Appendix 11: Matters Raised by the Public the Preferred Route Corridor
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Appendix 11: Matters raised by the public The Preferred Route Corridor Theme Matter raised Regard had to the matter raised The Preferred Route Corridor A concern was raised that the route We recognise that some parts of each corridor takes in a significant number of route option will have pockets with en- existing settlements including Caxton, vironmental, infrastructure and housing The Preferred Bourn, Caldecote, Kingston, Toft and/ constraints. We will consider these factors Route Corridor or Comberton at the point where the as part of our work to select a preferred corridor is narrow, making avoidance route option, and further as we develop a difficult or impossible. preferred route alignment. A suggestion was made to consider Corridor N if Bedford Midland is ruled The Preferred Thank you for your suggestion. We have out on cost grounds, given that Corridor Route Corridor taken this into consideration. N would require less new railway than a route via Bedford. In their 2016 report “Partnering for Pros- perity”, the National Infrastructure Com- mission (NIC) suggested that “Maximising the potential of [the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway and East West Rail] to support well-connected and well-designed new communities will mean... developing the Comments were made suggestion that Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, along the The Preferred a broad corridor housing both the rail same broad corridor as East West Rail”. Route Corridor line and the new Expressway should be All five of our route options align with their considered. proposed approach. We will continue to work with Highways England to ensure that our respective pro- jects are designed and delivered in a way that best connects communities, takes account of environmental factors and sup- ports greater economic growth. 2 | East West Railway Company Bedford to Cambridge route option consultation - Public Feedback Report The Preferred Route Corridor Theme Matter raised Regard had to the matter raised Comments were made that the corridor The consultation prioritised route options does not serve communities to the north that approached Cambridge from the The Preferred and north west of Cambridge, including south. Key reasons for doing so were: Route Corridor Northstowe. It was identified that these areas will have the most housing and • A northern approach could require economic growth. changes to Cambridge North station and adding tracks along the West Anglia Main Concern that a possible route option Line The Preferred which approaches Cambridge from • The longer distance between Cambourne Route Corridor the north has not been included in the and Cambridge via a northern approach consultation. into Cambridge would make it more ex- pensive to build and operate and result in longer journey times • Trains would need to reverse at Cam- bridge if travelling to/from Ipswich and Norwich and east coast ports, increasing journey times • Approaching Cambridge from the north Comments were received suggesting a would not directly serve the proposed new corridor that approaches Cambridge Cambridge South station The Preferred slightly more northerly, running along Route Corridor the A428 to/near the Girton Interchange During the consultation we received a and entering Cambridge via the north- range of comments on the prioritisation of ern rail line from Ely. these southern approach route options, in- cluding a response from CamBedRailRoad (CBRR). We will carry out additional work to assess the case for a northern approach as part of the process to select a preferred route option. 3 | East West Railway Company Bedford to Cambridge route option consultation - Public Feedback Report The Preferred Route Corridor Theme Matter raised Regard had to the matter raised Concern that by proposing a separate route to the Oxford-Cambridge Ex- The consultation prioritised route options pressway, East West Rail would create that approached Cambridge from the two transport corridors and locations south. Key reasons for doing so were: for future housing growth, more than doubling the impacts compared to a • A northern approach could require The Preferred single East-West transport and growth changes to Cambridge North station and Route Corridor corridor. An alternative to East West adding tracks along the West Anglia Main Rail’s five proposed routes has been Line put forward by the CamBed Road Rail • The longer distance between Cambourne group, taking a northern approach into and Cambridge via a northern approach Cambridge, which appears to be a more into Cambridge would make it more ex- logical solution. pensive to build and operate and result in longer journey times Concern that the corridor to the north • Trains would need to reverse at Cam- of Cambridge seems to have been re- bridge if travelling to/from Ipswich and jected on the basis of connection to the Norwich and east coast ports, increasing rail line to Ipswich. There has been no The Preferred journey times consideration of the eastern