A Rail Strategy For

December 2019 “Bedford Borough Council is committed to working with its communities and partners to improve local quality of life.

Working together with our partners as part of the Bedford Borough Partnership, we are determined to make the Borough a better place to live, work and visit.”

2 Contents

Why a Rail Strategy? 3 The Current Position 4 Our Priorities 5 New and Better Services 8 The East Midlands 9 New and Better Stations Bedford Interchange Hub 11 International Connectivity and HS2 12 13 Programme of Work 14 Next Steps 15

Cover photograph courtesy of James Railway Videos ©

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

Why a Rail Strategy? Our vision for Bedford Borough is for it to be a great place to live work and visit. We also want to create a Borough that attracts international business and highly skilled jobs. The importance of rail services in supporting economic growth and prosperity is now well understood, so that people can travel to work, to meet business customers or suppliers, or to make journeys for leisure. And yet the current rail connectivity of Bedford is poor, other than to London. We stand on the cusp of a transformational change in Bedford's rail connectivity. We can put Bedford at the centre of a hub of regional and services through , and East West Rail services. To do this we need a clear set of priorities for what we want from railway services through the Borough, and where they should go. This document sets out those priorities. 3 We recognise that some of the priorities are long term and will require us to work with many other parties within the rail industry and outside to achieve them. In other cases, however, the onus is on us to take the lead, guide and potentially help finance developments which would not otherwise happen. The new station at Wixams is one such example. This document sets out evidenced priorities, and a plan to deliver them over the short, medium and long terms.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

The Current Position The transformation of Thameslink into a frequent metro service through the centre of London, with new trains and more capacity has brought many benefits to Bedford. There are now four trains per hour each way between Bedford, London St. Pancras International and locations south of London, including importantly Gatwick Airport. At peak times this rises to as many as eight trains in some hours. However there has been a reduction in inter-city services calling at Bedford from the May 2018 timetable, including the introduction of regular replacement bus services between Bedford and Wellingborough at peak times. This means that commuting to Bedford from the north has now become unacceptably difficult, and vital links between the Borough and the East Midlands impaired. This trend is likely to continue, as the proposals announced by Abellio in their East Midlands Railway franchise that started in August 2019 remove all direct services between Bedford and the East 4 Midlands, as well as all long distance inter-city services. The between Bedford and is set to become part of East West Rail, connecting Bedford directly with and in 2023. However, the route of the proposed East West Rail line between Bedford and is as yet uncertain. The Council has argued strongly and consistently that the route should go through Bedford Midland station. If different decisions are made, the full benefits of this new connectivity for Bedford will not be realised, and a catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre will have been lost. Bedford’s The truth is, that other than to London, Bedford’s rail Connectivity by Direct connectivity is poor as shown on the map below. (See Train. key on page 7.) Locations with direct

trains to Bedford are shown in purple. Locations shown on the map not connected include Liverpool, Wales, the Midlands, Cardiff, the South West, Southampton, Oxford and the Thames Valley, Cambridge, , , Peterborough, Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Scotland.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

Our Priorities We modelled a number of train service options to establish where the most economic benefit would be achieved for Bedford. This is measured in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA). This forecasts the additional economic activity that the new services would generate in the Borough compared to now. The table below shows the most promising results, adding up to a total of over £57m per year for Bedford Borough’s economy. This is a prize worth pursuing.

Enhancement Bedford Borough GVA £ million pa

Central section of EWR 18.53

Western section of EWR 8.94 EWR Extension to /Birmingham 6.74 5 HS2 direct connectivity to Leeds 6.07

EWR Extension to East (Norwich/Ipswich) 6.03

Reading-Nottingham 5.82 EWR Extension to Thames Valley/South West 2.74 Restoration of inter-city services to the level they 2.21 were before May 2018 TOTAL 57.08

The results show:

• Just how important the Western and Central sections of East West Rail are to Bedford (to Oxford and to Cambridge)

• How important maximising the full potential benefits of East West Rail would be, through extending proposed services to the Thames Valley and into , and in the long term to the West Midlands

• The value of improved services to the North: through a new Reading- Nottingham service, direct trains via HS2 to Leeds and through the restoration of the inter-city services to the East Midlands replaced by buses in May 2018.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

