East West Rail in Great Shelford | GreatShelfordonline

East West Rail and Great Shelford

East West Rail Great Shelford update

The East West Rail (EWR) situation is hotting up again.

Major developments in the campaign are expected by June.

EWR has been sending out Land Interest Questionnaires to those it believes are likely to be affected by either the construction of the railway or its operation during March 2024. It does not inform recipients into which category it thinks they fall.

East West Rail are holding consultation events in May in Comberton (May 22 2-7pm Comberton Village Hall, Green End, Comberton, CB23 7DY) and Cambridge. (May 21 2-7pm, St Philip's Church Centre 185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN.)

The new East West Rail route between Cambridge and Oxford will travel through Great Shelford.

The announcement will mean an additional four trains an hour through the village, increasing train noise.

Under the current proposals, EWR has stated that this junction, located to the west of Granham’s Road in Great Shelford and known for historical reasons as the Shepreth Branch Junction, will need to be re-built to accommodate the additional trains. This may require the King’s Cross line to cross the Liverpool Street line on a new bridge in Great Shelford, before the four tracks merge and run side-by-side into Cambridge Station. Technically, this is known as a grade-separated junction because the railways cross at different heights.

EWR has announced it is planning two, statutory consultations before its DCO application. They say "A two-stage statutory consultation will maximise the opportunities for our communities to influence the proposals during the development stage of the design process.”

The first stage will be launched “in the first half of this year” and "will share our updated proposals, as well as updated information on design areas. We will also provide an overview of potential environmental impacts and mitigations. Building upon the work we’ve completed to date, our proposals will be presented in more detail than in previous rounds of non-statutory consultations and will again seek feedback from the public.”

There’s going to be an update later to confirm consultation dates, the information they will be asking for feedback on and explaining how to get involved.

It is unclear whey EWRCo are taking this approach, save that it may be part of their response to the NAO’s conclusion that "EWR Co has more to do to respond to the concerns of the region’s residents, some of whom will be negatively affected by the project and are unhappy with how EWR Co has communicated with them”.

Posted Feb 27 2024

National Audit Office scrutinise East West Rail

The government's spending watchdog the National Audit Office is investigating the planned £5bn rail link between Cambridge and Oxford that would go through Great Shelford.

East West Rail (EWR) will link the two university cities via a new section of track between Bedford and Cambridge.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said it will assess the "economic and strategic" case for the EWR project.

A Bedfordshire MP along the proposed route welcomed the move and said "the maths just don't add up" in EWR's business plan.

The NAO said its investigation would look into:

How the "context" for EWR has changed over time
The Department for Transport's assessments of the "economic and strategic case" for EWR
The cross-government working to "plan and deliver the intended outcomes".

Posted Oct 24 2023

East West Rail WILL travel through Great and Little Shelford

The East West Rail route between Cambridge and Oxford will travel through Great Shelford a new report has confirmed.

The report published on May 26 confirmed that the southern route through Great and Little Shelford will be used.

East West Rail (EWR) is a major new railway connecting Oxford and Cambridge.

If the proposals go ahead, it will mean more trains using the existing trainline along with additional rail lines through Little and Great Shelford. The impact on the two villages would be significant.

The proposals could mean the closure of the railway crossing in Hauxton Road, Little Shelford.

Campaigners against the proposals argued that a northern route into Cambridge from Bedford would be more sensible.

Possible changes to the railway in Great Shelford

The proposed new line will run alongside the existing King’s Cross line through the Shelfords before merging with the Liverpool Street line in Great Shelford.

Under the current proposals, EWR has stated that this junction, located to the west of Granham’s Road in Great Shelford and known for historical reasons as the Shepreth Branch Junction, will need to be re-built to accommodate the additional trains. This may require the King’s Cross line to cross the Liverpool Street line on a new bridge in Great Shelford, before the four tracks merge and run side-by-side into Cambridge Station. Technically, this is known as a grade-separated junction because the railways cross at different heights.

Assuming this happens, the impact on Great Shelford will be significant. The bridge structure is expected to be many hundreds of metres long (perhaps over a kilometre) and several metres high – roughly the height of the current footbridge across the railway. The new structure may be located south of Addenbrooke’s Road bridge as that is where there is most space, but EWR has not said.

