Three days left to share thoughts over East West Rail plans

People can view and comment on the latest plans for the proposed Oxford to Cambridge rail link, set to deliver stops in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, until the end of the week.

The latest consultation was launched to get views from the public and organisations until Friday the 24th January 2025.

After a series of in-person events in the main towns and villages set to be affected by or benefit from East West Rail, a final consultation is due to be held today (21/01) in Cambridge.

The East West Rail would connect communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

Officials say some passenger services are due to start running from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes from the end of the year.

A key milestone for of the project was reached towards the end of last year with the first test train successfully completing its first run between Oxford and Bletchley.

The government has described it as one of Britain’s largest transport projects, claiming it's set to boost the Oxford-Cambridge economy by £6.7 billion per year by 2050.

Residents of Woburn Sands in Buckinghamshire shared their thoughts with Greatest Hits Radio.

Paul, one of the residents whose property overlooks the current rail lines, said: "Particularly on the freight, it's much louder, it's mainly diesel, and it's very unsocial hours - 2:00 in the morning, 4:00 in the morning.

"And when you're living so close to a railroad line, you weren't expecting that to be happening.

"OK it saves a lot of lorries going on to the road, but it's the balance, and I'm not convinced there is a solid business case around the freight stuff anyway."

Another resident, Margaret, said: "I've lived in Woburn Sands nearly 30 years, and I also was a child here growing up and went to schools, and I just want to understand how the landscape will change, what the rail will mean to to this village.

"I mean, already we've seen a lot of building work going on and we've seen that the village change, so it's important to me to understand what's happening and how long is it going to take."

Gerard, whose property also overlooks the current rail lines, said: "I was a child here. In fact, I lived next to the railway line and remember it when it was steam engines.

"And of course, I do remember when we could get through to Cambridge.

"We've been part of a time of great change in this community, with Milton Keynes coming, what had been all farming land is now home to 350,000 people and then all of the infrastructural things that's taking place and we are obviously very interested as to the proposals are."

You can find the online consultation here.