East West Rail reveals updated designs in latest consultation

We are pleased to announce that we have launched our latest consultation which includes updated proposals for the new railway. 

Our updated proposals include an accelerated construction programme to deliver the benefits of the railway to communities earlier, the delivery of up to five trains an hour and longer trains due to increased demand.      

The latest details are part of our last route-wide consultation on the project, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge before a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to build the railway is submitted in 2027.  

Our proposals now take into account the plans for the Universal Resort near Bedford and reflect the expected increase in passenger demand along the line and include provision for a station at Stewartby to serve the theme park.   

As a result, we now propose to build EWR in new delivery phases - replacing the previous connection stages - with new stations and sections of the railway opening as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for the whole route to be completed.  

This approach aims to bring forward better benefits to communities and passengers and accelerate the delivery of EWR in certain sections. It will also better align with getting high-capacity frequent services to the new Universal Resort earlier than previously anticipated. 

A core EWR service of four trains per hour across the whole route is now proposed, with an additional fifth train running when needed. Five-carriage trains, rather than four carriages, are also proposed due to increased demand.   

Our updated proposals also include:

• A brand-new Bedford station
• Accelerating improvements on the Marston Vale Line to provide a new station at Stewartby to serve the Universal theme park - along with three new fully accessible stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington.  
• A new entrance at Cambridge station and a new station at Cambridge East – subject to third-party funding.
• Connecting Tempsford to the rail network five years earlier than originally planned
• Hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains to support UK net zero goals, and reduce emissions
• Providing new modern train stations that will support multi-modal travel with integrated bus and active travel connections, mobility hubs, and improved station access for walking, wheeling, cycling, taxis, and parking.
• Designs which aim to achieve sustainability goals by realising opportunities to enhance and strengthen green infrastructure networks, to benefit local people and nature along the line of the route. 

David Hughes, CEO, East West Railway Company, said: “These updated proposals mark a major step forward for East West Rail to help ensure communities see the benefits of the project sooner as we finalise the design. Faster delivery, more frequent services and new stations will help unlock housing, support new jobs and attract investment, while giving residents and businesses better connections between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.” 

Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs for the railway are finalised ready for the submission of a DCO in 2027.  

The consultation will run for eight weeks from April 14 to June 9, 2026. We are holding a series of public drop-in events across the route to provide opportunities to meet the EWR Co team and find out more about the updated proposals.

For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, please visit the consultation page, contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at [email protected] or call 0330 134 0067.     

Consultation events  

In-person events will take place at the following locations, where people can find out more about the latest proposals, talk with experts from EWR Co, ask questions and submit feedback: