“Unachievable” East West Rail needs a rethink

It has come as no surprise to those of us who have taken an interest in the current East West Rail proposal that it has been deemed “unachievable” (RAIL 963).

The project has failed to be convincing on many fronts.

To start with, the consultation process to choose the route from Bedford to Cambridge was flawed, with residents unaware of the idea. Some only learned of the proposal when Compulsory Purchase Orders dropped through their letterboxes.

Farcically, this consultation has been used to demonstrate public support for a northern route out of Bedford, while the supporting evidence that other routes were more effective was ignored and changed.

Furthermore, the argument that it improves travel times has been disproved. Even for those who live adjacent to the station in Bedford, relatively simple routes will be more time-consuming and costly compared with alternative modes of travel.

Thus, the current proposal rests not upon reducing the current transport problems of the region, but upon adding more demand through new settlements. It will be a glorified park and ride service for short trips into Cambridge and Oxford.

Network Rail has concluded that the design will not improve connectivity to the greater railway system.

Meanwhile, the delays in EWR producing a business plan merely reinforce scepticism and the argument that the company will not deliver on its stated aims.

East West Rail could be a valuable scheme that improves the environment and helps the regional economy. But at present, the proposals need to be scrapped sooner rather than later, and proper planning introduced.

Ian Nicholls, Bedford