East West Rail Unveils Expanded Station Strategy as Oxford–Cambridge Plans Evolve

East West Rail has substantially reworked its blueprint for the Oxford–Cambridge line, revealing an enlarged package of station proposals and service changes as the £7bn project approaches the Development Consent Order (DCO) stage.

More than 80 revisions have been incorporated across the route, with the Marston Vale Line seeing the most dramatic transformation. The current nine small and outdated stations on the stretch will be swept aside in favour of four larger, modern replacements designed to support higher-frequency services and accommodate future growth.

One of these new stations will be a relocated Stewartby, positioned to serve the planned Universal Studios theme park – a move intended to channel future visitor demand directly onto rail.

Station Additions and Major Redesigns

The updated package includes a mix of newly proposed stations, reorganised layouts and additional entrances:

• Cambridge East – A new station close to Cambridge Airport has been introduced into the scheme. Its construction will depend on external funding, but its inclusion reflects the city’s rapid expansion and the pressure on its existing stations.

• Cambourne (EWR) – Still the preferred western access point for Cambridge and now part of an expanded five-station network across the city.

• Stewartby (new site) – Shifted to a location better aligned with the potential Universal Studios development.

• Three consolidated Marston Vale stations – Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington will replace nine existing stops, improving journey times and operational performance.

• Tempsford (new) – Planned between Bedford and Cambridge, with a newly added southern entrance to link into the government-backed new town proposals. Ministers have instructed EWR Co and Network Rail to accelerate work on the East Coast Main Line connection.

• Cambridge station – eastern entrance – A long-discussed new entrance including an active travel hub, additional ticket gates and improved cycling and walking routes.

• Bletchley station – eastern entrance – Proposed new access on the town-centre side of the station, dependent on third-party funding.

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Network-Wide Design Changes

In Oxford, design adjustments have been introduced to align the scheme with future reinstatement of the Cowley Branch Line. This will free up operational space at Oxford station and enable East West Rail to run its planned timetable more reliably.

Cambridge, meanwhile, is set for a substantial uplift in rail capacity. Alongside the main station upgrade, the proposed Cambridge East station is expected to relieve congestion at the city’s central hub and help unlock new development areas to the east.

Government Endorsement

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the expanded design reflects the project’s wider purpose:

“East West Rail is more than a railway – it’s a catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity, and this project will make rail travel faster, greener and more reliable for millions of passengers. By investing in modern infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations for long-term prosperity in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions while ensuring that the UK has a rail network passengers can be proud of.”

Next Steps

A further round of public consultation is planned for early in the New Year before EWR submits its DCO application in late spring or summer. If approved, the project will represent one of the most ambitious inter-urban rail investments undertaken in the UK in decades.