section of Route Corridor • Approaching Cambridge from the north the East West Rail although it is implied would not directly serve the proposed new on page 6 of the consultation document Cambridge South station with the Bedford to Cambridge section being the central section. During the consultation we received a range of comments on the prioritisation of Concern that the CBBR route has not The Preferred these southern approach route options, in- been considered as part of the consul- Route Corridor cluding a response from CamBedRailRoad tation. (CBRR). We will carry out additional work Consideration should be given to in- to assess the case for a northern approach The Preferred clude linking developments around Wa- as part of the process to select a preferred Route Corridor terbeach, Oakington and Cambourne route option. within the corridor. 4 | East West Railway Company Bedford to Cambridge route option consultation - Public Feedback Report The Preferred Route Corridor Theme Matter raised Regard had to the matter raised It was identified that a routing from the The consultation prioritised route options north using the track of the guided bus- that approached Cambridge from the way from St Ives would be much easier south. Key reasons for doing so were: and quicker to construct and cause far less disruption to the area. It would al- • A northern approach could require low towns such as St Neots, Huntingdon changes to Cambridge North station and The Preferred and St Ives (and possibly Godmanches- adding tracks along the West Anglia Main Route Corridor ter depending on the route between the Line ECML and the guided busway) to ben- • The longer distance between Cambourne efit from significantly improved public and Cambridge via a northern approach transport services and would not need into Cambridge would make it more ex- new interchanges to be built in semi-ru- pensive to build and operate and result in ral locations that would not welcome longer journey times such unnecessary developments. • Trains would need to reverse at Cam- bridge if travelling to/from Ipswich and It was suggested that a corridor that Norwich and east coast ports, increasing covered Cambourne, Northstowe, His- journey times ton/Impington and Waterbeach would • Approaching Cambridge from the north The Preferred be more beneficial to improving quality would not directly serve the proposed new Route Corridor of travel for existing settlements in the Cambridge South station area and easing congestion in the A14 / A428 corridor by creating a much faster During the consultation we received a alternative. range of comments on the prioritisation of these southern approach route options, in- It was suggested that the Preferred cluding a response from CamBedRailRoad The Preferred Route Corridor should go to the north (CBRR). We will carry out additional work Route Corridor and approach Cambridge from the to assess the case for a northern approach north. as part of the process to select a preferred route option. 5 | East West Railway Company Bedford to Cambridge route option consultation - Public Feedback Report The Preferred Route Corridor Theme Matter raised Regard had to the matter raised The consultation prioritised route options that approached Cambridge from the south. Key reasons for doing so were: • A northern approach could require changes to Cambridge North station and The following corridor was suggested adding tracks along the West Anglia Main - Bedford Midland, Tempsford Area or Line South of St Neots, Cambourne, then • The longer distance between Cambourne Cambridge North via the guided bus- and Cambridge via a northern approach way. East West Rail to run from Cam- into Cambridge would make it more ex- bridgeshire North and new Cambridge pensive to build and operate and result in Science Park to new Oxford Science longer journey times Park ending Oxford Business Park • Trains would need to reverse at Cam- The Preferred (plans already drawn). North and south bridge if travelling to/from Ipswich and Route Corridor chords at Cambridgeshire North, new Norwich and east coast ports, increasing north and south chords at Coldhams journey times Junction (at East West Rail East`s cost) • Approaching Cambridge from the north Such a route then opens up Norwich, Ip- would not directly serve the proposed new swich and Felixstowe for direct services Cambridge South station to Oxford and Reading. But East West Rail trains should only be Oxford BP to During the consultation we received a Cambridge North. range of comments on the prioritisation of these southern approach route options, in- cluding a response from CamBedRailRoad (CBRR). We will carry out additional work to assess the case for a northern approach as part of the process to select a preferred route option. Comment noted. When the case for the new railway was initially considered and developed by Network Rail, the Depart- ment for Transport and others, twenty Comments were received disagreeing route corridors were considered, spanning The Preferred with the choice of Preferred Route Cor- the area from St Albans and Harlow to Route Corridor ridor and all route options.