BRTA Press Release 11-06-2026 Keep radial rail links and stations options 'open' call

https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/politics/direct-rail-link-between-northampton-and-new-universal-theme-park-near-bedford-is-needed-says-mp-8674135

BRTA Press Release 11-06-2026  Keep radial rail links and stations

options 'open' call

re: Mike Reader MP for Northampton South calls for reopening the

Bedford-Northampton rail link.

The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) welcomes Mike Reader

MP's support and lead on the rail link project and his representation

to Lord Hendy the Minister for Rail.

The line was a secondary route and was underplayed from the post war

period to closure, but studies showed in the 21st century, that a

rebuild with select 'new build' would serve a new purpose for both

passenger and freight by rail and would be viable, offering modal

choice not currently available.

BRTA has called for retention of land north of Bromham Bedford, to

enable the rail link to link with Bedford Midland and the emergent

East-West Rail Link (Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge) and that 93 dwellings

can go anywhere, not located on greenbelt off a cul de sac!

We welcome West Northamptonshire Council's interest in reopening local

rail links and would welcome their support for an updated study for a

new Northampton-Bedford rail link. We call for collaboration and

cooperation between all councils, agencies and developments like

Universal Theme Park as better connectivity and modal choices by rail

enables less side-effects of mega traffic flows on the roads, reduced

congestion if rail can help deliver the volumes of people sustainably.

It is envisaged a Thameslink style modern electric train can transit

between Northampton and Bedford in about 30 minutes and that would be

competitive by road. It would save land as without the rail link, not

only would a large population like Northampton be disenfranchised, but

also means less parking land would be devoured as a result of

reopening the rail link, giving better access.

BRTA CEO Richard Pill said "Although the 11th hour in route protection

terms at both ends, the robust case and obvious demand for more and

better rail links radial from Bedford and the link with Northampton,

means the government should ensure the viability and engineering of a

new railway can be achieved in the short to medium term. The A428

corridor is growing in piecemeal development terms and these need

tailoring to ensure a viable route can be practically implemented. If

it does, footfall and spending minus the congestion is likely,

boosting businesses and service as well as all ages mobility."

BRTA will continue to follow these positive leads and very much hopes

everyone in positions of power and responsibility will collaborate for

a once in a lifetime opportunity this rail link offers to boost

Bedford and Northampton economies without costing the earth!

Currently there is a 21.5 mile gap in the rail network between Bedford

and Northampton, two main lines, one of which links Brighton, London

and 2 airports with Bedford and another which links Northampton with

Coventry and Birmingham and other radial lines. In short, this

relatively short rail link would, with East-West Rail, inform many

more opportunities on and off the rails.

End of Press Release

Further comment: Richard Pill ceo@brtarail.com  (Bedford) and Professor

Andrew N. Williams 07923 489254 (Northampton)

Could the old sheds at Wolverton Works serve a modern railway and preservation learning purpose?

re: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2026/06/national-railway-museum-central-hall-project-receives-3m-in-funding.html

There's York, Shildon and Swindon, could Wolverton join the family of rail static display, shelter for heritage clutter rotting and lost for want of TLC, rolling stock repairs capacity and space, college and research library centre and attracting visitors on a nationwide basis to the area, including by rail? If that is your vision, the government finds money for such and with solar panels on the roof, can a team be created to research, apply for funding and put a plan together with professional support and input please?

BRTA is small and has no money. But we support the idea, Wolverton has a proud railway history, Milton Keynes (Bletchley) likewise and former London North Western Railway (LNWR) designs and college courses, skill retention and certification courses could all be under one roof. 

It needs a vision, a team, incremental funding and growth to fullest potential.

The Universal Theme Park, a ride away by rail from Bletchley will attract 55, 000 people per month and create 26, 000 new jobs. So many more are coming to and from and the Railway Centre at Wolverton would complement that and capitalise on such a regional influx of people, service spend and wider area boost?

May I ask your views and maybe meet with Simon and others to explore it further and what can be done now, then and medium term to bring it about/court the government's attention? ceo@brtarail.com

BRTA supports reopening a Gloucester-Hereford rail link via Ross on Wye

 I attach an agenda for our forth-coming forum which is open to all, so all welcome.

BRTA supports calls for a study into the case merits, feasibility and engineering solutions for reopening a Gloucester-Ross-on-Wye-Hereford direct rail link.

Whatever the merits of the past, the rail link offers:

1. Sustainable footfall and spend to the places it would service.

2. Less road traffic, road and bridge wear and tear/maintenance costs and land-use parking demand outsripping supply, land which could be used for more productive things like employment, conservation and social housing for example.

3. Make managing increasing demand and visorship more manageable and accessible for all, not just car-dependency and prince managed.

4. The direct link with Gloucester and Hereford would benefit both places and all in between with new flows of spend and trade, sustaining small-medium businesses and employment.

5. Cut congestion through choice and land-lost to road upgrades and motorway-isation. The spin-offs of road reliance is oil and rubber particle run-offs to rivers and streams, harming wildlife and places for swimming and water extraction.

6. It is likely also, people will recognise that being linked at both ends to a wider nationwide rail network, opens up to increased and dyverse reaches and ranges of audiences to better appreciate what the areas it would serve have to offer all-year-round, not just seasonally.

7. More comprehensive rail links help to offer the potential for more freight by rail, from timber to containers, but rail islaso bursting at the seams trying to get back into smaller goods like parcels and smaller inter-model trainloads as well. How about incentives for Amazon and Royal Mail to send parcels by rail more and a drop-off/collect point at every station? These are just what the environment needs and would boost the public too. See an example: https://www.varamis.co.uk/ We need these models to be made nationwide and re-opening local rail links enables more choice, access and mobility for all alongside innovation with government incentives and encouragement for the environment's sake.

