East-West Rail Consultation 2026 - the BRTA Response!

 re: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation/consultation2026

On behalf of the British Regional Transport Association (BRTA), I wish to submit the following:

1. We support the East-West Project in entirety.

2. We very much wish that it gave a choice of routes between our route 'east of Bedford via St John's' and your Northern Route. That discrepancy leads us to a resigned "some railway east of Bedford is better than none".

3. We welcome electrification of the Bedford-Bletchley rail link.

4. We believe the hourly local shuttle passenger service between Bedford and Bletchley should be retained and extended to Milton Keynes Central and have Sunday services.

5. We believe that all stations should be retained. That should include existing Stewartby Halt for Kimberley College, village and sports lakes facilities.

6. We support an upgraded Kempston Hardwick Station for Universal purposes.

7. We call for a new station to bring Kempston Town (population 18, 000 plus) and that of the Retail Park into the Bedford-Bletchley fold. An updated study should be done.

8. We accept East-west passenger trains will be semi fast limited stoppers. However a study into a new Parkway Station west of Bletchley should be looked at as Newton Longville area is growing and needs a radial station. Likewise, the growing infill around Claydon, a Claydon Parkway should be studied and kept under review.

9. Our view is passenger services reverse into Bedford Midland from the West and East (via St John's direction) and segregated freight tracks south of Ford End Road Bridge should link to existing slows.

10. That were our flatter route would handle freight better and be quicker with less intrusive structures and gradients. An east-west southern link (triangle) at St John's area, would enable east-west trains avoiding Bedford Midland. Northern route puts all through the station cordon.

11. We have no problem with parking per se, as it is likely and always was the goal, of rail alternatives enabling people to choose rail public transport more and check and balance commuting traffic and cross-traffic movements. No railway, locks in congestion, your rail route is lesser than ours for these purposes in local and regional terms.

12. New train shed nearer Midland Road is to be welcomed please. As the 2031 opening of Universal and a Bedford-Cambridge rail link is some way off, new bays and retaining the current local Bedford-Bletchley shuttle bay (1A) will be needed. We understand therefore you will need to demolish the current Ashburnham Road Buildings to facilitate these things.

13. We have no problem with the western access and second booking hall and more parking bordering Queens Park. However, we suggest Ford End Road to Hurst Grove is made one-way to Winifred Road for ease of entrance and exiting via Bromham Road for dispersal. Indeed, we would suggest consideration is given to open the road to the A428 Bypass (west of Great Denham) as a 20 mph one-way road from Old Ford End Road as a through route. Queens Park is hemmed in currently and whilst controlling speed is always an issue, ability to drive out of the area one-way would be useful, especially avoiding Prebend Street going to Kemspton or the A421 Bypass for example.

14. Northampton should be more considered, it is not factored in in any shape for form. A new-build Northampton-Bedford Thameslink railway would with a direct arcing link and into Bedford Midland on your new twin-tracks via viaduct from the west and new river bridge crossing, enable 200, 000 upwards direct access to Bedford (interchange) and Wixams new Midland Main Line Station for Universal and vice versa - access to employment, less drive-time in the absence of rail and more lands saved for multiple sues than just parking!

15. Tempsford. We envisaged physical rail connectivity to and with the north-south main line for south of Peterborough, East Bedfordshire and north of Stevenage access direct to the County Town of Bedford (footfall and spend) and the Oxford corridor for passenger and freight movements. This lacking of physical linkage, when lands around the new station will be developed to 40, 000 houses (new town) is a missed revenue opportunity and win, win for more by rail on aggregate. The roads will bear the brunt. If someone from Sandy wants to commute to Bedford, they will drive it in 20 minutes, than get to the station, park and pay, take a train to Tempsford and change and await a train from Cambridge to Bedford et al. It is just stretching the imagination.

16. Better bus links with Bedford Midland from the bus station and radial routes should be negotiated, ditto new bus orbital feeds with Tempsford Station.

17. Local Councils have had decades and have pontificated whilst doing acts which are against nurturing of a railway with conflicting interests. Government has also been up and down hill. It is time to be allowed to get on with it - no gain without pain, but our route would be less pain. BTW, a new level crossing was installed recently on the Leiston Branch to Sizewell, wanted for reopening, presumably a 'special dispensation' - so Priory Park, Cardington Road and Land West of Willington lend to such as well.

18. Have you checked that there are no gas fields under your route north of Bedford? A heat pump cost a life when one was discovered under Cleat Hill, near Ravensden.

19. We wish the railway every success, whether we live to see it or not. People being born now and between that and 40 years old will be able to enjoy it and access to and from East Anglia by rail after nearly a century of closure (when it happens?). Let's hope sooner than later.

20. May I direct you to our website: https://brtarail.com/ewrail/ and https://brtarail.com/b2n/. Our Blogspot may also be of interest: https://brtarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/ Please scroll down. We hope the railway will ultimately be electrified throughout and compatible for passenger services and freight of all sizes.

Stations north of Bedford on the Midland Main Line at Oakley and Sharnbrook should be studied, sites protected, as these would reduce traffic on the A6/Clapham Road Junction and free up a load of parking for the Bedford Midland and Queens Park area as well, mitigating the volumes and lending to more commuting by rail, as well as walking or cycling to local stations. ceo@brtarail.com

This is the sum of our submission. Hope it is of interest.