CambridgeshireLive readers share strong views on plans to link Cambridge, Oxford, Bedford and Milton Keynes by rail, with concerns over costs, delays and local impact

CambridgeshireLive readers have been sharing strong views on the latest plans to link Oxford, Bedford and Cambridge by rail. The comments below were posted under our earlier report. They show worries about cost, delivery, and local impact. Some ask for different priorities closer to home.

The latest details on a “once-in-a-generation” project to link Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Bedford have been revealed. East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has announced details of its last route-wide consultation on the latest designs for the scheme.

East West Rail plans to construct a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge. Proposals include upgrading an existing section of railway between Oxford and Bicester, bringing back a section of railway between Bicester and Bletchley, and building brand new railway infrastructure between Bedford and Cambridge.

EWR Co has confirmed that an eight-week consultation will run from April 14 to June 9. Communities along the route will be able to have their say on the proposals before a Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027.

One reader questioned who would benefit. Weneedqueenmeghan comments: “It’s a private railway for the university. Nobody else will use it. They should pay for it themselves.”

Camssurvivor says: “I travelled on the last train from Bletchley to Cambridge nearly 60 years ago. If the line wasn’t considered financially viable and essential then, it certainly isn’t now. Governments have thrown money around like water.”

Feelgood66 asks: “How many people have looked at what is being proposed, the actual plans, road closures, permanent. Where’s the benefit to the villages? There is none. Just years of pollution to look forward to. Destruction of the countryside.”

Calumen Nomen quotes: “‘Communities along the route will have an opportunity to have their say on the plans.’ Hilarious. Communities along the route have been vociferous in their condemnation of this eye-wateringly expensive white elephant for years now. In particular, the decision to build the country’s largest new town and then route a new (and their only) railway fifteen miles due south is black-belt mindlessness. We closed the old varsity line because no one used it. We have just cancelled half of HS2 because of its cost and general pointlessness. And yet this hapless and untalented administration carries on, like a super-tanker with a tree-sloth at the helm.”

Windypants simply says: “Delusional project.”

While over on our Facebook page, John M comments: “They’ve held this three or four times. The line from Oxford to Bletchley finished a year ago, but no trains yet as we can’t agree who shuts the doors on trains. There are no plans to have stations in local communities between Cambridge and Bedford, only two, one at Cambourne and one in a new unbuilt town.”

Alan W says: “All the time, as the months go by, the price increases by millions. I wonder, if they think they have endless meetings, whether this is a distraction from the fact that there may not be simply any money to pay for the section to Cambridge.”

Silvia KT writes: “This has been in the pipeline for a few years, and still nothing has been done about the Cambridge to Bedford bit, and then the whole thing from Cambridge to Oxford. They have held lots of meetings, but still no proposed route from Cambridge to Bedford or from Cambridge to Oxford.”

Carole CB feels: “Better links to Fulbourn would be a better idea.”

While Jeremy B adds: “Wish they could reconnect Huntington to Cambridge via train.”

Scott Peacock comments: “Another consultant meeting. You will get the same whining nimby’s objecting to the railway. Just look at the mess they made of the countryside when constructing the extension of the A428 near St Neots. You can’t make an omelette without the eggs.”

Where do you believe urgently needs a rail connection with Cambridge? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.

A Cambridgeshire resident has said a crash on the roundabout would be “damaging and catastrophic”.

A Cambridgeshire resident has called for the speed limit to be reduced on a roundabout, as drivers have to “take a chance” when travelling between towns and villages. Paul Tither, who regularly drives on the A1096, has said cars come “flying off” the roundabout near Jones Boatyard that connects Low Road, Hemingford Road, and Harrison Way.

Mr Tither said the area around the roundabout can get congested during peak times, which makes it difficult to drive safely. He added: “The speed limit is 40mph back where the petrol station is and then it speeds up to the national speed limit.

“People come flying off the roundabout and the visibility on the Hemingford side is quite poor because there’s a lot of overgrown trees. I’ve got a family with one child and another child on the way and it can sometimes feel risky driving around the roundabout.”

Mr Tither claimed families have to “take a chance” when driving in the area with many cars “beeping their horns” while doing 60mph on the roundabout. He would like to see the speed limit lowered to 40 or 30mph to make the roundabout safer.

He continued: “If you are coming out of a roundabout and you’re already on it and then there’s a car legally doing 60mph, getting hit at that speed would be quite damaging and catastrophic, rather than at 30mph. With children, it’s a bit worrying.

“I’ve seen people on the St Ives side take a glance and then go because they are driving so fast, they probably feel it’s safer from them to continue at that speed rather than slam on the brakes to let someone go who is coming from the right even though that’s the way you’re supposed to give way from.”

The roundabout is also used by pedestrians and cyclists. Mr Tither said: “I’ve seen people try and cross the road at the roundabout to get to Fenstanton and they are stood there for ages because cars are going so fast they don’t want to take that risk.

“We have a pram as well, so it restricts where we would want to go. We wouldn’t necessarily go back across to Fenstanton even though we used to live there because it’s not a safe route for us to take.”