Please give us your support. You can find out more on our website: https://brtarail.com/our-campaigns/

Saturday, 25 July at 2pm lunch and 3-5pm business at The Regal, 33 St Aldate Street, Kings Square, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL1 1RP (Phone 01452-332344). Convenor Simon Barber: admin@brtarail.com Phone (landline): 020-8940-4399 Phone (mobile): 07522-374740

Agenda

1.              Election of a Chairperson for the meeting

2.              Appointment of a notes/minute taker.

3.  River Severn Estuary Bridge: More capacity by rail is needed for passenger and freight by rail between England and Wales and vice versa.

4.  Gloucester-Ross-Hereford: Bring on the study, but some relocation packages may be needed and engineering solutions found.

5.  Kemble-Cirencester: Cirencester (population: 20, 229 – 2021 Census): Is the route blocked? Is there deviation spaces? Can a new route be sorted? Where would services run from or to?

6.  Stratford – Honeybourne-Cheltenham: Warwickshire not playing ball with road over rail route, but can change prevail, ditton the Cheltenham end running via a new route to link with existing Network Rail Lines?

7.  Cotswold Line (Oxford-Worcester-Hereford): Has a RUG Group already. Is it double track throughout and what of Witney and Carterton getting a new-build rail link?

8.  Bristol Metro: Happening already.

9.  Any Other Business

10.             Date, time and place of next meeting – Hereford?

Notes:

Please check our website: https://brtarail.com/events/

Best ways to support is:

1.  Join BRTA

2.  Join our free email loop via richard.erta@gmail.com

3. Email your MP and get them on board: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1

4.  Email your local media in favour of the reopening and state some reasons why. richard.erta@gmail.com

The local-regional queue for rail reopenings, select new-builds and existing pinch point upgrades.

re: https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/council/derbyshire-council-backs-peak-district-railway-plan-despite-fears-for-monsal-trail-8646444

This rail reopening would link East Midlands and North West (Derby and Manchester) and vice versa. That is sustainable footfall, spend and regeneration. It has been a long running campaign which BRTA supported before, during and now going forward too. 

The main driving force is: https://www.peaksanddalesrailway.com/

Please email your MP in support: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1

Some may ask why? This railway, like Colne-Skipton: https://www.selrap.org.uk/ has turned a corner whereby they have successfully courted local authority support and a study has been done showing the case to be robust for reopenings. 

These two are candidates along with Witney in Oxfordshire and one or two others for government consideration. 

In Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire we have not been so lucky. Even if you get as far as the Peak Rail Project has to restore the through rail line, objections to possible re-routing of the Monsal Trail to accommodate a railway and government which can turn around as per Witney and say "no money"; means the queue of qualifiers grows, whilst lesser successes are subject to attack of cynical dismissal, no case jibes and other development agendas which are not being made to consider protecting rail corridors let alone including rail to reduce the impact of sprawling developments on the road system, neighbourhoods, pollution and deteriorating public health and environmental effects.

BRTA plays a role and we are growing. But the wider public need to tell politicians that in many cases we want our tracks and trains back and that it makes sense for modal shift planning back from a roads-based economy to rail, or at least a level playing field and a robust rail network for people and goods than we currently have and which these  local-regional reopenings can engender.

The Peak District National Park would be served by this rail artery, cutting encroachments on grass verges and the sheer intrusion on the environment mass motoring and traffic/tourism and over-kill can inform. 

Someone has to clean up and the land used for parking spaces is land which cannot be used for other things like employment, social housing and conservation for example.

The government says it has no money, it is busy renationalising the railways, but privatising the roads it seems? It is prioritising HS2 as 'part of the railway' to the tune of £1 billion per mile and delivery 2039. 

BRTA also notes the government is spending £billions on new and upgraded roads, whilst saying no money for local-regional rail reopenings. It cancelled the Restore Your Railway Fund, specific funding for reopenings, now the agenda is being suffocated amidst many other demands and what would it take for a specific fund for reopenings to be brought back in some shape for form? £500 million for the whole nation is inadequate, but the principle of a specific, targeted fund, is a much needed one to help usher schemes along towards approval.

East-West Rail (Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge) celebrates the 40th anniversary of the launch of a public meeting to get Oxford-Milton Keynes reopened (December 1986), when the tracks just needed upgrading and progressively as more services and freight used it. Alas it was mothballed and allowed to rot, decades demanding continuous studies and under Labour and Tory, not delivery! Now at £billions Bicester-Bletchley is 'open' as a spankingly brand new built railway, but no passenger services. There seems no rush for the Secretary of State for Transport to wade in and try and reach a deal between management and unions. This, unlike the NHS Doctors Striking and Government engaging to try and stop them?! 

The danger is that 'stable government', can also need speeding up, a failure to deliver, can mean drift and paralysis and there are urgent needs including lowering emissions and providing cleaner public transport choices at affordable prices. Whether public or private delivers, the jury may be out, but meanwhile we need a pragmatic system and lead from governments of all tiers to move towards more rail reopenings and reinstatements the length and breadth of Britain. 

It is no use complaining and providing jobs, if the transport is not there at accessible rates, to enable young people to engage. Local rail enables more and reduces the effects of congestion, delays and spiralling costs of wasted time and delusions. The railways were a bedrock of employment on and off the rails and informs skills which can be used in a variety of fields. 

Conductors on trains (formerly Guards) are not a 'waste' they can provide information, sell tickets, ensure the smooth operation of the services provided and act as front-line people to deter problems or raise the alarm when something is awry. richard.erta@gmail.com https://brtarail.com/events/