. Reassuring passengers in these fraught times, means more trust in the railways and likelihood of more demand, not less. If we wish to save time and queues, close barriers, cut penalty fares and have a broader approach to concessions. Indeed someone suggested free 10pm-5am travel by rail to create more day-time capacity and boost night-time economies? If you agree, let your MP know: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1 BRTA continues to engage and your membership or a donation is exactly how to bolster our endeavours please and keep the wheels turning sustainably: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

18-10-25 West Northamptonshire Unitary Council will deliberate 23rd October 2025: please object, email your local MP and engage, giving BRTA support: 

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/council/major-plans-to-redevelop-area-around-northampton-railway-station-with-new-multi-storey-car-park-homes-and-a-hotel-set-to-be-approved-5359361

re: https://www.derehamtimes.co.uk/news/25540683.call-norwich-oxford-rail-link-suffers-knockback/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1760786919

The Minister has spoken! In Norwich of all places, not Westminster! Oxford-Cambridge should be a top priority for delivery now as per Colne-Skipton in the north of England.

Oxford-Milton Keynes is delayed and the Aylesbury link for access between Old Oak Common (OOC) and Milton Keynes//Bedford.

Bedford-Cambridge has 3 routes, a Northern Route E requiring 60 houses be knocked down, the old route with new-build north of Blunham to Tempsford - now under threat from a new 1000 houses development sandwiched between a country park, flood plain and the village of Willington east of Bedford: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/major-development-submitted-for-1000-homes-at-bedford-river-valley-park/ BRTA submitted an objection but was blocked by the Planning Department for some unknown reason, but customer services said they would pass the email on, we live in hope! This development would block our route and deviation land around Willington.

Then there is a southern route avoiding Bedford Midland completely. It would disenfranchise non car users, deter car users from bothering with the train, make Bedford-Bletchley/Oxford trains possibly avoid Bedford Midland and cause as many problems and spiralling costs as to make the government use it as an excuse to back out, despite finding £9billion for the Lower Thames Road Crossing between Kent and Essex - it is about values, priorities and not playing pluralism games with rail as the expedient pastry trim to ensure pie fits the proverbial bowl and cloth the proverbial table!

We ask supporters of BRTA and our route to email their MP's and ask them to support Oxford and beyond now and ensure it is properly done, budgeted for and that our route east of Bedford is chosen and included in any new consultations. 2050 is too late as to make anyone under 40 cynical and that is working well, whereas a 10 years 'all done' and 'inclusive' priority, would galvanise investment now and boost growth, jobs and sustainability if delivered as a matter of priority: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1 Please email your MP asap in support of our calls. Please see attached for Bedford Elected Mayor as well. There's massive support for the idea of an Oxbridge rail link and others and it is the fine detail and absence of leadership-champions which is the problem.

Meanwhile, our route enables west to north access and vice versa from the east, for Midland Main Line North and any new-build Bedford-Northampton (for Rugby and Birmingham) synergies by rail for passenger and freight operations, but plans and developments want to use rail land for other non-rail purposes, when even with existing increases in passengers, population and freight by rail, demands more land is used for platform, tracks and more capacity, not developed on by non-rail plans. 

That elected representatives seem to be detached to a degree and play the sympathy card for 60 houses north of Bedford to be demolished but fail to step up in support of our route, informs a deficit and defaults to Northern Route at the same time.

We need all the help we can get, as the rail interest is under attack and congestion in urban locations is getting worse, polluting our air, damaging health and detracting from the quality of life, ambience and cost-saving of more freight by rail, our nation deserves. Enquiries via info@brtarail.com

In short, we are the voice, you are the power! Thank you.