The East West Railway Company has marked a significant milestone in its consultation process for the new railway line connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge, as it welcomed a record-breaking turnout. Over 5,200 individuals attended 16 in-person events held along the entire route, providing a chance for locals to learn more about the ambitious project.

The railway, divided into three phases and slated for completion over the next decade, promises to stimulate economic growth in both the region and the broader UK economy. This consultation, the company’s third of its kind, spanned 10 weeks and gave the public an opportunity to explore the latest plans and provide valuable feedback.

The consultation period, which concluded on January 24, saw an impressive surge in engagement, with attendance more than doubling compared to the previous round in 2023. It also surpassed the figures from the 2019 consultation.

Key highlights of the consultation include:

  • 5,206 attendees at community events
  • Over 5,500 responses submitted
  • 44,296 views of the consultation page on the website
  • More than 6,000 interactive map views
  • 5,800 visits to the virtual consultation room by 2,200 unique users

This overwhelming response highlights strong public interest and engagement with the project, reinforcing its importance to local communities and the wider national economy.

David Hughes, CEO at EWR Co, said: “East West Rail is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses across the region and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to come and talk to us and share their views.

“We are now working to review and analyse the feedback that has been received to help inform the continued development of the design over the coming months.”

To date, East West Rail has conducted three rounds of public engagement, using the valuable feedback gathered to refine and enhance the project’s designs. The company is now focused on finalizing its proposals, which will be shared with the public before submitting a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the new infrastructure to the government.

The proposed railway line aims to boost the region’s dynamic life science cluster, create better access to jobs, and provide space for business growth. It will also play a crucial role in regenerating town centres, improving connectivity within the region and across the UK, and supporting the development of new affordable housing. The UK government confirmed its commitment to fully delivering the railway in its 2024 Autumn budget.

A summary report from the consultation will be published on the East West Rail website in the coming weeks, and the finalized proposals will be shared with the public during a statutory consultation planned for late 2025 or early 2026.

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