| Closure proposal - five intermediate stations on Marston Vale line Posted by grahame at 08:59, 19th November 2025 |     |
From Construction News
East West Rail (EWR) has confirmed its plan to cut five rail stations and rebuild four on a Bedfordshire line.
Following a consultation earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) decided that revamping the Marston Vale line would “better serve local communities” in the area.
The DfT said the stations on the line have “some of the lowest usage in the country”.
The department expects to rebuild stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby. The latter will also serve the Universal theme park – a multibillion-pound entertainment complex that is expected to open in 2031.
A spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) – which will run the resort – said the government’s commitment to using multimodal approaches to grow the UK economy was “highly encouraging, as companies like UDX look to place major investments in the UK”.
Stations at Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickhill, Aspley Guise, Millbrook and Kempston Hardwick will be closed.
Following a consultation earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DfT) decided that revamping the Marston Vale line would “better serve local communities” in the area.
The DfT said the stations on the line have “some of the lowest usage in the country”.
The department expects to rebuild stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby. The latter will also serve the Universal theme park – a multibillion-pound entertainment complex that is expected to open in 2031.
A spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) – which will run the resort – said the government’s commitment to using multimodal approaches to grow the UK economy was “highly encouraging, as companies like UDX look to place major investments in the UK”.
Stations at Fenny Stratford, Bow Brickhill, Aspley Guise, Millbrook and Kempston Hardwick will be closed.
| Re: Closure proposal - five intermediate stations on Marston Vale line Posted by grahame at 09:17, 19th November 2025 | |
Passenger numbers for the 2023/24 year at the five stations mentioned as closure candidates
Fenny Stratford, 6420 - https://www.passenger.chat/FEN.html
Bow Brickhill, 13274 - https://www.passenger.chat/BWB.html
Aspley Guise, 3320, https://www.passenger.chat/APG.html
Millbrook, 2312, https://www.passenger.chat/MLB.html
Kempston Hardwick, 2296, https://www.passenger.chat/KMH.html
Way, way back I would have been included in passenger numbers at Fenny Stratford and Bow Brickhill, staying at a hotel on the A5 and working for the week - commuting - to Bow Brickhill. The Martston Vale line has a chequered history of train reliability to put it mildly; although my particular journey was a very short one, the presence of a major road between my hotel and the Red Bull (motor racing) place made it impractical to do any other way.
| Re: Closure proposal - five intermediate stations on Marston Vale line Posted by johnneyw at 11:06, 19th November 2025 | |
Bow Brickhill, 13274
Okay so it's not exactly London Waterloo but that's still a not inconsiderable passenger footfall and in a different league to the others proposed for closure. I don't know the area so I'm wondering if the closure is more to do with a conveniently nearby alternative station being available rather than lack of use.
| Re: Closure proposal - five intermediate stations on Marston Vale line Posted by grahame at 11:15, 19th November 2025 | |
Bow Brickhill, 13274
Okay so it's not exactly London Waterloo but that's still a not inconsiderable passenger footfall and in a different league to the others proposed for closure. I don't know the area so I'm wondering if the closure is more to do with a conveniently nearby alternative station being available rather than lack of use.
That one astonished me ...
