East West Rail's feedback report shows 604 people commented on Bedford St Johns and 752 on Bedford station. Traffic, parking and demolitions in the Poets area drew the most concern.
Traffic, parking and the loss of homes in the Poets area were the biggest worries Bedford residents raised about East West Rail’s plans this spring. The rail company has now published its summary of the feedback.
The Consultation 2026 Feedback Report came out on Thursday 12 November. It covers the route-wide consultation that ran from 14 April to 9 June 2026. East West Rail received 5,374 responses in all.
It is the last consultation before the company applies for permission to build the railway. That application, a Development Consent Order, is due to be submitted in the autumn of 2027.
How many people commented on Bedford
The feedback form asked separate questions about the two Bedford stations. The report gives these response counts:
| Question | Responses |
|---|---|
| South of Bedford and the new Bedford St Johns station | 604 |
| Redeveloping Bedford station | 752 |
| All responses, whole route | 5,374 |
The report also lists attendance at the in-person events. The drop-in at King’s House on Saturday 23 May drew 280 people, and the evening event at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara on 7 May drew 124. Across the 12 events on the route, 2,608 people attended.
What the words in the report mean
The report does not give vote-style tallies for or against. It uses fixed words for how many people raised each point, and it sets out what each word means:
| Report says | Number of respondents |
|---|---|
| A few | 2 to 10 |
| Some or several | 11 to 50 |
| Many | 51 to 150 |
| A large or substantial number | 151 to 500 |
| A very large number | 501 or more |
That makes the Bedford chapter easier to read. A “substantial number” is at least 151 people. “Some” can be as few as 11.
What Bedford respondents supported
The report says a substantial number of respondents (151 to 500) backed each of these:
- the new Bedford St Johns station, with some citing better access to Bedford Hospital
- redeveloping Bedford station, for better facilities, capacity and connections
Many respondents (51 to 150) supported:
- a western entrance to Bedford station, giving Queen’s Park its own way in
- a new platform for fast trains to London and the north
- realigning the track curve south of Bedford St Johns, to improve line speed and journey times
What worried them most
The single largest concern in the Bedford chapter was traffic once the railway is running. A large number of respondents (151 to 500) said it could worsen congestion or road safety across Bedford and nearby villages. They raised road closures, diversions and access to the hospital for patients and emergency services.
Many respondents (51 to 150) raised each of these:
- construction lorries and their routes across Bedford
- demolitions and compulsory purchase in the Poets area and around Ashburnham Road, including uncertainty over property values
- the loss of hospital parking and disruption to patients, staff and emergency access
- the northern route through the town, with calls for a southern alignment instead
- the Bedford station plans themselves, over disruption, traffic, parking and town-centre effects
- reduced footfall for town-centre businesses
- opposition to a multi-storey car park at Ford End Road, because of traffic and its effect on Queen’s Park
Some respondents named particular roads where temporary closures worried them: Bromham Road, Ampthill Road and Cauldwell Street. Several asked for protection of the former engine shed, the Polish Club and the town’s conservation area.
Several respondents raised property blight and difficulty selling. Some of that feedback called the existing Need to Sell scheme too restrictive, slow or limited. Several others said direct contact with affected owners and tenants had been insufficient or delayed.
What has already changed
East West Rail says it has begun showing how the feedback shaped its plans. In its announcement of the report it pointed to revised parking at Bedford station.
That revision came on 1 October. The 1,200-space Ford End Road car park was dropped and station parking was capped at 900 spaces across both sides of the station.
David Hughes, chief executive of East West Rail, said: “The feedback we’ve received is helping us build a clearer picture of local priorities, and we will continue to consider it carefully as we refine our proposals ahead of our DCO application.”
What it means for you
- No new consultation is planned. Changes to the law in 2025 removed the requirement for a statutory consultation, and the report says the 2026 round was intended to be the last before the application.
- You can still have a say later. Once the Planning Inspectorate accepts the application, anyone can register as an interested party and send in comments. The examination itself can take up to six months.
- If your home is affected, the report records owners’ complaints about the Need to Sell scheme. East West Rail’s Need to Sell page sets out who can apply.
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