The Anonymous Widower

East West Rail: Bedford Mayor Unveils Eight Alternative Routes

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading.

The Mayor of Bedford has unveiled other potential routes for the East West Rail (EWR) project through the borough.

These four paragraphs outline the current plans and the result of the Mayor’s study.

EWR has already announced its preferred route, linking Oxford and Cambridge via a new track running through Bedford to the north.

Conservative Tom Wootton has defended spending £40,000 to commission consultants to explore alternative routes to the south.

Their report concluded that all options would boost the Bedford economy.

The mayor reflected: “While there is no definitive winner among the proposed routes, the economic potential of the project for Bedford is significant.”

This map from the article shows the current planned route.

Note.

1. Bedford St. Johns station will be rebuilt.
2. Trains will go straight through Bedford station.
3. Tempsford station will connect the East West Railway to the East Coast Main Line.
4. The East West Railway will unlock the building of much-needed housing and commercial developments at Cambourne.
5. Trains will go through Cambridge South, Cambridge and Cambridge North stations, and thus serve all important areas of the UK’s Eastern Powerhouse.

As there is no definitive winner among the proposed routes and the economic potential of the project for Bedford is significant, perhaps we should just get on and build the East West Railway’s preferred route.

February 8, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Bedford, Bedford St Johns Station, Bedford Station, Cambourne Station, East Coast Main Line, East West Railway