Mr Tither believes more people would be willing to visit the area if the speed limit was reduced. As well as reducing the speed limit, which Mr Tither believes is the “ultimate goal”, he also thinks “more warnings” for drivers before they reach the roundabout would be useful. As the area gets a lot of tourists, many do not know about the roundabout and the layout of the roads.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “Safety on our roads is a key priority, however, we’re not aware of any reported concerns at this roundabout. Our records show there have been no injury collisions since 2024. We will inspect the vegetation on the roundabout and trim as required.

“Parish councils, any groups, or organisations that represent the local community can apply to our Local Highways Improvement programme for funding. The schemes are community driven and give local people the opportunity to put forward proposals for highway improvements in their area. More information is available on our website.”

Cambridgeshire County Council has scaled back enforcement after on-street checks identified issues with the clarity and placement of signs in the Milton Road Resident Parking Scheme

Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing how parking enforcement on streets around Milton Road in Cambridge has been scaled back. It comes after council checks revealed that some parking signs were either unclear or incorrectly positioned.

Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed that on-street inspections have uncovered problems with “the clarity and placement” of certain signs connected to the Milton Road Resident Parking Scheme. The scheme’s original design sought to reduce the number of signs, particularly along longer stretches of road with multiple marked bays.

The authority has acknowledged that a marked bay lacking the necessary upright signage could be interpreted by motorists as an unrestricted parking area. On-street inspections have since confirmed that this approach has caused confusion in certain locations.

The parking scheme covers approximately 27 roads within the Milton area of Cambridge. It requires residents to pay for permits costing between £35 and £105 per year in order to park in that part of the city.

A notice published on Cambridgeshire County Council’s website stated: “The County Council is carrying out a detailed ground survey to identify where additional signage is required and where changes to existing signage are needed to improve clarity and legal compliance.

“This may include installing new signs, as well as moving, replacing, removing or updating existing signs to ensure correct spacing and that the correct restrictions are clearly displayed. This work will ensure the scheme is clear, consistent and fully enforceable. At this stage, the Council is not able to provide a definitive timeline for completion.

“While this work is being completed, the scheme cannot be fully enforced in all areas. During this period, enforcement will be limited to double yellow lines and single yellow lines during their signed hours of operation.”

The announcement prompted a fierce response from readers in our comments section. One reader, Calumen Nomen comments: “Can’t these out-of-their-depth placeholders do anything right? Really, it’s about time prospective councillors, etc., were given tests for basic economic literacy and management before they are allowed to take office. Wasting everyone else’s time and money like this should be a crime – or a sackable offence at the very least.”

Brexit498 adds: “Now is a good time to remind people that at the farcical consultation, 76 per cent objected to the scheme/scam. ‘Once the scheme meets all legal requirements, residents will be invited to apply for permits again.’ For most, it’s not an invite, it’s a compulsion.”

Skipper says: “The council already extorts unbelievably large sums of money from people in the form of taxes. It is completely unreasonable that it should be able to extort additional sums from residents or visitors to park their cars.”

Freddly feels: “One strongly suspects that drivers were well aware of the new regulations, but of course, happy to find a loophole. However, I don’t have a problem with the refunds. ‘Once the scheme meets all legal requirements, residents will be invited to apply for permits again.’ The cost of a permit should, in the meantime, increase to reflect the increased cost of infrastructure related to the scheme.”

Rhodabike writes: “Yet another mess up from the Milton Road ‘improvements’. Added to the overspending, overrunning, increased journey times for all users, excessive traffic lights, unsuitable materials, mismanaged consultations, poor drainage, shoddy workmanship (potholes are already forming), and various other issues. Is there a single part of this scheme that the council/GCP actually got right?”

Hoopoe says: “This was the fault of the GCP, who were granted a huge amount of our money. This self-congratulating bunch were responsible for the ridiculous and totally unnecessary roundabout and the changes to parking outside the shops on Milton Road. Histon Road, another of their improvements, already has problems with two drain covers which are sinking.”

Have you been caught out by the unclear signage? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.

Communities along the route will have an opportunity to have their say on the plans

The latest details on a “once-in-a-generation” project to link Cambridge, Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Bedford have been revealed. East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has announced details of its last route-wide consultation on the latest designs for the project.

East West Rail plans to build a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge. Plans include upgrading an existing section of railway between Oxford and Bicester, bringing back a section of railway between Bicester and Bletchley, and building brand new railway infrastructure between Bedford and Cambridge.

EWR Co has confirmed that an eight-week consultation will run from April 14 to June 9. Communities along the route will be able to have their say on the plans before a Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027.

David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “This consultation marks a major milestone for East West Rail as we move closer to delivering a once-in-a-generation project that will transform connectivity across the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor.”

Mr Hughes continued: “We’ve listened carefully to feedback to shape these latest designs, which include plans to deliver benefits earlier through phased construction, improve accessibility, and support our net zero ambitions through innovative, lower-carbon technology.

