Motorised underpass is preferred option for Bicester’s London Road level crossing as latest East West Rail consultation opens.
* Single lane motorised underpass now the preferred single option for Bicester’s London Road level crossing subject to third-party funding
* New visualisation images of London Road level crossing highlight latest design proposals
* Plans to improve Bicester Village station area, including active travel hub
* Improvements agreed for Oxford Parkway station to meet increased demand for EWR services
* Up to five EWR trains an hour and longer trains proposed for the entire route
* Hybrid electric/battery trains to support net zero goals
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has today launched its latest consultation which includes updated proposals for the new railway – with a single lane motorised underpass now the preferred option for Bicester’s London Road level crossing subject to third-party funding. The inclusion of this proposal follows extensive consultation with the local community and key stakeholders. The single lane underpass also includes a protected active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.
Other key design updates include an accelerated construction programme to deliver the benefits of the railway to communities earlier and the delivery of up to five trains an hour.
The latest details are part of East West Rail’s last route-wide consultation on the project, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge before a Development Consent Order (DCO) application to build the railway is submitted in 2027.
These proposals now take into account the plans for the Universal Resort near Bedford and reflect the expected increase in passenger demand along the line and include provision for a station at Stewartby to serve the theme park.
As a result, EWR is now proposed to be built in new delivery phases* - replacing the previous connection stages – with new stations and sections of the railway opening as soon as they are ready, rather than waiting for the whole route to be completed.
This approach aims to bring forward better benefits to communities and passengers and accelerate the delivery of EWR in certain sections, allowing new communities to grow around the infrastructure in place, unlocking housing opportunities and drawing in more investment and businesses. It will also better align with getting high-capacity frequent services to the new Universal Resort earlier than previously anticipated.
A core EWR service of four trains per hour is now proposed across the whole route, with an additional fifth train running at peak times or potentially all day, if required. This fifth train could be used to enable service extensions to and from locations on the wider rail network beyond the EWR route. Five-carriage trains, rather than four carriages, are also proposed due to increased demand.
LATEST PROPOSALS
London Road level crossing
A new fully accessible single lane motorised underpass is now the single preferred option for replacing the London Road level crossing in Bicester. The construction of an underpass remains subject to third-party funding with Oxfordshire County Council working closely with Government to develop and help fund the proposal.
Feedback taken during our previous consultation in 2024 strongly supported an underpass to replace the level crossing. The latest underpass design includes a single lane road that could be used by vehicles, alongside a protected active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists. It will ensure accessibility through Bicester is maintained for residents, businesses and road users when the level crossing is permanently closed. This solution will avoid delays and congestion currently caused by barrier closures; it will significantly improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians; and improve reliability for local bus services and emergency vehicles. It also supports Bicester’s wider growth ambitions and aligns with local transport and connectivity priorities. There will be a height restriction on the underpass and a diversionary route for HGVs will be put in place. Further traffic modelling, and wider environmental assessments are now underway to refine the details of the junction improvement proposal, and EWR Co will continue to work closely with the local highways authority as the design progresses.
Bicester Village station
Improvements to the public realm around this station are proposed: a new active travel hub to the south of the railway, including cycle parking; an enhanced bus stop and private car pick-up and drop-off area; a sloped embankment along one side of the underpass approach ramps, creating a more open underpass environment with natural light; public space and walkways around the retained Grade II listed building directly north of the existing level crossing; and a direct walkway from the station across the underpass towards Langford Village.
Oxford Parkway station
Proposed changes have been made to accommodate the expected increase in passenger demand for East West Rail, including from nearby developments such as the proposed new Oxford United stadium near Kidlington, to provide station improvements that meet the needs of all passengers. These include a new active travel hub with cycle parking; an improved pedestrian access route between the station building and the existing park and ride terminal; and making the crossing facilities at the station access junction with Oxford Road safer for people walking, wheeling or cycling.
Timelines
Improvements on the Marston Vale Line will be accelerated, which will allow four trains an hour to run between Oxford and Stewartby by the early 2030s. The delivery of a brand-new station in Bedford is also being brought forward, which when completed will enable the four trains an hour between Oxford and Stewartby to be extended to Bedford by the mid-2030s. The full end-to-end service with up to five trains an hour running all the way from Oxford to Cambridge will be operational by the mid to late 2030s.
Cowley Branch Line
Network Rail is proposing to reopen the Cowley Branch Line for passenger services, which would free up platform capacity at Oxford station and allow trains on EWR services to terminate at the station. EWR would not need to carry out any further works at the station.
Electrification
Hybrid electric/battery-equipped trains are planned to operate along the railway, including between Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village which will enhance decarbonisation, support UK net zero goals, and reduce emissions.
David Hughes, CEO, East West Railway Company, said: “These updated proposals mark a major step forward for East West Rail to help ensure communities see the benefits of the project sooner as we finalise the design. From more frequent and higher-capacity trains to a preferred single option for London Road level crossing and improvements for Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway stations, we are focused on improving the rail experience for everyone.
“East West Rail will help unlock housing, support new jobs and attract investment, while giving residents and businesses better connections to Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge and wider destinations across the country. By bringing forward key elements of the railway and planning for increased demand, we are helping to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support future growth and opportunities for our communities. I encourage residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation and share their views on our latest plans.”
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “East West Rail will unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth, jobs and homes. This consultation reflects continuing progress on the final design for this critical railway and another step forward to delivering the benefits of this project to a multitude of individuals, local communities and businesses.”
Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Neil Fawcett, said: “East West Rail is a vital project that will improve connectivity across the region without putting more cars on the road. However, it is essential that the impacts on local communities are fully understood and properly addressed. We are therefore very pleased to be working closely with East West Rail and the Department for Transport to ensure an appropriate alternative is in place when the London Road level crossing is closed.”
Dr Andy Williams, Chair, Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, said: “East West Rail will greatly improve connectivity between Oxford, Cambridge and the towns in between, stimulating the flow of talented people, innovation and investment needed to secure the UK’s position as a global science supercluster. It will boost business confidence in the region, providing opportunities to expand to other locations along the route, such as Bedford and Milton Keynes, and connecting a region of 3.5 million people ready to compete with other global superclusters like Silicon Valley.”
Gidon Freeman, Vice-President, External Affairs, Universal Destinations and Experiences, said: “One of the reasons we selected our site for a new entertainment resort complex featuring a world class theme park is its central location and excellent transport links. East West Rail can further improve that connectivity – its proposed station by Universal would enhance guest and team member arrival with a new link to our resort from across the Ox-Cam Corridor.”
Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs for the railway are finalised ready for the submission of a Development Consent Order in 2027.
The consultation will run for eight weeks from April 14 to June 9, 2026. A series of public drop-in events are being held across the route to provide opportunities to meet the EWR Co team and find out more about the updated proposals*.
For more information about the consultation and how to get involved, please visit the consultation page, contact EWR Co’s helpdesk at contact@eastwestrail.co.uk or call 0330 134 0067.
Feedback must be received by 23:59 on 9 June 2026.
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