The improvements to train services set out above, and the increased connectivity they would bring, also emphasise the importance of Bedford Midland station; as an interchange hub between East West Rail and the Midland Main Line, but also as a gateway to the town, supporting the growth and economy of the town centre. In June 2018 the Council published a Town Centre Masterplan to establish how Bedford can continue to develop as a more dynamic economy, and the town centre as a vibrant hub of regional and national importance. The rejuvenation of Bedford Midland and the area surrounding it are a vital part of this Masterplan. Improved connectivity is also vital to support the life choices people make when moving to the Borough. Over 6,000 new houses will be built in the Borough over the next five years, and this will put pressure on the road network into Bedford and on Bedford Midland station itself. The new settlement at Wixams creates an opportunity to provide a new station to serve the development but also to provide choices for rail users around Bedford. Taken together—new and better connectivity, an interchange hub of national and international importance, and a new station for the Borough—these are the key priorities for rail, and form the core of our Rail Strategy. They are summarised in the table below.

Rail Strategy Priorities

New and Better Connectivity Maximising the benefits of the EWR Western section (Oxford-Bedford) EWR Central section through Bedford (Bedford-Cambridge) Extensions to EWR services, linking Bedford with the Thames Valley and East Anglia

Reinstatement of inter-city services to Nottingham and London A new Reading–Nottingham service Direct services to Leeds via HS2

New and Better Stations Bedford Midland as a high-quality interchange hub and gateway to the town

A new station at Wixams

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

The map below, compared to the one on page 4, shows how Bedford’s connectivity could be transformed, and how this transformation would support Bedford Midland becoming a vital and important interchange hub.

SCOT NEW LDS

MAN SHEF LIV

NOTT

WAL LEI PET NOR BHM

CAR IPS MK BED CAM 7

OXF

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SOT SUSS

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

New and Better Connectivity - East West Rail The East West Rail project is an exciting opportunity to link Bedford by fast, regular train services to Bicester, Oxford and Cambridge, putting Bedford at the centre of the technology arc across the South Midlands. It will put the town in an ideal position to maximise its economic and social potential. The first phase of the project, the Western section between Oxford and Bedford, is now underway for opening in 2023. Key decisions on the route and timing of the Central section are being made by Government. We will continue to lobby for:

• The Western section to be completed as soon as possible, with a new train service between Oxford and Bedford.

• The Central section to be routed through Bedford Midland as part of an 8 Oxford-Cambridge service. • Extension of this service at either end, linking Bedford with the Thames Valley in the West and Norwich and Ipswich in the East.

• A new Reading-Nottingham service via Bedford and Leicester.

• The new railway to be a catalyst for the development of Bedford Midland as a national and international interchange hub and as a high quality gateway to the town.

Map:

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

New and Better Connectivity - The East Midlands There are important economic links between Bedford, the wider arc between Oxford and Cambridge and the East Midlands. Both areas have many similar types of business, for example in professional, science and technology-based industries, and rail is well suited to support these. The same is true of links between universities. The Western and Central Sections of East West Rail will transform connectivity within the arc, and growth in housing and business activity will only increase the importance of links to the East Midlands. The diagram below shows the GVA produced in the arc and East Midlands economies (divided by Local Enterprise Partnership areas), with the Midland Main Line and East West Rail overlaid.

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However much potential there is, the reality is that connectivity between the arc and the East Midlands via Bedford is at risk of becoming poorer:

• Already there are no peak services between the East Midlands and Bedford.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

• The long-distance services on the Midland Main Line may not call at Bedford Midland (with only the Corby-London services stopping) from December 2020.

• The Central Section of EWR may bypass Bedford altogether, making interchange with the Midland Main Line unattractive (via two changes at Bedford South and Bedford Midland).

• The proposed service between Oxford and Bedford Midland from 2023, which would start to improve connectivity with the East Midlands could be at risk depending on the Central Section route. The following options are being pursued to realise the economic potential for East Midlands connectivity by rail:

• Development of Bedford Midland into an Interchange Hub between East West Rail and the East Midlands.

