Update 02-04-2026:
It looks like land West of Willington 1000 houses not providing access for a rail link east of Bedford via St John's is going ahead and brings down the curtain on our east-west endeavour. This locks in Northern Rail Route or bust and Richard Fuller MP and Cllr and Elected Mayor Tom Wootton (Tory) seem against = no railway!
Next consultation on East-West Rail is apparently coming about: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/ keep an eye in the media/on-line.
BRTA of course is interested, but our hopes and aspirations are dashed after 40 years of commitment to Bedford and its well-being. Now development at Lower Farm Road Bromham wants to scupper access to the Midland Main Line from Northampton, which rail-wise disenfranchises a swathe of people and benefits.
It is rare LibDems and Tories agree, but one is sold out to Northern Route not ours, the other 'unfettered' has not any good word for the Northern Route!
Meanwhile on Oxford-Milton Keynes, OBRAC formed 1986 was the umbrella group to bring others together, now we have this: https://www.railnews.co.
We wish them well, but they will find campaigning beyond mere moaning and the scheme is protracted by Government involvement... left hand not knowing what right hand is doing sort of thing?!
We will observe and take an interest, but our aspiration is being consigned to history and locks in a roads landscape which will only deliver more traffic exacerbating congestion gridlocked urban landscape. That is bad for everyone!
You can email your MP, but ours seems also against East-West Rail too? Which way is the wind blowing?
The project flounders for want of champions and at the 11th hour, unless the government puts impetus and resolves even basic things like trains running between Oxford and Milton Keynes; the chances of success are in the balance; in which case we will be much poorer for it.
A call to action: Land at Lower Farm Road, Bromham, a development wants to block the corridor access to the Midland Main Line for a new rail link with Northampton. This is crucial to save the land for the railway, as with Universal courting 8 million people per year, 26, 000 jobs; unless we improve the local rail networks and infrastructure, land will be guzzled for new roads and endless parking!
Likewise, old Bedford-Sandy trackbed under threat from 1000 houses and other associated developments West of Willington, east of Bedford. Our rail route is much more versatile than a mooted Northern Route and we need people to email Bedford Borough Council and tell them to put the protection of the rail corridor first!
However:
1. Our route 'east of Bedford, via St John's' should and needs championing - ask if unsure. I am here most days for limited time.
2. Northern Route is not guaranteed either, so if we lose our route, and Northern flounders, no rail via Bedford to Cambridge.
3. We need champions for our route - maybe a dedicated page on the website can help direct objections and support in equal measure?
4. The development will block our trackbed and realignment routing of Willington
5. 1000 houses at average of 2.5 cars per household is 2500 cars on the A603 per day, it is a busy single carriageway road with congestion now.
6. No proposal to dual or upgrade the road, all ends up at Sandy A1 Junction and Bedford urban cordons underscoring gridlocked congestion, especially Rope Walk and Longholme.
7. Flood plain, flooding likely, des-res, but at a collateral cost.
For these reasons, this development must be opposed.
We do need an east-west rail link and our route has been shown to be viable.
The objections to the development stand on their own merit and so our rail route needs champions and should be supported.
Please join BRTA and strengthen our numbers: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/
Yours sincerely,
Richard Pill
BRTA EC Member.
Ps. BTW, for documents please see Simon Barber via simon4barber@gmail.com
93 dwellings land North of Lower Farm Road - The full reference number is 26/00249/MAO and the alternative reference is PP-14585723. The Case Officer is Rachel Duncan.
Land West of Willington - The full reference number is 25/01839/EIASCP (already decided in January), and an Environmental Impact Assessment is now required.
Email: to planning@bedford.gov.uk now, it is never too late! It is worth trying. Email/copy your local MP too. It is nationwide strategic rail infrastructure we want, otherwise it is congestion gridlock, land loss, emissions and rising costs, let alone health related issues from too much traffic!
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