East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has started its latest consultation for the new railway including an accelerated construction programme plus plans to run up to five trains an hour.  

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

These proposals now take into account plans for the Universal Resort entertainment complex and theme park 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, EWR is now proposed to be built 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. 

EWR says this approach aims to bring forward better benefits to communities and passengers and accelerate delivery in certain sections, allowing new communities to grow around the infrastructure in place, unlocking housing opportunities and drawing in more investment and businesses. It says this 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 at peak times or potentially all day,if required. This fifth train could be used to enable service extensions to and from locations on the wider rail network beyond the EWR route. Five-carriage trains, rather than four carriages, are also proposed due to increased demand.

David Hughes, CEO of 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. 

“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.”  

Transport minister, Heidi Alexander, said EWR is “central” to the to government’s economic growth mission and plans to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

By delivering new east-to-west connectivity, EWR can support up to 100,000 new homes, connecting new and established communities with improved access to employment, training and education. By 2050, EWR is expected to boost the regional economy by £6.7bn every year.

Latest proposals include:
Tempsford: plans to connect the proposed new town of Tempsford to the rail network will be brought forward five years earlier than originally planned. Construction of a new station at Tempsford would start by 2030, giving Tempsford access to north-south services on the East Coast Main Line. EWR platforms would follow in the mid to late 2030s.

Marston Vale Line: upgrades to the track, electrification and a new station at Stewartby to serve the Universal theme park will be accelerated - along with three new fully accessible stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington. These upgrades will allow four trains an hour to run between Oxford and Stewartby by the early 2030s

Bedford: delivery of a brand-new station is being brought forward. This will regenerate a key gateway to the town and create full connectivity in every direction. Once it’s complete, those four trains an hour between Oxford and Stewartby will be extended to Bedford by the mid-2030s.

Cambridge: new entrance at Cambridge station and a new station at Cambridge East to be accelerated.  .

Full-service timeline: the full end-to-end service with up to five trains an hour running all the way from Oxford to Cambridge will be operational by the mid to late 2030s.

Electrification:  hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains are planned to operate along the railway to enhance decarbonisation, support UK net zero goals and reduce emissions.

Gidon Freeman, vice-president, external affairs at Universal Destinations and Experiences, said: “One of the reasons we selected our site for a new entertainment resort complex featuring a world class theme park is its central location and excellent transport links. East West Rail can further improve that connectivity - its proposed station by Universal would enhance guest and team member arrival with a new link to our resort from across the Ox-Cam Corridor.”   

The consultation will run for eight weeks from April 14 to June 9, 2026. A series of public drop-in events are being held across the route. Click here for full consultation details.