• A direct service between Reading/Oxford and Nottingham via Bedford, Wellingborough, Kettering and Leicester. 10 • In the short term, re-instatement and development of Midland Main Line services from Derby/Nottingham and Leicester to Bedford. The combination of these developments would result in transformational changes in journey times between the East Midlands and the Arc, as shown below.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

New and Better Stations - Bedford Interchange Hub Bedford has the opportunity to be a national and international hub for business, with rail connectivity being the key to unlocking future potential and prosperity. The new and better connectivity described above will make Bedford Midland station a key hub. It will support interchange between journeys from as far afield as Reading, Oxford, Cambridge, Leicester, Nottingham and Leeds. It will also support end to end journeys within the Bedford area, including by taxis, buses, cycling and walking. It will provide the catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre, boosting jobs and the local economy, as well as creating a “Place” for people to meet, relax and do business. The routing of East West Rail through the station unlocks the opportunity, as 11 two new platforms on the east side of the station will be needed. To enable this the existing unattractive station building will need to be demolished, and the area around the station re-modelled, creating a public transport interchange, supporting sustainable travel, and with improved parking. The Borough Council will be an active participant in the redevelopment of the station and the area around it to support the creation of the hub.

“Bedford benefits from a great strategic location both in terms of its links to London, but also as part of the Oxford- Cambridge Corridor. Unlocking the potential of the dozens of sites in and around the town centre and the station as well as transforming our streets and spaces capitalises on this opportunity. It will help to support the vitality of our town centre, support high quality jobs and improve the quality of life for existing residents.” - Mayor Dave Hodgson in the Town Centre Masterplan.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

International Connectivity and HS2 In addition to the substantial national and regional connectivity that would be available through interchange at Bedford, the station would serve as a hub for access to six international airports, creating a wide range of airport journey opportunities across the region as shown below. In turn this would attract international business to Bedford.

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If the Eastern Arm of HS2 (called Phase 2b) proceeds as planned, there is the opportunity to enhance further these connectivity benefits. Midlands Connect is developing, with the Borough’s support, the business case for a Bedford- Leicester-East Midlands Interchange-Leeds service via HS2, using “classic compatible” rolling stock, and accessing HS2 via a junction immediately south of the new Interchange station between Nottingham and Derby. The projected journey time between Bedford and Leeds is 1 hour 31 minutes. With an interchange at Bedford Midland, this would reduce the Cambridge to Leeds journey time compared to now by 40 minutes, and the Oxford to Leeds journey time by 30 minutes.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

New and Better Stations - Wixams The new settlement on Wixams, two miles south of the town centre, will eventually have 6,000 houses. A new station has always been part of the concept. A station at Wixams will deliver connectivity to residents of the development, and, in addition, its proximity to the important A421 trunk road will mean it will also act as a strategic parkway and means of access to the railway network for passengers across a far wider area. The car park at Bedford Midland station is full by the end of the morning rush hour. The provision of a station at Wixams is, then, an important enabler to the growth of the Oxford – Milton Keynes – Cambridge arc.

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The Council is leading the development of the station, including design work and seeking agreement from the various rail industry partners, including Network Rail, the train operators and the . The concept under development will result in four Thameslink trains per hour each way calling at the station, with opening targeted for late 2023.

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

Programme of Work Our Rail Strategy sets out an ambitious programme of work that will require the Borough to work closely with many other stakeholders to bring our priorities to fruition. The Council’s role in achieving each priority will be different. In some case the Council will play a lead role, whereas in others it will be a key influencer, pressing the case for change and demonstrating the value they will bring to Bedford and to the wider region. The table below shows a view on when our priorities may be achieved. In addition to these enhancements, we will actively engage with East Midlands Railway to seek the restoration and improvement of intercity services at the earliest possible date.

Enhancement Date

Opening of Wixams 2023 14 New service Bedford-Oxford 2023

New service Reading-Bedford-Nottingham 2024

Bedford Interchange Hub 2027

New service Bedford-Cambridge 2028

New service Bedford-Norwich/Ipswich 2028

New service Bedford-Leeds via HS2 2035

A Rail Strategy for Bedford

Next Steps Over the next twelve months the Council will:

• Actively engage with East Midlands Railway to seek to secure the best inter-city service for residents when they introduce their future timetables.

• Continue to develop Wixams station, including design, business case work and engagement with the rail industry, residents and other stakeholders.

• Press the case with the East West Rail Company and with Government for a Central section route that delivers for Bedford.

• Start work on creating a partnership for the redevelopment of Bedford Midland station, once a decision on the Central section route has been made. • Develop the case with other interested stakeholders for a new service between Reading and Nottingham via Bedford. 15

• Support Midlands Connect’s business case work for a service between Bedford and Leeds via HS2.

This document was prepared for Bedford Borough Council by SLC Rail Limited November 2019 © Bedford Borough Council