New station: Wixams, Bedfordshire. How many platforms and what should the service be like?

[Bald Rick]

I was commuting 4 days a week (Mon-Wed plus Sat, every week, for different shifts start times), from 2016, including during COVID, and have only ever known 4tph from Flitwick.

There’s six in the high peak hour:

0711, 0713, 0729, 0741, 0743, 0759.

Although the 13 and 43 overtake the 11 and 41 respectively.

 

[flitwickbeds]

There’s six in the high oeak hour:

0711, 0713, 0729, 0741, 0743, 0759.

Although the 13 and 43 overtake the 11 and 41 respectively.

You're right. I never travelled at those times, it was always after 0815.

 

[ProjectUNivers]

I was down at Wixams railway station at the weekend and filmed a drone flyover. It looks very much like they have shut up shop for the time being. I've never seen it so tidy.

 

[InTheEastMids]

I noticed today that New Civil Engineer (first article free, then £) is reporting that Network Rail will, in December, launch a procurement of around £250m +VAT for the expanded Wixams station, with construction from February 2027 to November 2030.

Network Rail readies £300M procurement for expanded Wixams station for Universal Studios | New Civil Engineer

With an estimated value of £250M excluding VAT (£300M including VAT), Network Rail’s pipeline notice estimates the project will run from February 2027

www.newcivilengineer.com

The article suggests the 2 vs 4 platform decision is still under review.

 

[Brubulus]

I noticed today that New Civil Engineer (first article free, then £) is reporting that Network Rail will, in December, launch a procurement of around £250m +VAT for the expanded Wixams station, with construction from February 2027 to November 2030.

Network Rail readies £300M procurement for expanded Wixams station for Universal Studios | New Civil Engineer

With an estimated value of £250M excluding VAT (£300M including VAT), Network Rail’s pipeline notice estimates the project will run from February 2027

www.newcivilengineer.com

The article suggests the 2 vs 4 platform decision is still under review.

250 million seems highly excessive for a 2 platform station. By the cost, I would strongly suspect this will be a 4 platform station.

 

[John R]

250 million seems highly excessive for a 2 platform station. By the cost, I would strongly suspect this will be a 4 platform station.

I don't think there is any doubt about that. If it had still been a 2 platform station then work would not have come to an abrupt halt immediately after Universal's announcement.

 

[Energy]

I don't think there is any doubt about that. If it had still been a 2 platform station then work would not have come to an abrupt halt immediately after Universal's announcement.

Indeed. 4 platforms are expected, with likely a larger station building and sizeable platforms to accommodate the large crowds.

I'd expect higher demand for retail units here than at other comparatively sized stations. The market for Universal is going to be more willing to spend than the average passenger.

 

[William3000]

Very few theme parks open all year round. In any event, if you take a theme park like Thorpe Park, car is still the favourite form of transport. If you take the EWR angle, then do Thameslink, it is unlikely that the services will be overwhelmed. Add to that, people travelling out of London at peak time for opening, and returning back probably after evening peak has hit its apex, so both are contraflow. And, you're doing all of this on giant, 12 car 700s, with lots of standing room, so it's not going to cause any real adverse effects.

Firstly 40% of people don’t have cars; secondly an even greater proportion of people travelling from overseas won’t have cars; thirdly the Government is committed to modal shift away from cars to public transport; and fourthly and perhaps most importantly a major reason most trips to Thorpe Park, Drayton Manor, and especially Alton Towers etc. are car-borne is the fact they don’t have rail connections. Where they do, as in this instance (with services from north, south, east, west, train is likely to be the preferred choice for a significant nunber of customers. They should further incentivise rail travel through discounted rail and park tickets and charging more of car parking to discourage it

 

[Edvid]

Yesterday, Universal formally submitted their planning application to the MHCLG.

Thursday 26 June 2025
An update from Universal Destinations & Experiences

This April, Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, announced that it intends to build and operate the company’s first-ever Universal branded theme park and resort in the United Kingdom, located here in Bedford, pending planning consent approvals.

