East West Rail & Great Shelford
East West Rail confirms its plans for Great Shelford
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Extension of an existing footpath behind the village school will be created
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New noise boards will be installed in some parts of the village
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The changes are expected to be in place by the mid 2030s.
East West Rail (EWR) have confirmed the how the enhanced rail line through Great Shelford will impact on the village.
East West Rail is creating a new foot and cycle track from the Hauxton Road Level Crossing in Little Shelford alongside the rail track on the East Side of the railway track to meet “Jenny’s Path” in Great Shelford allowing access to Great Shelford Primary School.
"We have included measures to improve drainage at the adjacent Jenny’s Path underpass to reduce the risk of flooding," says the East West Rail consultation document which was published on April 14.
"The footbridge which currently carries Great Shelford Footpath 1 over the railway would be replaced with a ramped footbridge to cross over the widened railway" the East West Rail consultation document states.
"We are considering the best location for this footbridge to improve connectivity across the railway and access to open spaces, including Ninewells Local Nature Reserve."
Noise barriers would be installed alongside sections of the railway in Great Shelford on both sides of the curve approaching Shepreth Junction to reduce noise impacts.
The new East West Rail service is expected to include an additional five trains an hour through the village when it begins.
The changes will be in place by the mid 2030s.
There is a special consultation session at Shelford Rugby Club from 2pm to 7pm on May 1st.
You can see the consultation document here.
The deadline for responses is June 9 2026.
Posted April 16 2026.
Approximate future dates:
There will be further consultation sometime after April 2026.
The Development Consent Order submission will probably occur in 2027
The bridge and construction summer 2031.
Level Crossing Closure 2034.
Posted November 26 2025.
East West Rail and Great Shelford
East West Rail, which will travel through Great Shelford, has come another step closer after the new Government re-stated its commitment to the major project in the Budget on October 30 2024. The changes will lead to an increase of four trains in each direction per hour.
The Government has announced a new consultation about the East West Rail route from Oxford to Cambridge which started on Nov 14 2024 and will end on January 24 2025.
This is what the consultation document says about the changes to the railway in Great Shelford.
"North of Great Shelford, we are proposing to add two more tracks to the West Anglia Main Line to form a four-track corridor from Shepreth Junction into Cambridge. This would provide capacity for East West Rail services as the current twin-track West Anglia Main Line into Cambridge from Shepreth Branch Junction does not have the operational capacity required for current and future services. The additional tracks would be built to the west side of the West Anglia Main Line, and the existing Shepreth Junction would be remodelled.
"Providing two new tracks to the west of West Anglia Main Line would require other infrastructure interventions including:
• The existing footbridge carrying Great Shelford Footpath 1 over the railway at Shepreth Junction would need to be replaced to create room for the railway.
• To accommodate the wider track corridor, a new balancing pond would be required southeast of Shepreth Junction. A new rail systems compound to house equipment supporting the widened railway would also be required at this location.
• Another balancing pond would be required south of the existing Addenbrooke’s Road overbridge crossing on the western side to account for the wider railway corridor.
• The underbridge at Nine Wells would need to be widened to accommodate two additional tracks.
Great Shelford Parish Council has shared its views on the proposals - https://www.greatshelfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/105/2024/12/241123-EWR-Consultation-Response-V0.2-3.pdf .
There will be no further changes to Jenny's Path because of the East West Rail developments.
"A private level crossing for Rectory Farm would be closed," says the consultation document. "We will continue to talk with the affected landowner and users about how this would impact them and what diversions or alternatives might be suitable. There is an existing private footpath underpass just south of this level crossing which would not be impacted."
East West Rail has confirmed its preference for green traction power in the form of discontinuous electrification with hybrid battery-electric trains, after the Chancellor confirmed government support for the project in yesterday’s Budget.
As well as the environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions, discontinuous electrification would mean overhead lines would only need to be installed along some sections of the route, which would significantly reduce disruption during construction and potentially decrease visual impacts in more sensitive locations along the new railway. This option would also cost less than full electrification, reducing the need to alter current structures and requiring less land for things such as mast foundations.
East West Rail is a new railway which would connect communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, making it easier to reach the things that matter most.
You’re invited to take part in our consultation and share your feedback on proposals for the new railway. The consultation will run from 14 November 2024 to 24 January 2025.
There are several ways you can get involved:
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Attend our in-person or online events
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Visit our virtual consultation room
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View our proposals online and at information points
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Fill in our feedback form
To find out more about our proposals and to share your feedback, visit: eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024
St Neots: 07 Jan 2025 – St Neots Town Football Club
Comberton: 10 Jan 2025 – Comberton Village Hall
Bletchley: 15 Jan 2025 – Bletchley Masonic Centre
Woburn Sands: 17 Jan 2025 – The Summerlin Centre
Cambridge: 18 Jan 2025 – The Clayton Hotel
Cherry Hinton: 21 Jan 2025 – St Andrews Church
East West Rail is likely to include a new rail bridge in Great Shelford as well as a significant increase in trains travelling through the village.
It is also expected to lead to the closure of the railway crossing between Little Shelford and Hauxton.
Updated Jan 3 2025
East West Rail and Great Shelford
The East West Rail campaign is starting to gear up again following the General Election.
It has emerged that East West Rail has sent Land Interest Questionnaires to 53 properties in Great and Little Shelford that are likely to be adversely affected by the new Oxford to Cambridge railway line.
An announcement about the next steps for East West Rail are expected after the Budget announcement in October.
The proposed new East West Rail 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.
Posted September 30 2024
Thousands have their say about East West Rail
A consultation of more than 6,000 people on the plans for East West Rail (EWR) has revealed areas of concern and support.
A report, published by East West Railway Company on May 16, higlighted themes among those 6,000 people who commented on the proposed railway between Oxford and Cambridge which will affect Great and Little Shelford.
"Now that the consultation is closed, our team is carefully considering the feedback we received as we continue to develop proposals before holding a statutory consultation next year."
East West Rail and Great Shelford
East West Rail, which will travel through Great Shelford, has come another step closer after the new Government re-stated its commitment to the major project in the Budget on October 30 2024.
East West Rail is likely to include a major new rail bridge in Great Shelford and a significant increase in trains travelling through the village.
The revised proposals for the next stage of consultation with local people are now expected to be published imminently.
Updated Oct 31 2024
East West Rail and Great Shelford
East West Rail Great Shelford update June 2024 update
Major developments in the East West Rail campaign were expected by June.
But because of the General Election, consultations in June and July have now been postponed.
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:
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How the "context" for EWR has changed over time
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The Department for Transport's assessments of the "economic and strategic case" for EWR
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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
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
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