Funding for new station entrance boosts East West Rail plan

The Government has put forward £17m to support construction of an eastern entrance to Bletchley station, on top of a commitment of up to £5m from Milton Keynes City Council in Buckinghamshire.

It will create a direct gateway between the station and Bletchley’s main high street, improving access for passengers and supporting businesses.

READ MORE: Rail bosses launch East West Rail consultation

Bletchley is a station on the first section of the East West Rail line, which will eventually run from Oxford to Cambridge.

The first section is still waiting for its first passenger train, despite being handed over to operator Chiltern Railways in March 2025.

A train which could run for East West Rail locations (Image: Contributed)

David Hughes, chief executive of East West Rail, told the BBC: “We are really pleased to see that funding has now been confirmed to allow the construction of the new eastern entrance at Bletchley station.

“This investment underlines our commitment to working with partners to ensure East West Rail delivers lasting benefits for passengers and communities along the route.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “We are putting the infrastructure in place to create growth in every part of the country, and I look forward to continuing to work with Callum Anderson (Labour MP for Buckingham and Bletchley) to help Bletchley achieve its huge potential.”

Details on delivery timelines and construction phases are expected to be announced in due course.

An eight-week consultation by East West Railway Company is expected to conclude on June 9, and has been offering communities along the route an opportunity to have their say on the latest plans.

Their contributions will help shape the final design of the railway, before a Development Consent Order application for government backing is submitted in 2027.

A spokesperson for Chiltern Railways said: “We have been working to get everything ready for passenger services to begin on the new line.

Dave Richardson, a spokesman for Railfuture (Image: Contributed)

“We continue to work closely with the Government, trade unions and industry partners, and will provide further updates when we are able to.”

Dave Richardson, a spokesman for campaign group Railfuture, said in April at the launch of the consultation: “The Oxford-Bletchley-Milton Keynes section is complete but no passenger trains are running, while the Bletchley-Bedford section is operational but needs a major upgrade.

“The Bedford-Cambridge section is a long-term aim as parts of it will need to be built from scratch while some of it will use existing routes. It’s due to open in the 2030s.”