East West Rail launched a new consultation on 31 March 2021 showing new routes through villages in Caldecote Ward that had not previously been on the route proposed. The potential impact of these new routes on our villages will be will be significant. Residents should read the proposal in the consultation documents and send in their comments.
The consultation period is from 31 March 2021 to 9th June 2021. The shock of these new proposed routes is still reverberating through both Highfields Caldecote and Bourn.
What is East West Rail (EWR)?
East West Rail is a major National Infrastructure Project to establish a strategic railway connecting East Anglia with Central, Southern and Western England. The objective is to provide fast and affordable rail transport for communities between Oxford and Cambridge. This EWR project is part of the overall plans of Government to promote growth in the Oxford Cambridge Arc.
There are four sections to this project. The first is the existing section from Oxford to Bicester which had a major upgrade completed in December 2016. The second section is from Bicester to Bletchley which where the old Varsity line is now undergoing reconstruction. The third section is from Bletchley to Bedford which is a bit more complicated. It involves refurbishing existing Bletchley to Bedford railway lines and major upgrade to both railway stations. Planning work for that is now underway.
The fourth section of East West Rail from Bedford to Cambridge is the newest and most complicated. It is to follow a completely new route from the old Varsity line. EWR company carried out a public consultation from 28 January to 11 March 2019 on five (5) broad route options A to E. From the feedback, EWR identified a preferred Option E corridor from Bedford to Cambridge via Sandy/St Neots and Cambourne South.
East West Rail then began to refine the the plans to decide the specific alignment for the rail line within that corridor.
Why EWR is considering new routes
In their refining work East West Rail listened to lobbying from some sources and identified new alignments outside the Option E corridor. The sources include Anthony Browne MP for South Cambs, Cambridge Approaches and CamBed Rail Road. So it needs to another consultation to gauge the public view on these proposed new alignments.
There are two new alignments proposed to go through a North Cambourne Station before cutting through Highfields Caldecote to South Cambridge Station. These are the dark blue and purple alignments in the map below.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the decision to go through North Cambourne in late January 2020. The South Cambs MP in welcoming the decision said in the Cambridge Independent.
“I am delighted that the northern route for East West Rail via Cambourne has today been confirmed by the Transport Secretary. I have been campaigning for this route because it is best for local people, businesses and the environment.
Commuters in Cambourne and the surrounding villages have been crying out for a rapid and reliable transport link into Cambridge and now they will get it. Residents in Bassingbourn will also be relieved. There is no commuter need for an additional rail link in this area and the environmental destruction of the would have been huge“
So you can see that East West Rail had to ask the public for its view on these additional new routes.
What You Should Do Now
I am encouraging all residents in Bourn and Caldecote to read the East West Rail consultation paperwork here. Then please consider the impact of the proposed routes on our villages and send your comments to EWR. Consultation closing date is 9th June 2021.
The key points to note are these:
For Highfields Caldecote, the dark blue and purple alignments will cut across the top of the village. On first glance, the viaduct and embankment at10-12 meters high will damage the historic character entrance of the village. It will also sever the top end from the rest of the village whilst taking out Fortitude Fitness completely. and parts of . It will seriously affect All Angels Park and Bourn Airfield.
For Bourn, the red, light blue and orange alignments will pass through halfway up the Broadway. It will then go across The Drift and down toward the top of Kingston. A number of houses will need to be demolished.
Please have your say – consultation ends on Wednesday 9th June 2021.
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