East West Rail will link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, connecting one of the UK’s most productive regions, home to world-leading universities and global life sciences and technology firms. The corridor already delivers billions of pounds to the economy but growth is constrained by:
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Poor access to highly skilled labour: Businesses cannot grow as the talent pool in Oxford and Cambridge is limited.
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High housing costs: The region has some of the highest housing costs outside London, but has poor connectivity to more affordable areas such as Bedford and Milton Keynes.
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Limited access to lab and commercial space: This prevents businesses investing and growing. High commercial rents due to limited space also stunts the growth of small start-up businesses.
Without investment in infrastructure, future expansion could be lost to the UK’s global competitors.
East West Rail can help grow the economy, foster innovation, deliver new housing and regenerate towns and cities across the region. Government backing has been reaffirmed, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently pledging to accelerate a new station at Tempsford in Bedfordshire as part of a strategy that could add up to £78bn to the UK economy by 2035.
Reopened railways also have a proven track record in attracting investment and regenerating town centres. Evidence of this can be seen in Corby, which has seen significant regeneration since the branch line to Kettering was reopened in 2009 and now provides commuters with a direct service to London St Pancras.
The East West Rail Alliance has already rebuilt the section of line between Bicester and Bletchley. This line was handed over to Network Rail before Christmas last year and it is now part of the national network. Chiltern Railways and the Department of Transport are now working together to deliver direct passenger services which will connect Oxford, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central.
Plans are advancing to upgrade the Marston Vale Line, including a potential station for the proposed Universal theme park, while final designs for the Bedford–Cambridge link will soon be published. The park expects over 8.5 million visitors a year, making East West Rail vital for sustainable travel and reducing congestion in the area – a key concern for residents. EWR Co is working with local authorities and the park to align plans.
A 10-week consultation earlier in the year drew over 5,500 responses, showing strong public interest in the project. The feedback from this is now being used in the final design processes, with EWR Co set to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) by 2027.
For more information on the project or to subscribe to their newsletter for updates visit www.eastwestrail.co.uk.
Find out more and visit East West Rail at Your Business Expo Bedford
📅 Date: Thursday, 9th October 2025
📍 Location: Bedford International Athletic Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford, MK41 9SB
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM