Stations North of Bedford to Leicester
We’re renewing our calls for transformed sustainable commuting north of Bedford now electrification is reaching Leicester.
Our vision is for an electric shuttle train service on the slow lines running through the populous corridor between Bedford and Leicester.
But what to call this campaign for new stations north of Bedford? Why not SNOB?
SUSTAINABLE local economic growth
Reconnecting communities, enhancing accessibility and inclusion
Reducing road congestion and pollution, improving our environment
promoting quality of life and health
THE NEW COMMUTE
With modest twin track platforms, waiting areas and car parking, new stations should be provided at the following locations:
Oakley (around 2500 residents)
Sharnbrook (around 2500 residents)
Irchester for Rushden (a catchment of over 38,000)
Finedon (over 4500 residents)
Burton Latimer (10,500 residents)
Desborough (12,000 residents)
Kibworth Harcourt (6,500 residents including Kibworth Beauchamp)
Wigston (32,000 residents)
New services would feed into principal existing stations from Bedford, through Wellingborough, Kettering and Market Harborough. Enhanced services would inform additional capacity on and off the rails, such as parking and enable more and better facilities at stations.
An hourly, all stations stopper service would link Bedford seamlessly with Leicester (becoming a gateway station to the East Midlands) and offer a genuine reliable alternative to the congested road network.
LINKS WITH EAST-WEST RAIL
At the southern end, with electrification upgrades along the Bedford-Bletchley line, services could run semi-fast and additionally serve Kempston Retail Park and the proposed Universal Park at an extended, expanded Kempston Hardwick, terminating at Bletchley.
Further opportunities are forthcoming at Bletchley for West Coast Mainline links and connections west via East-West Rail.
IMPROVEMENTS
a. Finish Midland Main Line electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield via Leicester.
b. Leicester needs more tracks and platform accommodation for more passenger and freight services.
c. A new slow line flyover from Irchester to Finedon across the River Nene would give relief to existing structure and more capacity for increased passenger and freight operations.
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.