The next steps in our planning process: We have now submitted a request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for planning permission to be granted by way of making a Special Development Order (SDO). Our submission includes the type of information that you would usually see in a planning application including an Environmental Statement, Planning Statement and Design and Access Statement. The proposal is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
[...]
What’s next: Once the request is received, MHCLG will be inviting representations on the Environmental Statement that accompanies the request, as well as the other documents, plans, and drawings submitted in relation to the proposed development. Details of where the material can be expected and how to make a representation will be available in due course. Any comments on the submitted proposals should be sent to MHCLG through the channels provided, not Universal.

As always, updates on the project can be found on our website universalukproject.co.uk. We look forward to the next steps in the months ahead.

It's also worth noting the previous Wixams scheme was priced at circa £65 million, so we're talking well in excess of a quadrupling.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jun 2025 ==

Just had a look at the pipeline notice for Wixams on Find a Tender (gov.uk) and it was actually withdrawn shortly afterward as "details have changed". So I guess a revised pipeline notice will be issued at some point.

 

[Energy]

It's also worth noting the previous Wixams scheme was priced at circa £65 million, so we're talking well in excess of a quadrupling.

TBF, the original Wixams plan was engineered well to keep costs down, with only 1 track needing adjustment and a small station building.

With double the number of platforms, the platforms are likely bigger, and likely substantially bigger station building, I'm not surprised it'll cost a lot more.

The original Wixams station building would have looked like the image below. A nice station, but one designed to support the local area, not an international theme park.

Image Description - CGI render of original 2-platform Wixams station. [Credit: Ergotechnics (architects)]

 

[Mikey C]

TBF, the original Wixams plan was engineered well to keep costs down, with only 1 track needing adjustment and a small station building.

With double the number of platforms, the platforms are likely bigger, and likely substantially bigger station building, I'm not surprised it'll cost a lot more.

The original Wixams station building would have looked like the image below. A nice station, but one designed to support the local area, not an international theme park.

Image Description - CGI render of original 2-platform Wixams station. [Credit: Ergotechnics (architects)]

I like the clock tower. It gives the station a bit of character and makes the design look less "budget".

I hope somewhere else, a new station gets a similar tower!

 

[duffield]

I like the clock tower. It gives the station a bit of character and makes the design look less "budget".

I hope somewhere else, a new station gets a similar tower!

It's got a somewhat 1920's Art Deco feel.

 

[JP65]

In the documents uploaded this seems to point to Universal having a direct Eurostar service

 

[Verulamius]

The full set of planning documents are now available at https://www.gov.uk/government/colle...rmission-entertainment-resort-complex-bedford

In brief it proposes a 4 platform Wixams station (to be built by Network Rail) and provides a location for a new station on the East West line.

The planning statement document (6.1.0) has the following comments:

Wixams Rail Station
5.38 The transport vision for the Proposed Development envisages a four-platform, four-track station at Wixams, to provide appropriate comfort and journey times to the local community, including the Proposed Development. Accordingly, the Proposed Development includes a new station building,
four platforms and track modifications. It is intended that the permission authorising the Proposed Development will replace in its entirety the S73 Full Permission. No works are proposed to the land bound by the S73 Outline Permission and the S73 RMA, meaning those existing consents for the eastern element remain unaffected. Should planning permission be granted for the Proposed Development, it is intended that Network Rail will construct the entire Full Wixams Rail Station, which includes the new Wixams Rail Station in the Proposed Development, together with the Wixams East Station pursuant to S73 Outline Permission and the S73 RMA. Universal Destinations & Experiences UK Project Planning Statement
June 2025 Ref: 17426 71

EWR and Manor Road Bridge
5.39 Given the uncertainty about the timing for the operation of East West Rail to Bedford, and the uncertainty around the timing and location for a potential new station in the area of the Site, this project includes safeguarded land for the delivery of a new East West Rail station, as shown in Parameter Plan – East West Rail Safeguarded Land (Document Reference 1.15.0). The Construction Phase EIA assessment includes allowances for the delivery of a new station in approximately this location, including specific allowance for traffic movements associated with the construction of the station. Similarly, the parameters for the Proposed Development allow for the operation of a new station on the safeguarded land and even if a station is not to be built in this location the assessment assumes that there will be trains associated with the works consented under the TWAO running on the Marston Vale Railway Line, the necessary connectivity (for both
pedestrians and vehicles) to access this land parcel, and built development up to a maximum of 75m in height (either associated with a new station, or alternative permitted uses in the
safeguarded area, in the event that the station does not come forward). Further detail on this is set out in Chapter 18 of the ES: Cumulative Effects (Document Reference 2.18.0)

