Lockdown doesn’t derail plans for better access to Biggleswade train station

On April 6, a Skype conference call took place between Beds Rail Access Network (BRAN) Network Rail, Richard Fuller MP, and representatives from Central Beds Council (CBC), Biggleswade Town Council and Govia Thameslink Railway.

Two options now remain on the table, both including ramped access from near the current station buildings to a new bridge across all four platforms, a little to the south of the current buildings on the southbound platform, with lifts and steps down to each platform.

Of the two options, the ramp with the shallower gradient, 1 in 20, as opposed to 1 in 16.5, is favoured at this time.

Julian Vaughan, BRAN representative, wrote on his blog: “It was a constructive meeting and while not getting everything on our ‘shopping list’ there has been progress.

“I raised a concern about the proposed bus interchange (just to the south of the small car park next to the old mini-cab office) in terms of gradients from the interchange to the train station. Network Rail have not received detailed plans from CBC re the bus station, but said they would look into this.”

The interchange plan will see the bus station hub move from Market Square to a site adjoining the train station, and was described in CBC’s Biggleswade Town Centre Adopted Strategy and Masterplan 2011.

The importance of retaining the current bridge, both in terms of a ‘right of way’ and as an access point to the platforms was also set out clearly.

A CBC spokesman said: “We have shared our interchange proposal with Network Rail and will continue working closely with all of the stakeholders involved. We already have a preferred option for the interchange which we will continue to develop with the stakeholders, whilst working with Network Rail on the options for step-free access.

“The final construction schedule will be agreed upon confirmation of the designs for both the step free access and the transport interchange.”

Ed Akers, of Network Rail, said: “We are working to deliver a scheme which will include the installation of lifts at the station, as quickly as possible. It remains on track to be delivered by 2024.”