East West Rail Advances Electrification Plans as Lessons Shape New Delivery Strategy

East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has set out updated plans to electrify key sections of the route and increase capacity, as it launches a fresh public consultation ahead of its Development Consent Order (DCO) application in 2027.

The proposals include electrification of the Marston Vale Line and the stretch between Bedford and Tempsford, meaning around half of the Milton Keynes to Cambridge route will be fully electrified once complete. The scheme also aims to significantly boost service levels, with up to four five-car trains per hour planned between Oxford and Stewartby, rising to five trains per hour between Oxford and Cambridge by the mid-2030s.

A major factor behind the revised approach is the planned Universal Resort near Bedford, expected to open in 2031. EWR Co said the scale of anticipated demand from the development required a rethink of earlier phasing plans.

Chief Executive David Hughes said previous proposals—such as introducing a limited service increase by 2030—no longer aligned with the scale of future passenger demand. The updated strategy instead focuses on delivering capacity and connectivity earlier to support the new destination.

Shift in delivery approach

EWR Co is also overhauling how the railway will be delivered, moving away from a phased “connection stages” model to a more flexible approach that allows sections to open as they are completed.

Operations Director Ben Rule said the change reflects lessons learned from delays on the Oxford to Milton Keynes section, where services have yet to begin despite infrastructure being largely complete.

“We want to avoid situations where infrastructure is ready but services are not,” he said, adding that earlier engagement with train operators will be key to ensuring smoother delivery in future phases.

The company has been working more closely with operators and industry partners, including preparations for services linked to the Universal Resort, to ensure operational readiness is built into project planning from the outset.

Infrastructure and stations

Plans also include significant changes to stations along the Marston Vale Line, with three new fully accessible stations proposed at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington. These would replace five existing stations, reflecting a shift towards modern, higher-capacity infrastructure.

Further east, the delivery of Tempsford station is being brought forward by up to five years, with construction now expected to begin around 2030. The station—located at the junction with the East Coast Main Line—is seen as a key catalyst for a planned new town of up to 40,000 homes.

Work is also being accelerated at Cambridge, including upgrades to the existing station and the development of Cambridge East, a new station linked to wider housing growth following the planned closure of Cambridge City Airport.

Rolling stock and operations

Battery-electric trains are expected to operate across the route in the longer term, with a new fleet due to enter service in line with the completion of the Bedford to Cambridge section.

In the interim, Chiltern Railways is expected to operate services on the Oxford to Milton Keynes section using existing diesel units, although EWR Co has acknowledged that additional rolling stock will be required to meet increased service levels.

Wider improvements

The plans also include the removal or replacement of level crossings along the route, including a new underpass at London Road in Bicester, described by local representatives as a significant improvement for the area.

Ongoing consultation

The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on June 9, as EWR Co prepares its final proposals for submission. The full railway, spanning nearly 100 miles, is expected to be completed in the mid-to-late 2030s.

The project has faced criticism following delays to the opening of the Oxford to Milton Keynes section, which has yet to see passenger services despite being cleared for operation in 2024. EWR Co says its revised approach is designed to ensure future phases are delivered more effectively, with benefits realised earlier across the route.