At present, only two tracks run into Cambridge. But this will become four tracks under the proposed new layout. To accommodate the widened railway, the DNA cycle path running alongside the current tracks will probably need to be moved according to the proposals.

Possible changes to the railway at Little Shelford

EWR is considering permanently closing or improving the Little Shelford level crossing in Hauxton Road at the location of the current level crossing.

The EWR consultation document stated; "There are a number of options we are considering for the Hauxton Road level crossing:

• Building a bridge or an underpass at the existing level crossing

• Closure with provision of a pedestrian/cycle bridge

• Permanent diversion either with provision of a new highway or along other existing local roads.”

It is believed that there is not enough room for a new bridge or underpass for cars in Hauxton Road. This would mean that Little Shelford would be split in two, with some Little Shelford homes on the Hauxton side of the tracks.

The campaign group fighting the proposals are also concerned about freight. The tracks will be built to handle freight and freight trains run on diesel. This would increase noise and pollution in the Shelfords.

Other layouts are possible, some with less potential to cause harm to Great Shelford (for example a flat junction at Shepreth Branch Junction). But considering the evidence, a bridge is likely to be EWR’s preferred option.

Links

East West Rail

The Shelfords’ EWR Action Group. The objective of the group is to persuade East West Rail to conduct a full consultation on both a southern and northern approach to Cambridge. mailto:gt-shelford-ewr-action@googlegroups.com

Cambridge Approaches action group

CamBed RailRoad (CBRR) created an alternative route option known as the northern approach as it connects via north Cambridge stations - full details can be found on their website www.cambedrailroad.org

Posted March 16 2023

East West Rail January 2023 update

An announcement about the route choice for East West Rail will be made early in 2023 it has emerged.

In a statement, East West Rail (EWR) CEO Beth West said: "We are in the process of finalising our recommendations for consideration by Government in the early part of 2023. Once that’s happened, we will then be able to respond formally to the consultation and update local communities on the route choice. I don’t have a confirmed date for that publication yet, but as soon I do I will let you know."

"The whole EWR team has worked hard this year reviewing the consultation responses and refining our proposals to take account of all the useful feedback we have received. We have also been focused on setting out the case for EWR to inform Government decisions on the project" she said in an EWR newsletter.

"Therefore, I was delighted in November when the Chancellor made clear in his Autumn Statement the Government’s commitment to EWR and stressed again how important this project is to local communities, and to help develop long term growth for the whole of the country.

"The statement gave us the green light to move forward .

"I do recognise that people have been waiting a long time, and when I joined EWR Co in April I expected to publish an update on the project quickly. However, given the changes in Government over the past 6 months, I hope you will appreciate that progress hasn’t been entirely within my control.

"I completely understand the importance of certainty. The Chancellor’s commitment was great news for the businesses who needed certainty about EWR so they can crack on with their long term investment plans. It was also good news for the local authorities who see EWR as integral to delivering on local ambitions – as well as for the 71% of local people between Oxford and Cambridge who think a new east-west public transport link is a good idea.

"But for those people I’ve spoken to whose homes could be impacted by the railway, I know that certainty about the route choice is also critical, and the whole team here is focused on bringing that certainty as quickly as possible. My personal pledge as we close out the year is to work with Government and the team to publish an update as soon as possible."

Posted Dec 22 2022

East West Rail December 22 update

Rumours that East West Rail (EWR) might be heading for the sidings have been turned on their head after the Government recommitted to the East West Rail project in the recent budget. (External link)

East West proposals could include lots of extra trains through Great Shelford and a major new railway viaduct.

Results of the most recent EWR consultation are expected to be published imminently which are likely to identify any changes to the project.

East West Rail is a major new railway connecting Oxford and Cambridge.

The proposed East West Rail route from Oxford to Cambridge could run through Great and Little Shelford under current proposals.

If the proposals go ahead, it will mean more trains using the existing trainline along with additional rail lines through Great and Little Shelford.

Routed appropriately, EWR might deliver important benefits to Cambridgeshire. But the proposed route alignment for the central section from Bedford to Cambridge, and the manner in which it has been developed, are causing concern within Great Shelford, Little Shelford and other affected parishes.

