Consultation events on East West Rail have resumed following the festive period.
More than 3,100 people have attended events since the third non-statutory consultation began on 14 November, and more than 2,200 feedback forms completed. A virtual consultation room has also recorded more than 5,000 views by more than 1,700 users.
The latest events are at:
– 2-7pm, Tuesday, 7 January – St Neots Town Football Club, 5 Kester Way, St Neots, PE19 6SL – 10am-12pm, Thursday, 9 January – Online webinar at https://shorturl.at/Q0Ezd – 2-7pm, Friday, 10 January – Comberton Village Hall, Green End, Comberton, Cambridge CB23 7DY – 2-7pm, Wednesday, 15 January – Bletchley Masonic Centre, 263 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2BZ- 2-7pm, Friday, 17 January – Woburn Sands, The Summerlin Centre, 138 Station Road, Milton Keynes, MK17 8SG – 12-5pm, Saturday, 18 January – The Clayton Hotel, 27-29 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2FB- 2-7pm, Tuesday, 21 January – St Andrew’s Church, Coldhams Lane, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, CB1 3JS
The line is due to connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, via new stations at Tempsford in Bedfordshire and Cambourne.
Those attending the events can discuss the updated proposals with members of EWR Co’s team and see the revised design work.
The updated proposals contain revised infrastructure and design plans for a new stretch of railway between Bedford and Cambridge, including tunnels beneath the A428, plus essential railway improvement works to upgrade the existing railway between Oxford and Bedford.
The updates follow feedback to previous non-statutory consultation and further technical design work.
David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “Our consultation events have been attended by more than 3,000 people across the route wanting to learn more about our updated proposals and sharing their feedback in significant numbers.
“I have really enjoyed discussing the benefits of the new rail line with people at the events and hearing their views on it as this exciting project builds momentum with passenger services between Oxford and Bletchley due to start later this year.
“There is strong support for East West Rail and much more certainty about the project now. I would encourage people to find out more about the project by attending one of the remaining events and sharing their views to help us refine our designs further to present at our statutory consultation.”
The government committed to delivering East West Rail in full in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
The main consultation document can be viewed at https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024 where a feedback form can also be completed and supporting documents seen.