East West Rail announces details of final route-wide consultation

We are pleased to announce details of our forthcoming, route-wide final consultation on our latest plans for the railway. 

Running from 14 April to 9 June 2026, our eight-week consultation gives communities a vital opportunity to help shape the final design of the railway linking Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge before we submit a Development Consent Order in 2027. 

It includes new high-resolution station images and fly-through animations, alongside updated plans for phased construction that would deliver benefits to communities sooner.

The consultation also sets out proposals for new and upgraded stations, service patterns designed to meet future demand — including for the Universal theme park — and the introduction of hybrid electric and battery-powered trains to support net zero ambitions. Plans to reduce environmental impacts and deliver biodiversity net gain are also included.

We are holding a series of public drop-in events along the route, including weekend and online sessions, which will give people the chance to speak directly with our team of experts. A virtual consultation room will also host event materials online, so everyone can access the information and provide feedback in a way that suits them.

For details of our consultation events, please see below:

Consultation events: