The Government has given the Theme Park the go ahead. Now the real work begins. 2031 opening (?) and the main line railway station east side and the revamped East-West Rail Station at Kempston Hardwick (incorporating Stewartby?) on the northern flank - will Bedford-Oxford passenger services be running by then?
BRTA is sad the East-West Rail project heralds the potential end of 4 halts (small stations) and the hourly shuttle passenger service. Moreover, will Ridgmont Station be moved to the west side of the M1 and what of access to or from it for the Heritage Centre which has announced closure of its coffee shop due to it being unviable? This, on the cusp of 8-million visitors projected to Universal Theme Park Bedfordshire?
BRTA is also concerned that Northampton is being disenfranchised from sharing the benefits of direct rail access to the Theme Park by Rail and that of a direct rail arcing to link Northampton to East-West Rail Northern Route or Bedford Thameslink slow line services at Bedford Midland, as designs do not factor the Northampton interest and beneficiary in. This must change, designs must include Northampton to and from all these exciting benefits and Northampton benefitting as well in terms of commuting, jobs and regeneration contributions to and from the town in terms of a new radial rail link between Bedford and Northampton with direct services between Bedford/Universal and Birmingham for example.
This has not been very well thought through and BRTA calls for it to be from NOW, as this once in a generation coming together of the Universal Project and East-West Rail can inform if it is inclusive.
Richard Pill, CEO and BRTA Area Rep said "BRTA welcomes both these projects and the prospect of a 'fit for purpose' new Bedford Midland Railway Station able to deal with the volume of trains, tracks, passengers and freight they will court. Yes, we have not got the rail route we wanted east of Bedford which required far less-than any properties the Northern Rail Route may demand, but railway is a railway and this new Universal development will underscore the Bedford area as a dynamic area to visit, invest and respect of significance in the region.Getting choices to roads as a default is vital if emissions are to be kept down and gridlock avoided."
End of Press Release.
BRTA will watch and interject as these things unfold. Stations North of Bedford should also be looked at to reduce the volume of traffic along the A6, create more parking capacity in North Bedfordshire nearer to where people live and cut overall journey times. A study should be invested in to explore the merit, benefit and make an appeal to the government in a growth context requiring adequate and joined-up infrastructure.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Pill
BRTA CEO
01234 225068
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