The British Regional Transport Association has called for a fresh study into reopening the former Northampton–Bedford railway, arguing it could help people reach the Universal United Kingdom Resort and improve connections to Brackmills.
Personally, I’m not convinced reopening an entire former railway is the most sensible starting point.
We already have a railway from Northampton through Milton Keynes to Bletchley, and another from Bletchley to Bedford. What’s missing is a connecting curve — known as a “chord” — allowing trains to run between the Bedford line and the main line towards Milton Keynes without reversing.
And this isn’t a new suggestion. The East West Main Line Partnership has already called for development of a Bletchley north-east chord, alongside additional track and station capacity.
That raises an obvious question: could that connection support through trains from Northampton towards Bedford and the Universal area, using much more of the railway we already have?
It would still involve significant work, and nobody has established that it would be cheaper or easier.
Going via Bletchley would also be a longer route than a restored direct line. Brackmills has its own transport needs to consider, too.
But I’d want to see those options properly compared before getting carried away with reopening the old route.
Better rail connections would be welcome. I’m just not sold on this particular answer.
Full article in the comments.
The enormity of the project demands that transport be fully devloped prior to opening or as soon as possibler thereafter,