Line now includes proposed new build station at Cambridge East and four new stations on Marston Vale Line
East West Rail has announced more than 80 design changes to its route including proposals for a new station east of Cambridge.
EWR Co, the company behind the £7bn line, has unveiled a new routemap following an extensive public consultation held earlier this year and detailed technical design work.
The route, which runs from Oxford in the west to Cambridge in the east via Milton Keynes and Bedford, will now terminate at a newbuild station called Cambridge East located on vacant land next to Cambridge City Airport.
The was originally earmarked for a turnaround facility but has been upgraded to a full station in order to open up rail access for communities in the east of the city, reduce pressure on Cambridge’s main station and support growth in one of the fastest-growing parts of the UK.
The new station, which is subject to third party funding, would be the fifth serving the city, joining the planned EWR station at Cambourne to the west of the city, Cambridge North, Cambridge South and the existing central station.
The updated routemap also proposes consolidating nine existing stations on the Marston Vale Line into four, larger newbuild stations with better facilities, including a new station at Stewartby to serve the planned Universal Studios UK theme park.
The four new stations on this part of the line would be split between rebuilds of existing stations and brand new stations in new locations aiming to provide stronger connections to new housing and business developments.
Other changes include a new southern entrance at Tempsford station, an eastern entrance at Cambridge station and an eastern entrance at Bletchley station.
The first leg of the line between Oxford and Bletchley has already opened, with another leg, the Cowley line, confirmed by the government last month. A team including Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and Volker Rail has been carrying out the first phases of work.
EWR Co is aiming to complete the entire line between Oxford and Cambridge by the mid to late 2030s.
The firm’s chief executive David Hughe said: “These updates reflect our commitment to listening to communities while designing a railway that delivers long-term benefits for the region.
“Our latest proposals better reflect what matters most to people and will deliver better outcomes for passengers, local communities and the environment.
Public engagement on the latest proposals will continue in the New Year with a series of localised events in specific communities.
A fresh round of consultation will be held in the spring or summer next year before the project finalises its application to the secretary of state for a Development Consent Order, which is needed before construction can start.
Engineering consultants Mott MacDonald and WSP are working on the project as principal designers in a joint venture called MWJV.
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