New plans and images for East West Rail have been unveiled, including the possibility of running up to five trains an hour between Oxford and Cambridge.

The trains will be longer, and several stations will be rebuilt or gain additional entrances, while discontinuous electrification is likely, so that hybrid electric/battery trains can be used.

The new plans are part of a further round of consultation which has been launched today by the East West Railway company. 

The Marston Vale section between Bletchley and Bedford will be upgraded, with four new stations on the cards, although some of the existing stations could be closed.

The proposals now take into account the plans for the Universal Resort south of Bedford and reflect the expected increase in passenger demand along the line. They include a new station at Stewartby to serve the theme park, along with another new station at Wixams near Elstow on the Midland Main Line.

A controversial level crossing at London Road in Bicester is due to be replaced by a bridge, while proposals to serve Tempsford will be brought forward by five years. Other stations to be upgraded include Bedford, which will gain a new western entrance, additional platforms, improved drop-off facilities and bus connections, as well as a public plaza.

Development of the through route will also be arranged in new ‘delivery phases’ to replace 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.

A core service of four trains an hour on the whole route is proposed, and an additional fifth train could run at peak times or potentially all day. This fifth train could be used to extend EWR services to stations beyond Oxford and Cambridge. Five-car trains, rather than four car, are also proposed to meet the expected demand.

Construction of a new station at Tempsford on the East Coast Main Line would start by 2030, and EWR platforms would follow in the mid- to late 2030s. Extending the station to include a southern entrance is now proposed to provide improved access on both sides of the A421 and support a phased opening. There would be a north-south link through a new underpass beneath the new A421, providing active travel and bus routes to and from the station.

Work on the Marston Vale Line will include track upgrades, electrification and a new station at Stewartby to serve the Universal theme park, as well as three new fully accessible stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington. These upgrades would allow four trains an hour to run between Oxford and Stewartby by the early 2030s.

A new entrance at Cambridge station and a new station at Cambridge East are also part of the plans.

East West Railway Company CEO David Hughes 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.

‘By bringing forward key elements of the railway and planning for increased demand, we are helping to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support future growth and opportunities for our communities. I encourage residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation and share their views on our latest plans.’

EWR Co said feedback from the consultation, which runs from today until 9 June will be taken into account, as designs for the railway are completed ready for the submission of a Development Consent Order application in 2027.

A series of public drop-in events are being held along the route to provide opportunities to meet the EWR Co staff and find out more about the updated proposals.

In the meantime, a campaign calling for trains to start running between Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central is continuing in Winslow, where the new station has been completed for more than a year but has yet to open because of a dispute over train staffing between Chiltern Railways and the RMT. 

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