Northampton is central to the heart of England. It is a major logistics centre. It has many well-attended sporting outlets (Rugby, Cricket, Football) as does Bedford (Rugby, Rowing and Athletics)! Northampton has a population growing upwards of a 250, 000 catchment. It will ultimately have access to the Milton Keynes/Bletchley to Oxford corridor and vice versa.
However 2 aspects need a consistent coalition to be built and take up the baton:
1. Northampton-Bedford/Cambridge synergies. Needs updated studies including business cases, engineering aspects, new route avoiding built-up Olney with a new Park and Ride Station for Brackmills and A428/A509 interfaces and access into existing rails and networks at both Northampton and Bedford ends. East-West Rail proposes a rail route North of Bedford to the East for Cambridge and wider East Anglia and those audiences to Bedford and onwards to Oxford and vice versa. Suitability for freight (revenue) is yet to be determined. Northampton currently will have no direct rail link to this Bedford-Cambridge rail line. It should! Northampton-Bedford would however, plug Northampton and the trajectory to the West Midlands direct to Bedford, Wixams new station for Universal Theme Park (courting 8-million people per year/opens 2031), Luton Airport, London St Pancras Eurostar and the wide South East Thameslink Rail Network and all those audiences to Northampton! What could it do (footfall and spend minus road traffic congestion and pollution?) and much more. It needs an updated study and new routing options determined. Then a coalition to bring key outlets and people together and move it towards both inclusion and delivery within a 10 year time-frame.
2. Northampton-Market Harborough for Leicester, East Midlands and beyond and those audiences to Northampton as well as a Cross Country rail route linking East Midlands say Nottingham, with Northampton, Milton Keynes Central, Bletchley for Oxford, Reading, Bristol and Cardiff and those audiences by rail, to Northampton, lifting congestion on the A43 for example and M1?
There surely must be something in it making it worth a study update and lobbying to get the government to demand designs for a new Bedford-Cambridge railway include a direct link from a Northampton to Bedford new rail link to onwards for Cambridge etc, ideally from day one?
That is what BRTA is seeking and is supporting. We welcome you to join us and help take the vision forward. Leadership and champions are called for please.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Pill
CEO of the British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) For background reading:
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