The preferred route option for the Bedford to Cambridge section of the East West Rail (EWR) link from Oxford has been released by EWR.

East West Rail is a proposed new rail link under development which would connect communities between Oxford, Cambridge, Bedford and Milton Keynes, creating new opportunities for people right across the area. The preferred route was labelled Route Option E in the consultation East West Railway Company held in early 2019.

They say ” The announcement reveals the detailed potential benefits of the Preferred Route Option for local communities, including:

  • A potential brand new station for the growing population at Cambourne
  • A potential brand new station in the area north of Sandy, south of St Neots connecting with services to towns including Peterborough and Doncaster and even as far as Edinburgh
  • Easy access to Bedford town centre, potentially supporting plans to regenerate the town and enabling connections to communities across the midlands
  • Simple access to Cambridge city centre, and connections onto communities across Suffolk and Norfolk

The chosen route would also support local aspirations to develop housing which is more affordable in areas along the route.

Local businesses would benefit from access to suppliers, customers, and talent as more people will be able to afford to live and work in the area.”

A full map is available here as a PDF,
but an extract of it between Cambourne and Cambridge is shown below (The white area is where the route could go).

EWR route around Comberton

A detailed process of land surveys will begin to gain an understanding of plant and animal species, historical features and geological conditions that could affect the environmental or engineering decisions. Landowners in the area of the Preferred Route Option will be contacted in the coming weeks.

Local communities are invited to meet the team at East West Railway Company at a series of local events to talk about the project and what will happen next. Details to be announced later.