East West Rail consultation

The government has announced that it wants to go ahead with the full East West Rail route from Oxford to Cambridge. This cannot be a repeat of the “botched job” by the former government. I have already had two meetings with the new CEO of EWR, one prior to the budget announcement and one just recently ahead of the consultation launch. I shared my deep concerns about the failure to properly engage with local communities along the route and the lack of any local benefits to those communities, particularly to those most impacted. In South Cambridgeshire, residents need real details that answer the many questions that have been raised for so long without a response; and EWR must demonstrate that they have listened and acted on what I and many others have been saying.

I was somewhat reassured by the more open approach adopted by the new CEO, David Hughes. Whilst acknowledging that there would be significant impacts for some along the proposed route, he assured me that the consultation will reveal significant changes in response to the things we have been shouting about: 

• electrification of the route rather than diesel trains;
• ensuring connectivity between villages, such as Harlton and Newton;
• reducing huge environmental damage (towering embankments, cutting through Chapel Hill), and others.

I will be poring over the details and I will be attending one or more of the non-statutory consultations being offered. I encourage everyone to do the same and to submit their concerns and proposals. I will follow these up with EWR, whom I will hold accountable.

You can read details of EWR's proposals and the consultation process at https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024