East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for communities between Oxford and Cambridge by:
Upgrading an existing section of railway between Oxford and Bicester
Bringing back a section of railway between Bicester and Bletchley services start in 2025/6 using trains like this one
Refurbishing existing railway between Bletchley and Bedford
Building brand new railway infrastructure between Bedford and Cambridge.
Trains are already running between Oxford and Bicester. Test trains are rnning between Bletchley and Bicester from October 2024. Passenger trains will start running between Bicester, Bletchley and Milton Keynes by 2026 (there is still no firm date for this) and are expected to run over the Bedford to Bletchley Railway by the end of the decade and onwards to Cambridge by the mid 2030s.
More details on the project can be found here
BBRUA have now responded to the recent non-statutory consultation. Your can read the response here. East Wesr Rail have published their latest plans for the line. You can view them here
East West Rail published a “You Said We Did” document in December 2025. You can find it here.
BBRUA have now read this and our response is here.
East West Rail have recently held meetings specifically to show there latest design proposals at Bedford and Bletchley. These include more detailed design work on the Eastern Entrance at Bletchley which include a new footbridge, a trian maintenance depot at Newton Longville and a modification at Bedford St. Johns which leaves Melbourne Street car park in place. BBRUA support an eastern entrance at Bletchley but are largely neutral about other aspects.