East-West Rail (EWR): Consultation updates [not speculation]

[Magdalia]

The consultation feedback analysis will normally be dealt with thematically (e.g. ‘trees’, ‘flooding’ and so on) and not by question or group of questions.

Thanks, I see what you mean now!

 

[jfowkes]

The consultation feedback analysis will normally be dealt with thematically (e.g. ‘trees’, ‘flooding’ and so on) and not by question or group of questions.

Would there not be any sorting by geography then?
Considering that the primary points of contention would seem to be Bicester level crossing, demolition in the Poets area of Bedford and (trying to be diplomatic) "protecting rural Cambridgeshire", it would seem natural that a lot of responses would fit into those categories.

 

[BrianW]

Would there not be any sorting by geography then?
Considering that the primary points of contention would seem to be Bicester level crossing, demolition in the Poets area of Bedford and (trying to be diplomatic) "protecting rural Cambridgeshire", it would seem natural that a lot of responses would fit into those categories.

I imagine many submissions will attempt to 'cover all bases' that might support their opposition.

 

[tspaul26]

Would there not be any sorting by geography then?
Considering that the primary points of contention would seem to be Bicester level crossing, demolition in the Poets area of Bedford and (trying to be diplomatic) "protecting rural Cambridgeshire", it would seem natural that a lot of responses would fit into those categories.

To some extent, yes, but almost all of the feedback will be high level and generic regardless of which geographical area it might putatively relate to.

For example, a comment about being concerned about the impact of the nasty, nasty railway on the lovely, lovely countryside in [insert location] is fundamentally the same across the whole route and treated in the same way across the whole route. It adds nothing substantive and there is nothing specific about that kind of feedback which actually differentiates between one locality and another.

The same applies to objections to level crossing closures - whether in Bicester or elsewhere - and any other topic you can think of really.

It’s rather trying to have to drudge through all the dross, but every now and again you find a little nugget which can prove decisive. That is actually how the preferred route alignment between Bedford and Cambourne was identified and selected: one very brief comment mentioned in only a small handful of responses (about three or four if I recall correctly) carried far more weight in the decision than the thousands of generic NIMBY whinges.

 

[Magdalia]

To some extent, yes, but almost all of the feedback will be high level and generic regardless of which geographical area it might putatively relate to.

Thanks again. I find it very illuminating to be able to have a discussion about the mechanics of the consultation.

The same applies to objections to level crossing closures - whether in Bicester or elsewhere - and any other topic you can think of really.

Bicester level crossing is a good example. From EWR's perspective it is primarily a level crossing issue, whereas from consultation respondents' perspective it is primarily a Bicester issue. The consultation form needs to be set out in a way that works for the respondents, and that means some sort of data transformation to get the responses to fit with the EWR perspective.

every now and again you find a little nugget which can prove decisive. That is actually how the preferred route alignment between Bedford and Cambourne was identified and selected: one very brief comment mentioned in only a small handful of responses

I was very reassured to read this bit. I see the consultations as an iterative process to get to a better design and a less damaging construction. The consultation process for Cambridge South station was a good example of that. I already try to concentrate my consultation responses on issues where I think there are other options that at least might merit some investigation, having studied the technical report which is a very good guide to what has already been considered.

Hopefully there will be more little nuggets in this round of consultation.

 

[edwin_m]

issues where I think there are other options that at least might merit some investigation

Or perhaps where one option has been preferred over another one, but the reasoning for that decision hasn't properly taken everything into account.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Is there a separate thread for construction/upgrades of Bletchley to Bedford? If not, has work started already on this section?

Or will it be upgraded together with the line to Cambridge, i.e. will Bletchley to Cambridge be one big package?

 

[zwk500]

Is there a separate thread for construction/upgrades of Bletchley to Bedford?

I don't think there is, probably because there's no real updates at the moment.

If not, has work started already on this section?

Not to my knowledge, I don't think they've even decided which option to go with yet.

Or will it be upgraded together with the line to Cambridge, i.e. will Bletchley to Cambridge be one big package?

I expect Bletchley to Bedford will start sooner than Bedford to Cambridge, largely due to how difficult it will be to get everything approved for the Bedford-Cambridge section.

 

[td97]

MVL is CS2, then whole route to Cambridge is CS3.

East West Rail | Project overview

East West Rail is a major infrastructure project which will connect communities between Oxford and Cambridge. Delivery is now underway.

eastwestrail.co.uk

• Connection Stage 1
  
  East West Rail services will run from Oxford to Bletchley/Milton Keynes.
• Connection Stage 2
  
  Building on the work completed in Connection Stage 1, East West Rail services will then extend from Oxford to Bedford.
• Connection Stage 3
  
  This stage completes the full East West Rail connection, and will see services run from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford and Bletchley.

 

[12LDA28C]

Is there a separate thread for construction/upgrades of Bletchley to Bedford? If not, has work started already on this section?

Or will it be upgraded together with the line to Cambridge, i.e. will Bletchley to Cambridge be one big package?

Bletchley to Bedford is currently scheduled to be completed by 2030 before Bedford - Cambridge gets started.

 

[DavidGrain]

This is the official East West Rail website which should be kept up to date as this project moves forward.

East West Rail | Your area - Marston Vale

East West Rail would help connect people in and around the Marston Vale area with jobs, education and days out.

eastwestrail.co.uk

My understanding is that we are still in the consultation stage about possible station closures/amalgamations.
On the Forum the only thread I can find for construction is this one.

 

[swt_passenger]

This is the official East West Rail website which should be kept up to date as this project moves forward.

East West Rail | Your area - Marston Vale

East West Rail would help connect people in and around the Marston Vale area with jobs, education and days out.

eastwestrail.co.uk

My understanding is that we are still in the consultation stage about possible station closures/amalgamations.
On the Forum the only thread I can find for construction is this one.

This is the construction thread, it is currently closed since January pending construction restarting:

East-West Rail (EWR): Oxford-Bletchley construction progress

I think they're very good at knowing what rules they can get away with breaking, and seem to know where all the speed cameras are. I'd hope that they would know they can't get away with jumping the lights at a level crossing, particularly if they put up a camera there to catch people doing it...

www.railforums.co.uk

The problem with the Bletchley to Bedford section is that a number of changes WERE authorised by the extant TWA Order for the route, but they were never started because the later decision to head for Cambridge meant they would have to be changed. To the best of my knowledge the EWR website has never really published any detailed statement about the Marston Vale section.