More than 80 changes have been dropped into the £7bn scheme as it heads towards a Development Consent Order, with fresh stations, new entrances and a completely reworked service pattern forming the spine of the overhaul.
The biggest step-change in the design rethink hits the Marston Vale Line. Now nine tired stations will be replaced by four larger modern stations.
Stewartby gets a new station designed to funnel visitors into Universal Studios’ proposed theme park.
New and updated stations
• Cambridge East – brand-new station near Cambridge Airport added to project scope; construction depends on third-party funding.
• Cambourne (EWR) – remains the planned western Cambridge station; unchanged but now part of a five-station Cambridge network.
• Stewartby (new) – new Marston Vale Line station positioned to serve Universal Studios’ proposed resort.
• Three further consolidated Marston Vale stations – Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington – replace nine existing low-use stops.
• Tempsford (new) – new station between Bedford and Cambridge with added southern entrance to link into government-backed new town plans; East Coast Main Line phase to be fast-tracked.
• Cambridge station eastern entrance – new entrance planned with active travel hub, extra gate line and improved cycling/walking connections.
• Bletchley station eastern entrance – proposed new entrance offering better town-centre access; dependent on third-party funding.
Cambridge gets a big expansion with a brand-new Cambridge East station near the city airport. This has now been written into the scope — subject to external funding — easing pressure on the packed central station and opening up new growth areas to rail.
The existing main station will also get a long-awaited eastern entrance.
Bletchley is in line for an eastern entrance too, pending funding, to finally bring the station into cleaner alignment with the town centre and bus interchange.
In Oxford, design tweaks support the reinstatement of the Cowley Branch Line, unlocking capacity at Oxford station and allowing East West Rail to run its full timetable across the route.
Further east, planners inserted a southern entrance at the planned Tempsford station linking into the government-backed new town plans. Ministers have ordered EWR Co and Network Rail to fast-track the East Coast Main Line phase to keep pace with looming development pressures.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “East West Rail is more than a railway – it’s a catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity, and this project will make rail travel faster, greener and more reliable for millions of passengers.
“By investing in modern infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations for long-term prosperity in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions while ensuring that the UK has a rail network passengers can be proud of.”
Another round of consultation will take place in the New Year before the project heads towards a full DCO submission next spring or summer.
