Please stop developers from building on old railway trackbeds around Bedford and elsewhere!

 re: https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/northampton-must-not-be-left-behind-in-east-west-rail-passenger-plans-council-leader-says-8753514 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyegxnp0n4o

BRTA supports updating the hitherto studies to make a robust business case, examine the feasibility with new route options and pool together with other interests to move the re-railing project forward towards delivery, which must be the number one goal to keep in mind.

BRTA stands ready to support from behind, the lead of elected people and the government towards delivery of this rail project.

I, Richard Pill, CEO of the British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) stand ready to correspond, input and support leaders for the project and can engage via Zoom or Teams if I am sent a link and notified duly ahead of schedule.

My colleagues at Northampton will I am sure, contribute, follow and support, even though we are at an 11th hour situation whereby development at both ends make reopening and reconnecting harder unless it is stopped, tailored and ensure enough room for a twin track with electrification as part of an extended Thameslink sort of integrated rail operation.

Universal looms large, the links between Bedford and Northampton like around sport and entertainment and that of cutting urban traffic should not be underestimated. 

Prescriptions of people from Northampton going via Bletchley are short sighted, as 1. it takes much longer than the direct railway route, 2. it will cost individuals more in all probability and 3. Northampton-Luton Airport and vice versa, makes sense for a direct link in 55 minutes end-to-end for example, than the 1.5 hours each way via Bletchley and Bedford.

Bedford-Bletchley Railway is secured with Oxford-Bedford operations, Northampton however, if largely left out and needs re-railing to gain the share of all these new developments offer.

A new direct link from the west to the east arcing to Cambridge, should be passively designed now and included in future track layouts. These lines must all be able to handle passenger and freight operations, cutting congestion, pollution, blight, saving land and enhancing everyone's mobility for example. Unless we act now, these opportunities may be compromised.

Please read, engage. Ask questions via richard.erta@gmail.com

See also our excellent website relevant campaigns pages: https://brtarail.com/ewrail/ and https://brtarail.com/b2n/ Please also email your MP and demand government ensures rail infrastructure to serve growing development sprawls, that former rail routes are protected and that they make reopenings easier and more accessible.

https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1