Northamptonshire Rail Expansion Opportunities
We take an overview of BRTA’s vision for Northants.
Northampton-Leicester via Market Harborough
Find out more at our dedicated N2MH page.
This hugely important link would offer a continuum of rail-based services from Watford and Oxford through Milton Keynes Central, Northampton and on into the East Midlands and beyond.
FREIGHT AND N2MH
A new Northampton area container depot could get more freight moved by rail, were the link restored in full and built to a specification to accommodate high cube containers on standard platform wagons. A south to west direct curve at the Northampton end, would also enable direct running to Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) from East Midlands the North and Felixstowe. New flows, new routes, new capacity. Less emissions. Less congestion.
Bedford to Northampton
We go into detail on B2N here.
In brief, some newly built railway paths would be needed, pushing through towards the old formation until east of Great Houghton, then new build via A428/A509 interface area, tunnel Lavendon and arc to old formation in the Stevington area. Pushing through to flyover over the Midland Main Line and join the slow lines into Bedford Midland Railway Station.
It would be a Thameslink integrated line with huge freight potential. It would serve Northampton Waterside Campus, South Northampton, Delapre Abbey and the Brackmills Industrial BID Estate, Great Houghton, A509/A428 Roundabout area and onwards to Bedford (East-West Rail links) and south to the new Wixams Station serving the new Universal Theme Park, expecting an annual 8 million visitor footfall, opening in 2031.
Get Bedford Ready for New Links For Northants.
It is BRTA’s view that Bedford needs to be ready for the combined additional connectivity of East-West Rail and B2N, so rejigging the station’s position to look down Midland Road towards the town centre will give more tracks and platform capacity for more passenger and freight trains from the plethora of potential routes passing through.
A future of interconnected retail, bus, facilities access and parking considerations needs action now. We expect at least 6 years in planning and redevelopment processes – get moving!
East-West Rail and B2N
Currently the proposed Bedford-Cambridge via Tempsford Northern Route of East-West Rail, does not take into account Northampton to Bedford re-railing, but it should!
Our suggested route, found by a study to be a viable proposition, would accommodate Cambridge-Bedford-Northampton connectivity for passenger and freight operations. The result is the potential of taking heavy traffic off roads, reducing wear tear and potholes costs and enabling more sustainable transport choices for people and goods. More on EWR here.
Roade Rail Expansion
Roade is a growing catchment of 3-mile radius, has a new bypass (A508) and sits where the Northampton Loop on the WCML splits with the fast lines to Rugby via Blisworth. It had a station once, and is well placed, given much new development and the new Northampton Freight Depot, for a station which would relieve Northampton Castle Station. Sited here a station would cut drive times, congestion, emissions, ill-health and enable more direct rail-based options to Milton Keynes, Watford, Oxford, and London.
A Roade Parkway Station needs public official and political support and investment to protect land sites and access and study credentials, making an excellent fit with growth and sustainability goals.
Adding additional tracks to the Northampton Loop between Rugby and Roade would pay dividends in passenger and freight capacity.
Northampton North Station
Just as in Cambridge, this option should be studied. Growing housing and targets to reduce congestion in central Northampton are clear opportunities for rail, along with widening access to local train services.
Northampton Capacity
Castle Station needs capacity enhancement, to expand tracks and platform accessibility for more trains coming to and through Northampton.
Land needs reclaiming for rail-use and direct twin-track access to/from the remnant Brackmills Branch (Bedford-Northampton route) is needed for efficient operation.
In the interim, sorting out points and tracks, especially with a triangle at the Towcester Road/London Road end, would enable locos to be turned, facilitate wait over capacity so trains drop off, siding until return time to clear through tracks for other trains.
A major study, plan, and action time-line is required now.
N2MH and the Bedford link need updated studies, business case-making, route definition, protection, and development tailored to retain the options.
Conclusion
It is BRTA’s view that people, places, and environment matter. The benefits on and off the rails are huge: cleaner air, better mental and physical health, land saved.
It’s been proven that cycle-ways and footpaths can be established alongside railways effectively and green corridors maintained.
Enhanced rail means enhanced footfall and spend to town centres, leisure and dining locations – all sustainably boosted. Infrastructure invesment returns social, economic, environmental gains.
HOW TO ADD YOUR VOICE
Write in support of these reopenings to your local councillors and MP:
members.parliament.uk/members/commons
or www.writetothem.com
It’s powerful to write to your MP or councillor in your own words, telling your representative about your own beliefs and experiences and how they relate to rerailing and new stations. See below.
Join BRTA as a member to support this and other reopening campaigns
Volunteer with BRTA if you share our vision and want to help bring it about.
Donate to BRTA to help us advocate for rail links fit for the 21st century!
Think about the following questions when composing your letter to MPs / councillors:
- What journeys do you make? Work? Leisure? Appointments / visits?
What could improve the journeys you make? - Do you actively choose road over rail or bus? Why?
- Do you consider where you live to be well served by public transport?
- Do you have experience of new areas of housing and public transport?
- What are your experiences of the road journeys you make in the region?
- Have you made employment, school or relocation decisions based on journey times or access to public transport? Or on the lack of access to public transport?
- What are your thoughts on the environmental impact of your journeys?
- Do you have accessibility needs that affect journey decisions you make?
- What do you think about air pollution in your area?
- What are the most important connectivity-related issues to you? Why? Journey times? Road congestion reduction? Pollution reduction? Accessibility? Taking freight off the roads in your area? A better connected region?
- What should be done next to make relinking happen?
Our tips: - Even if your MP is not in the region, your letter provides them with an opportunity to learn about the issue and take action themselves.
- Aim for your letter to be no longer than one and a half sides of A4.
- Engage. Get your representative’s attention with a dramatic fact or short statement.
- State the problem. Present the causes of the problem you just introduced. How widespread or serious is the problem?
- Inform them about the solutions that rerailing would bring.
- Call to Action. Let them know what you want them to do about it.
- Ask for a response.