East West Rail consultation: information for members
This page updates members on EWR (East West Rail), a nationally significant infrastructure project to connect Oxford and Cambridge by rail, via Milton Keynes and Bedford.
The project involves the creation of new lines and stations, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure.
1 May 2026
Affected by the scheme? Please let us know
The project is now at its final consultation stage, after which comments will be considered before the final Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027.
It is therefore critical that members who are impacted engage now, before the plans are finalised. See more details below about non-statutory consultation 4. The consultation closes on 9 June 2026.
Please tell us if you are impacted by the scheme
1 May 2026
Non-statutory consultation 4
East West Rail launched its final consultation on the scheme before it is submitted for Development Consent Order (DCO) approval.
The NFU will be holding a member meeting in May to understand what the main concerns are regarding the project and will submit a consultation response accordingly. However, we still encourage members to respond individually with their concerns.
For more information, please visit the consultation page: East West Rail | Consultation 2026
24 January 2025
Non-statutory consultation 3
This consultation covered the overall customer experience and railway operations for East West Rail, as well as a range of infrastructure proposals - such as route alignments, stations and level crossings.
NFU response
Following meetings with members to understand the key issues, the NFU responded to the consultation in January 2025. The key points raised in the response included:
- Better consultation with landowners
- The flood risk potential at Tempsford
- The proposed route's impact on agricultural properties
A number of other points were made, including impact on the local road network and the amount of land being taken for the scheme as well as for habitat mitigation. View the full NFU response.
9 June 2021
Non statutory consultation 2
East West Rail opened its second non-statutory consultation in March 2021, seeking views on a number of route options.
NFU response
The NFU held member meetings to understand their views and responded to the consultation in June 2021.
The issues raised in the consultation response included:
- The need for improved engagement
- Potential impact on the local road network
- The impact of intrusive surveys
11 March 2019
Non-statutory consultation 1
East West Rail held its first non-statutory consultation to understand views on several different route options.
Ask us a question about this page
Once you have submitted your query someone from NFU CallFirst will contact you. If needed, your query will then be passed to the appropriate NFU policy team.