Chancellor signals go ahead for East West Rail to connect Cambridge to Bedford

Chancellor Rachel Reeves unleashed funding in today Budget to ensure delivery of East West Rail to Bedford and Cambridge. It prompted East West Railway Company (EWR Co) to announce the dates of a public consultation on the latest designs and plans for its project which will link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.   

The 10-week non-statutory consultation will run from 14 November 2024 to 24 January 2025, offering residents along the route an opportunity to have their say.

EWR Co has confirmed its preference for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains, after the Chancellor confirmed government support for the project in the Budget.

The company says that as well as the environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route.

“This would significantly reduce disruption during construction and potentially decrease visual impacts in more sensitive locations along the new railway,” said a spokesperson.

“This option would also cost less than full electrification, reducing the need to alter current structures and requiring less land for things such as mast foundations.”

BENEFITS OF EAST WEST RAIL OUTLINED

As well as electrification, the consultation will provide latest designs and information on East West Rail, including:

• A new railway between Bedford and Cambridge
• East West Rail’s planned approach into Cambridge
• Cambridge Station
• Cambridge South Station
• Proposed service patterns
• Reducing environmental impacts and a commitment to biodiversity net gain

David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “We’re excited to confirm our plans for electrification, which support our environmental goals by delivering sustainable low carbon journeys and supporting the UK’s transition to an overall net zero carbon economy.   

“This consultation is a pivotal moment in our journey to create a railway that truly serves the needs of our communities and delivers sustainable growth for the region and the whole country by improving access to jobs, education and public services.

“East West Rail represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to connect communities across the Oxford-Cambridge region.

Explainer

https://eastwestrail.co.uk/routeupdate

“We invite everyone to take part in our consultation and share their feedback on our proposals to create a positive legacy for future generations who will live and work in the area.”

EAST WEST RAIL CONSULTATIONS GO AHEAD

Consultation events will be held at various locations along the entire proposed route, including some weekend dates and online events, to widen opportunities for people to attend.

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A Virtual Consultation Room will also be available, where all the information shown at the public events can be accessed online in a virtual room.

Dates and venues in the Cambridge area include: 

• 22 November (2pm-7pm) – Shelford Rugby Club, Cambridge Road, Great Shelford
• 3 December (2pm-7pm) – Cambridge Belfry, Back Lane, Great Cambourne, Cambourne
• 10 December (2pm-7pm) – Comberton Village Hall, Village Hall, Green End, Comberton
• 7 January (2pm-7pm) – St Neots Town Football Club, Kester Way, St Neots
• 18 January (12pm-5pm) – The Clayton Hotel, Station Road, Cambridge
• 21 January (2pm-7pm) – St Andrews Church, Cherry Hinton, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge

For those unable to attend in person, all consultation materials will be available online, with multiple ways to provide feedback.

The consultation, originally planned for summer 2024, was rescheduled due to the General Election.

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This new timeframe covers the Christmas and New Year holiday period, but EWR says that to ensure ensures that communities have ample opportunity to engage with the project and shape its development, the consultation period runs for an additional two weeks and concludes on 24^th January.

Animation on understanding the non-statutory consultation and the DCO process

Video on traction

• The purpose of this non-statutory consultation is to obtain feedback on the early designs, including areas where are considering options.
• Feedback will be taken into account as EWR develop the designs in more detail and select preferred options. Feedback will also be used to review potential opportunities and inform plans to mitigate the impacts of the project.
• A statutory consultation will then be carried out where EWR will present more detailed information about the proposed infrastructure, its likely environmental impacts and the measures and strategies they are developing to mitigate those impacts.
• Feedback from the statutory consultation will be taken into account before EWR finalise’s  proposals and submit an application for a Development Consent Order, which if approved, would grant consent to build the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge, as well as the other upgrades between Oxford and Bedford to deliver the full proposed EWR service.

*Event dates, times and locations are as follows:

About the East West Rail Project   

The East West Rail Project is an opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line.

The East West Rail Project will be delivered in three Connection Stages:

• Connection Stage One: Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes    
• Connection Stage Two: Oxford to Bedford    
• Connection Stage Three: Oxford to Cambridge    

Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of Connection Stage One, connecting Oxford with Bicester before the East West Rail Company (EWR co) was set up.

Since 2018, EWR Co and Network Rail have partnered in a construction alliance, East West Rail Alliance, to complete Connection Stage One. EWR Co and Network Rail are acting as the Department for Transport’s joint sponsors.    

To deliver Connection Stage 2, work is ongoing to bring forward services between Oxford and Bedford from the end of the decade.

Planning consent for these works was also granted by the Transport and Works Act order in 2020.

Connection Stage 3 would complete East West Rail and enable passenger services to operate between Oxford and Cambridge via Bletchley and Bedford.

To complete this work, we will need to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO), which would grant consent to build the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge, as well as the other upgrades between Oxford and Bedford to deliver the full proposed EWR service.

About East West Railway Company    

The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project.

EWR Co aims to bring fresh thinking to the Project, challenging the industry status quo, leading to more efficient and cost-effective project delivery and better outcomes for the communities in and around the Project.

The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country.

EWR Co’s ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.

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