Railway line’s return backed by government

Campaigners have been hoping to get the track from Bedford to Cambridge reinstated, albeit with diversions where the original route has been built on.

This would be the central section of the East-West Rail route. The western section from Oxford to Bedford has already been approved.

The Department for Transport’s new publication, Tech Connected, “articulates the government’s commitment to a national tech community, linked by a modern and growing rail network.”

The publication continues: “Our ambitions for rail are relentless. We are developing bold plans to complete the tech triangle of London-Cambridge-Oxford.

“The central section of East-West Rail would connect Bedford with Cambridge, likely including an interchange where it meets the East Coast Main Line.”

The railway from Bedford to Cambridge is subject to costs and statutory processes, however.

There used to be a line which ran from Oxford to Cambridge, taking in Sandy. It was known as the ‘Varsity Line’ until it was shortened in 1967 as part of the Beeching axe.