“I’d strongly encourage everyone along the route to take part in our last consultation. Your views are vital in helping us refine our plans and ensure East West Rail delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and the wider region for generations to come.”

The consultation will provide latest designs and information including new visualisations of stations and fly-through animations of route sections. There will be details on a phased construction period to deliver parts of the project and new stations or upgrades to existing stations.

The consultation will also include proposed service patterns and carriage lengths to meet the demand for Universal theme park, as well as the latest information on level crossings.

Public drop-in events are being held across the route for people to talk with experts from EWR Co. Consultation events will be hosted in places including Great Shelford, Cambridge, and Cambourne. All the information shown at the public events will also be accessible online in a virtual room.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene

A motorcyclist has died after he crashed into a lamppost. A 50-year-old man from Market Deeping was travelling from the A605 on Flaxley Road, Peterborough, at around 2.40pm on Friday (April 3).

The man crashed and struck a lamppost. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “The rider of the red Triumph Daytona, a 50-year-old man from Market Deeping, was travelling north west from the A605 on Flaxley Road at about 2.40pm on Friday when he struck a lamppost.

“Officers and paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene and there were no other vehicles involved.”

Police are appealing for information into the incident. Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote incident 280 of April 3. Alternatively, they can report it online.

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Police have made no arrests

A cyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash on a busy Cambridge road. Emergency services were called to Station Road in Cambridge at around 6pm on Saturday (April 4).

The crash involved a bike and bus. Cambridgeshire Police attended and the cyclist was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries.

The bus driver remained at the scene. Officers made no arrests and continue to investigate the incident.

Stagecoach and the East of England Ambulance Service have been contacted for more information.

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The crash involved a car and a police van.

A police officer has been injured after being involved in a crash. Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of a crash on Gilbert Road in Cambridge at around 8.55am on Thursday (April 2).

The collision involved a car and a police van. One officer was injured during the incident. No arrests have been made.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We were called at about 8.55am this morning (2 April) to Gilbert Road, Cambridge, to reports of a collision between a car and a police van.

“An officer suffered minor injuries, there were no arrests and officers remain at the scene.”

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Debris from the crash also hit another car

A motorcyclist has died following a crash with a tractor on the A142. The rider of a yellow Yamaha motorbike was travelling from the Block Fen Drove roundabout towards Chatteris when he collided with a tractor travelling in the opposite direction at about 8.11pm yesterday (March 31).

Officers and paramedics attended, but the motorcyclist, a 53-year-old man from March, sadly died at the scene. The driver of the tractor, a 16-year-old boy from Haddenham, was interviewed at the scene and is helping officers with their enquiries. Debris from the crash also hit another car, a Volkswagen Polo, but the driver was uninjured.

An investigation has been launched and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed either the motorbike or tractor before the collision, those with relevant dash cam footage, or with any information about the collision.

The public have been urged to report information online here quoting Operation Juniper or incident 485 of 31 March. Call 101 if you do not have internet access.

A train company is trying to promote more travel between Cambridge and Ipswich

A name has been chosen for a train line that connects Cambridge to a Suffolk town. Greater Anglia is working to promote the use of trains between Ipswich and Cambridge for work, education, retail and tourism.

A part of this work is giving the rail line a name. Following a consultation in 2024 that received thousands of entries, the most popular suggestion has been revealed.

The rail line will be called St Edmunds line, after the King of the East Angles. Tracey Harding, of the St Edmunds Line CRP said: “We were really pleased with the high level of interest and participation in our competition to find a promotional name for the Ipswich to Cambridge line and the attractive locations it serves.

“The name St. Edmund’s Line was by far the most popular and really captures the essence of the area. It will help us strengthen ties with the local community and increase passenger numbers.”

Saint Edmund lived in and has strong links to the area. His name has been highlighted in local authorities such as at churches and now trains. Jonathan Denby, head of corporate affairs at Greater Anglia, said: “We’re delighted that there was such a popular and appropriate name put forward for the Ipswich to Cambridge Line.

“The St Edmund’s Line title will help us raise the profile of the route and encourage more people to take the train, visit the exciting places along it, and support the local economy. We’re sure it will help this key regional rail route to continue to thrive in the years ahead.”

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Traffic was slow along the road this afternoon (Monday, March 30)

A slip road was partially blocked by a crash between a car and a lorry. The M11 southbound entry slip road was partially blocked this afternoon (Monday, March 30).

Police were called to the M11 near junction 14 at around 1.37pm and confirmed that the crash involved two vehicles. The roas was closed so that the vehicles could be recovered. Nobody was injured in the crash.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix said: “M11 Southbound entry slip road partially blocked, slow traffic due to accident, a car and a lorry involved at J14 A14 J31 (Girton / Cloverleaf Interchange).”

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 1.37pm to reports of a two-vehicle collision on the M11 near junction 14. Officers attended and partially closed the road for a short time while the vehicles were recovered. No injuries were sustained.”

The ambulance service, and National Highways have been contacted for more information.

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