- Up to five EWR trains an hour and longer trains now proposed for the entire route
- Hybrid electric/battery trains to support net zero goals
- New visualisation images of new Cambridge East station, new eastern entrance at Cambridge station and Cambourne station, and fly-through animation of Hauxton Junction highlight latest design proposals
- A new location for Cambourne station proposed to better serve the town and future development including potentially 13,000 new homes – including a plaza beneath the station to allow access from both sides
The latest details are part of East West Rail’s last route-wide consultation on the project, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge before a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to build the railway is submitted in 2027.
These proposals now take into account the plans for the Universal Resort 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.
This approach aims to bring forward better benefits to communities and passengers and accelerate the delivery of EWR in certain sections, allowing new communities to grow around the infrastructure in place, unlocking housing opportunities and drawing in more investment and businesses. It 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.
Latest proposals:
Cambridge Station - a new station entrance on Clifton Road is proposed which would deliver early connectivity improvements for passengers ahead of the introduction of EWR services. The new eastern entrance would make the station more convenient to access and more attractive for residents and local businesses. It would reduce both the amount of upgrade infrastructure works on the west side and the impact on the Grade II listed building. The entrance would be fully accessible, providing step-free access to all platforms. It would also have a new active travel hub with bike storage, along with landscaping and street improvements, such as seating and lighting.
Cambridge East station – following feedback, a new station at Cambridge East is proposed which would serve villages to the east of Cambridge, as well as planned developments in the area, whilst reducing pressure on Cambridge station. The station, which would be near Cambridge City Airport, would help stimulate economic growth in the area and would unlock a new connection to the wider region through a significantly upgraded Newmarket Line, which would in turn enable connections to existing regional links to Felixstowe and Ipswich. The new station, which is subject to third-party funding, would be completed to allow other services to use it before EWR services start.
Cambourne station – following feedback a different location for the new Cambourne station is proposed compared to the design presented at our previous consultation. The new station would be located on the north side of St Neots Road, about 700m west of the previous proposal, as presented at our You Said, We Did Autumn Update. This location would better serve Cambourne and would enable a greater degree of development close to the station, as well as potentially supporting 13,000 homes earmarked for north Cambourne. The site would also have a lower environmental impact than the previous location. We are now proposing to provide an underpass beneath the railway, as opposed to a footbridge over the railway, with stairs and lifts to provide step-free access up to the platforms. The proposed location for the station would enable an improved passenger timetable.
Bourn to Harlton - the height of the railway between Bourne Brook and Harlton is proposed to be reduced by six metres and the design of the A603 Cambridge Road has changed to take the form of a green bridge over the railway, providing better opportunities for habitat and species connectivity and landscape integration. The point at which the railway crosses Long Brook has been moved 200m to the east so the height of the railway can be kept lower for longer.
Harlton and Haslingfield - as outlined in the You Said, We Did Autumn Update, the length of the proposed tunnel starting south of Harlton Road has increased since the last consultation, from 700m to 940m. This has allowed the size of cuttings required at each end of the tunnel to be made smaller, reducing the amount of material that needs to be transported during construction and the cost of construction.
Electrification – hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains are planned to operate along the railway, including from Cambridge’s main station to the new Cambridge East terminus to reduce emissions and support net zero goals.
Cambridge Eastern train care centre – Fulbourn has been identified as a potential location for a train care centre where trains can be cleaned, serviced and kept overnight. The train care centre will reduce empty train mileage outside normal train service operating hours. Further exploration is being undertaken as to whether an alternative location for the train care centre as an industry-wide solution is possible.
David Hughes, CEO, 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. More frequent and higher-capacity trains alongside a new station at Cambridge East and a new entrance at Cambridge station, will help unlock housing, support new jobs and attract investment, while giving residents and businesses better connections to Bedford, Milton Keynes and Oxford and wider destinations across the country.
“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.”
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “East West Rail will unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth, jobs and homes. This consultation reflects continuing progress on the final design for this critical railway and another step forward to delivering the benefits of this project to a multitude of individuals, local communities and businesses.”
Dr Andy Williams, Chair, Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, said: "East West Rail will greatly improve connectivity between Oxford, Cambridge and the towns in between, stimulating the flow of talented people, innovation and investment needed to secure the UK's position as a global science supercluster. It will boost business confidence in the region, providing opportunities to expand to other locations along the route, such as Bedford and Milton Keynes, and connecting a region of 3.5 million people ready to compete with other global superclusters like Silicon Valley.”
Gidon Freeman, Vice-President, External Affairs, 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.”
Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs for the railway are finalised ready for the submission of a Development Consent Order in 2027.
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 to provide opportunities to meet the EWR Co team and find out more about the updated proposals*.
For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, please visit the consultation page, contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at [email protected] or call 0330 134 0067.
Feedback must be received by 23:59 on 9 June 2026.