No decisions have yet been taken.

Posted Nov 28 2022.

November 2022 update

East West proposals which could include lots of extra trains through Great Shelford and a new railway viaduct are gearing up again.

EWR was included in the previous Chancellor’s Growth Plan: see Appendix B.

Former PM Liz Truss also gave her backing to the scheme before she stepped down. Updated proposals are expected in the next few months. Posted October 27 2022

East West Rail

July 2022 update

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps calls for East West Rail to be scrapped (external link)
Parts of the EWR scheme are unachievable according to a new report (external link)
The next East West Rail drop-in consultation event was in Haslingfield between 2pm and 8pm on September 9.

East West Rail (EWR) is a major new railway connecting Oxford and Cambridge.

The proposed East West Rail route from Oxford to Cambridge could run through Great and Little Shelford under current proposals.

If the proposals go ahead, it will mean more trains using the existing trainline along with additional rail lines through Great and Little Shelford.

Routed appropriately, EWR might deliver important benefits to Cambridgeshire. But the proposed route alignment for the central section from Bedford to Cambridge, and the manner in which it has been developed, are causing concern within Great Shelford, Little Shelford and other affected parishes.

No decisions have yet been taken.

Changes to the railway in Great Shelford

The proposed new line will run alongside the existing King’s Cross line through the Shelfords before merging with the Liverpool Street Line in Great Shelford.

Under the current proposals, EWR has stated that this junction, located to the west of Granham’s Road in Great Shelford and known for historical reasons as Shepreth Branch Junction, will need to be rebuilt to accommodate the additional trains. This may require the King’s Cross line to cross the Liverpool Street line on a bridge, before the four tracks merge and run side-by-side into Cambridge Station. Technically, this is known as a grade-separated junction because the railways cross at different heights.

Assuming this happens, the impact on Great Shelford will be significant. The bridge structure is expected to be many hundreds of metres long (perhaps over a kilometre) and several metres high – roughly the height of the current footbridge across the railway. The new structure may be located south of Addenbrooke’s Road bridge as that is where there is most space, but EWR does not say.

At present, only two tracks run into Cambridge, but this will become four tracks under the new layout. To accommodate the widened railway, the DNA cycle path running alongside the current tracks will probably need to be moved.

The Action Group is also concerned about freight. The tracks will be built to handle freight and freight trains run on diesel. Imagine trying to sleep if diesel trains are running through the village and over a bridge at night in addition to the pollution they would bring.

Other layouts are possible, some with less potential to cause harm to Great Shelford (for example a flat junction at Shepreth Branch Junction). But considering the evidence, a bridge is likely to be EWR’s preferred option.

Changes to the railway at Little Shelford

EWR is considering permanently closing or improving the Little Shelford level crossing in Hauxton Road at the location of the current level crossing.

The consultation document states; "There are a number of options we are considering for the Hauxton Road level crossing:

• Building a bridge or an underpass at the existing level crossing

• Closure with provision of a pedestrian/cycle bridge

• Permanent diversion either with provision of a new highway or along other existing local roads.

Timeline update

EWR confirmed Option E, the southern approach to Cambridge, through Great and Little Shelford, in 2020.

June 2021 The East West Rail most-recent consultation ended.

An independent company is now analysing the 9,800+ consultation responses that were received, and teams across EWR Co are busy considering each and every one of the 190,000+ comments they received. They will publish a summary of all the consultation responses and set out how they have used this feedback as soon as they can.

May 2022 EWR established some local representatives groups .

In 2022 they will present the next stage of detailed proposals and ask your views once more, as part of a statutory consultation.

In 2024, having considered all the representations that are made to them, they expect to apply for permission to build the railway in what is known as a Development Consent Order (DCO).

Links

The Shelfords’ EWR Action Group. The objective of the group is to persuade East West Rail to conduct a full consultation on both a southern and northern approach to Cambridge. mailto:gt-shelford-ewr-action@googlegroups.com

Cambridge Approaches action group

CamBed RailRoad (CBRR) created an alternative route option known as the northern approach as it connects via north Cambridge stations - full details can be found on their website www.cambedrailroad.org

Updated July 13 2022