East West Rail latest updates: New multi-storey car park to be accessed via Bedford's Ford End Road

Featured among the 80 updates are:

Changes to how drivers access Bedford’s main station in Ashburnham Road with a new station plaza

A multi-storey park next to the hospital’s proposed expansion on the north side of Britannia Road

A new station at Stewartby to serve the Universal resort

A new station for Tempsford

Revamp of Marston Vale with FOUR new stations to deliver FIVE trains per hour during peak times

These design proposals have been updated following analysis of thousands of consultation responses collected at the start of the year.

Bedford town centre

East West is proposing a new pedestrian plaza in front of the station with a clear route into the town centre along Midland Road. It’s also considering plans for a new fast platform, connecting to existing services on the north-south Midland Mainline.

A western entrance is also proposed which East West says would improve connectivity to existing and planned residential properties in Queen’s Park area. The station area will also support mixed-use development, which it hopes will create a vibrant new gateway to the town.

The company is also proposing to relocate the new multi-storey car park from the east of the station, accessed from Ashburnham Road to a site to the west of the station, accessed from Ford End Road.

It has also made further adjustments at Bromham Road and the A6 Great Ouse Way.

Bedford Hospital & Bedford St John’s station

The new station will feature accessible lifts. And plans include a new multi-storey park next to the hospital’s proposed expansion on the north side of Britannia Road, with dedicated disabled bays and electric vehicle charging for station users.

There will be temporary parking before the existing parking facilities are removed.

The proposed station and tracks will be located entirely on existing railway land between Ampthill Road and Cauldwell Street bridges.

And East West thinks it can do the work without demolishing both bridges – however, it says it still needs to do more checks and assess their condition to see if they can stay in place while the track is lowered.

In a statement, the company said: “If we do need to demolish and rebuild the bridges, we’ve reviewed our plans and have been able to reduce the amount of reconstruction work. This would reduce the impacts from this work on traffic movements in Bedford and the potential impacts to the entrance to the former Britannia Iron Works, a Grade II listed building.

"We’ve carried out more surveys and design work, which has enabled us to avoid the need to raise the height of these bridges, as was previously proposed, by lowering the track as much as possible.”

New station at Stewartby & Marston Vale Line

The Department for Transport has agreed with East West Rail’s recommendation to adopt a Consolidated Stations Option proposal for the Marston Vale Line. Many existing stations are amongst the least used in the country, with poor accessibility, outdated facilities and infrequent, slow services.

By consolidating the current NINE existing stations into FOUR modern – larger and better-located stations – East West Rail hopes to provide safer, more accessible facilities with parking, walking and cycling links.

It now plans to deliver more passenger rail services, up to a maximum of five trains per hour during peak times, to help cater for people wanting to travel to Universal Studios theme park. This is an increase on the three trains per hour previously planned.  

The proposed locations of the new Marston Vale Line stations are:

Stewartby

The new station would be north of Broadmead Road. According to East West, the land at this location would offer better value for taxpayers and avoids significant impacts on the development of the Stewartby Brickworks site.

It also aligns with Bedford Borough Council’s draft 2040 Local Plan. And people would be able to travel to and from the new Universal resort.

Woburn Sands

The new station and car park would be located to the west of the existing station and to the north of the railway within the area of the South East Milton Keynes Strategic Urban Extension proposal (SEMK).

A new road bridge is planned to the west of the proposed station. Walking, cycling and road routes will be provided to make it easy to access the station from all directions, particularly from Browns Wood and Bow Brickhill. This includes a proposal for a new road bridge at Bow Brickhill level crossing, adjacent to the current station site.

Ridgmont

It would be west of the M1 and would have less impact on neighbouring businesses and landowners.

East West says it would also unlock new homes north of Aspley Guise in line with Central Bedfordshire Council’s aspirations and would serve a much larger population compared to the existing site.

The rail company says it’s looking into the best way to support Ridgmont Tea Rooms at the existing station.

Lidlington

The new station would be broadly in the same location as the existing Piling Farm South level crossing, with entrances on the north and south side of the railway. These would be accessible via a new route running along the north side of the railway from the centre of the village.

A new station for Tempsford

This route will run to the north of the Black Cat roundabout. A station at Tempsford is proposed where the alignment crosses the East Coast Main Line. Once fully built this station will serve both East West Rail and services on the East Coast Main Line.

To address concerns raised in feedback regarding visual impacts, Alignment 1c would be screened from views at Roxton by the Black Cat roundabout. Also, views of the railway from Tempsford would be screened by the new A421.

Platforms on the East Coast Main Line are being proposed to be built first. This phased approach will lay the foundations for a future north-south-east-west hub, linking new communities, developments and the upgraded A421.

David Hughes, East West Rail’s CEO, said: “These updates reflect our commitment to listening to communities while designing a railway that delivers long-term benefits for the region. From creating a welcoming new gateway to Bedford town centre, to providing direct access to Bedford Hospital, and accelerating a new station at Tempsford, we’re focused on improving connectivity where it matters most to provide better outcomes for passengers, local communities and the environment. 

“By consolidating stations along the Marston Vale Line and aligning with major developments, we’re also making sure this railway supports growth, offers better value for taxpayers, and creates modern, accessible stations for the future to deliver the sustainable transport link this region needs to thrive.

“Public engagement on our latest proposals will continue in the new year with a series of localised events in specific communities so people can understand more about our updated designs.

"In the spring or summer next year, we will then hold another consultation. This will provide an opportunity for local communities and stakeholders to comment on our proposals before we finalise our application to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order, which would authorise us to construct the project.”