 

[Bald Rick]

In the documents uploaded this seems to point to Universal having a direct Eurostar service

 

[BranstonJnc]

In the documents uploaded this seems to point to Universal having a direct Eurostar service

I mean, of ALL of the through services that could be provided, at least something up the Midland Main Line is particularly deliverable (the connection from Dock South to St Pancras' international platforms), so perhaps we need an even bigger Wixams station, with a fifth platform capable of taking a full-length 374, and a large set of other facilities such as check-in, security and immigration...

 

[zwk500]

I mean, of ALL of the through services that could be provided, at least something up the Midland Main Line is particularly deliverable (the connection from Dock South to St Pancras' international platforms), so perhaps we need an even bigger Wixams station, with a fifth platform capable of taking a full-length 374, and a large set of other facilities such as check-in, security and immigration...

A 374 won't be getting very far up the MML.... You'd need the 373s to be kept in service to deliver that service.

 

[BranstonJnc]

A 374 won't be getting very far up the MML.... You'd need the 373s to be kept in service to deliver that service.

Depends what the procurement of the new rolling stock produces...

 

[edwin_m]

Perhaps it's a use for some of those HS2 classic compatibles that won't have much else to do?

 

[Bald Rick]

Depends what the procurement of the new rolling stock produces...

well, quite, although you can be sure it won‘t be producing stock compatible with the signalling system controlled from West Hampstead ‘box, nor imperial standard platform heights.

And even if it did, there isn’t space in the timetable for them.

 

[John R]

Would seem pointless when there are multiple services each hour from St Pancras which will call there. Offer through ticketing by all means to avoid people having to worry about what ticket to buy, but that would be about all.

 

[zwk500]

Perhaps it's a use for some of those HS2 classic compatibles that won't have much else to do?

Can't see Universal paying to fit them with TVM and KVB...

 

[quantinghome]

More likely they'll retcon the Harry Potter books and run a Hogwarts Express themed shuttle from St. Pancras...

 

[InTheEastMids]

More likely they'll retcon the Harry Potter books and run a Hogwarts Express themed shuttle from St. Pancras...

There is an active discussion in another thread about what could EMR could use to fill a looming hole in its IC fleet as a number of 222s leave for Lumo in the autumn.
Hogwarts Express is about the only option that has not yet been put forward.

 

[spyinthesky]

There is an active discussion in another thread about what could EMR could use to fill a looming hole in its IC fleet as a number of 222s leave for Lumo in the autumn.
Hogwarts Express is about the only option that has not yet been put forward.

I don’t think Warner Bros will lease it

 

[InTheEastMids]

I don’t think Warner Bros will lease it

Probably easier to get the digital effects in George Lucas style and re-edit the films with the steam train replaced by a 12-car EMR Connect 360 formation.
Not many non-magical folk have every seen that either.

 

[Haywain]

replaced by a 12-car EMR Connect 360 formation.

12 cars? Are the staffing issues and the refurbishments going to be sorted out by the time the theme park opens?

 

[Zomboid]

One would hope so, the theme park isn't opening for several years.

 

[InTheEastMids]

12 cars? Are the staffing issues and the refurbishments going to be sorted out by the time the theme park opens?

The park is planned to open in 2031. It is now 2025. I am not sure 6 years is enough for EMR/DfT to get 21 trains tarted up and running reliably.

Perhaps somebody here can do the Clappedouttrainio Refurbum spell?
I am told that when used correctly, a ghastly (Oops, I meant ghostly) apparition of the EMR mascot, Miles, will appear and start re-upholstering the seats.

Back on topic, I would expect majority of demand is likely to counter-peak so from London in the morning and toward London in the evening, so this might tend to equalise passenger flows so perhaps the need for 12 car services will be more about general demand growth?

 

[Haywain]

The park is planned to open in 2031. It is now 2025. I am not sure 6 years is enough for EMR/DfT to get 21 trains tarted up and running reliably.

The "tarting up" was supposed to happen before they entered service, 4 years ago, and there's still no sign of it starting so my confidence is not as great as yours.