East West Rail and Bedford Hospital working in partnership to deliver new care hub and rail upgrade
- Close collaboration means hospital’s Elective Care Hub and railway project will be successfully delivered in tandem
- Consensus reached after planning issue over Elective Care Hub now successfully resolved
- EWR Co pledges no reduction of car parking spaces during or after rail construction work
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) and Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are working closely together after agreeing a collaborative approach to the construction of both the new railway alignment at Bedford St Johns and the hospital’s new Elective Care Hub.
The positive outcome means both organisations are committed to ensuring that the East West Rail project and the Trust’s vital healthcare investment at Bedford Hospital can move forward together.
The agreement follows a meeting between both parties after EWR Co confirmed it had withdrawn its temporary holding objection to the Trust’s proposed planning application for its Elective Care Hub in Britannia Road.*
The objection was not a challenge to the development itself, but rather a precaution focused on the geographic location of the hospital trust’s proposals and a small potential overlap with EWR Co’s plans for a multi-storey car park.
Following a series of constructive and collaborative design workshops between EWR Co and the Trust’s technical teams, these issues have now been successfully resolved.
The resolution means that both the Elective Care Hub and the railway project can be delivered successfully alongside one another for the benefit of Bedford communities. This includes EWR Co and the Trust working together to minimise disruption for hospital staff, patients and visitors, and maintaining safe access to the hospital during construction work. This work includes ensuring the new multi-storey car park will be ready for use before construction work begins on the site of the hospital’s existing car park.
EWR Co is currently undertaking traffic modelling work and developing a clear strategy for the sequencing and phasing of construction works in relation to the construction of the new alignment and station at Bedford St Johns, which will ensure there is no reduction of car parking spaces during construction or after the work is complete.
EWR Co also plans to work with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to review alternative construction routes to Bedford St Johns station to ease works traffic around the hospital, as well as exploring opportunities to align key work phases with the hospital.
The current tight curvature of the line makes it unsuitable for the more frequent and longer trains proposed by EWR Co. In order to reduce the curvature of the line, EWR Co needs to remove the current hospital car park, which will bring the alignment closer to the hospital and allow for the construction of a new Bedford St Johns station. This will improve access to and from Bedford Hospital for staff, visitors and patients, while also supporting the area’s regeneration. A more gradual curve would also reduce noise and need less maintenance, enabling the railway to operate more efficiently and safely.
David Hughes, CEO, East West Railway Company, said: “We’re really pleased to have agreed a collaborative approach that enables both the East West Rail project and Bedford Hospital’s Elective Care Hub plans to move forward together more effectively.
“This positive outcome reflects a shared commitment to delivering long-term benefits for Bedford communities while maintaining safe access to hospital services and minimising disruption for patients, staff and visitors throughout construction.
“With the Elective Care Hub planning issue successfully resolved, we look forward to continuing this collaborative approach with Bedford Hospital as both of our projects progress.”
Melanie Banks, Director of Redevelopment at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our overriding priority is to ensure delivery of the EWR scheme and the Bedford Hospital redevelopment efficiently and to a high standard, so that together they have the opportunity to strengthen patient access and onward care, support our dedicated healthcare workforce, and provide lasting benefits for the communities we serve.
“We anticipate sustained, thorough and detailed engagement as the EWR project develops, ensuring that outstanding questions are fully addressed.”
People in Bedford can learn more about the latest designs for East West Rail during a consultation event on Saturday 23rd May (11am-6pm) at The King's House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ.
For more information about the current East West Rail consultation and how to get involved, please visit the consultation page, contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at [email protected] or call 0330 134 0067.
Feedback must be received by 23:59 on 9 June 2026.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* In January 2026, EWR Co lodged a holding objection to the Trust’s planning application under the EWR Safeguarding Directions, after identifying areas of conflict between the two sets of proposals. Since then, both organisations have continued to engage constructively to resolve these issues. On 2 April 2026, the Trust submitted revised plans to Bedford Borough Council. Following a detailed review, EWR Co is now satisfied that the updated proposals are consistent with the emerging East West Rail scheme, as presented during its Design Update sessions earlier this year. As a result, EWR Co has formally withdrawn its objection and confirmed that it has no objection to the application being determined.
Media contacts:
- Press office email: [email protected]
- Press office phone: 0330 134 0053
About the East West Rail Project
The East West Rail Project is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line. It is a railway with community at its heart that will open up new journeys, cut travel times, and ease congestion on local roads. The route will connect people to the things and places that matter, bringing local benefit and sustainable growth by unlocking the social and economic potential of the area.
The East West Rail Project will be delivered in different phases. Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of the first phase between Oxford and Milton Keynes, connecting Oxford with Bicester before the East West Rail Company (EWR co) was set up. Between 2018 and 2024, EWR Co and Network Rail partnered in a construction alliance, East West Rail Alliance, to complete the infrastructure to Bletchley. Chiltern Railways has taken over as the operator of this section and are working to start passenger services as soon as possible.
To deliver the railway onwards from Bletchley to Bedford and Cambridge, a new railway needs to be constructed between Bedford and Cambridge, and associated works are needed between Oxford and Bedford to upgrade and refurbish the existing railway infrastructure. EWR Co proposes to make an application to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to permit the construction and operation of these works.
About the East West Railway Company
The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project.
The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country. EWR Co’s ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.