Category: Uncategorised

East West Rail have released their 2024 consultation on the Bedford to Cambridge section

Their route is via a Cambourne North station,,,, going parallel to the A428 and crossing over near Highfields Caldecote and then as an embanked line down between Toft and Comberton (near the layby) past Little Eversden, to the south west of the Royston Lane A603 It goes over A603 with a viaduct before heading to the south of Haslingfield, tunnelled through Chapel Hill to join the Kings Cross line near Harston.

There is/will be an information point at Comberton Library and an in-person consultation event in  Comberton, Comberton Village Hall, 10 January 2025, 2pm – 7pm

Responses need to be in by 25th January 2025 – go to their website for much more information
and an on-line virtual consultation website (which has little to nothing on Comberton!)

As part of their latest proposals they’re providing information on a 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 Autumn budget.

More bits relevant to Comberton are here

EWR have also updated their strategy for powering the trains following the Autumn budget…

As part of their latest proposals, which EWR will be sharing for public consultation from 14 November, they’re providing information on a 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 Autumn budget.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would reduce disruption to existing structures and potentially reduce visual impacts in more sensitive locations on the new railway between Bedford and Cambridge. This option would also cost less than full electrification and would need less land for things such as mast foundations.