East West Rail has announced a series of substantial design updates for its long-planned railway connection between Oxford and Cambridge, with Cambridgeshire seeing some of the most significant evolution of the project to date. The updates follow months of public engagement and detailed technical review, culminating in the newly published You Said, We Did report, which outlines more than 80 changes made in direct response to community feedback.
Among the most notable developments are the consideration of a brand-new Cambridge East station, a proposed eastern entrance at Cambridge Station, the relocation of Cambourne station, and a major rethink of the planned tunnel beneath Bourn Airfield.
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) says the changes demonstrate its commitment to shaping “a modern, sustainable transport link” that balances the needs of passengers, the environment and local communities.
David Hughes, CEO of EWR Co, said the redesigns reflect “our commitment to listening to communities and designing a railway that delivers long-term benefits for Cambridge and the wider region.”
He added: “From proposing a new eastern entrance at Cambridge Station and announcing how we are considering a new station at Cambridge East, which were both favoured in our consultation feedback, we’re focused on improving connectivity where it matters most to provide better outcomes for passengers, local communities and the environment. These latest designs will help East West Rail shape the modern, sustainable transport link this region needs to thrive.”
More than 6,200 people took part in the third non-statutory consultation, held between November 2024 and January 2025. Public engagement will continue in the New Year through a series of local events, followed by another full consultation in spring or summer 2026 ahead of an application for a Development Consent Order.
Cambridge East: A New Station Brought Into Scope
One of the most consequential announcements is the formal addition of a Cambridge East station to the project’s design scope—subject to third-party investment. Funding has already been secured to progress design work at a site near Cambridge City Airport, which is due to be decommissioned.
The proposal would deliver a new regional railway hub in one of the fastest-growing parts of the UK. The station would sit close to Coldhams Lane and connect into a significantly upgraded Newmarket Line, offering enhanced links to Ipswich and Felixstowe while providing east Cambridge with its own high-capacity rail access.
The station is envisaged as a linchpin for future development and a catalyst for growth in life sciences, technology and research sectors. It would also relieve pressure on the congested Cambridge Central station and reduce traffic into the city centre.
EWR Co says the station would “open up rail access for communities in the east of the city, reduce pressure on Cambridge Central, and support growth in one of the fastest-growing parts of the UK.”
Importantly, Cambridge East would complete full “rail connectivity at every point of the compass,” linking the planned Cambourne station to the west with Cambridge North, Cambridge South and the existing central station.
The idea of a new eastern station drew strong support in the earlier consultation, with many respondents highlighting the opportunity to reduce car use, support sustainable growth and improve transport resilience.
However, while design work can now begin, construction will depend on investment from outside government. The proposal builds on, and effectively replaces, the turnback facility previously planned at Cherry Hinton.
Cambridge Station: A Long-Awaited Eastern Entrance
EWR Co has confirmed it is now actively considering the addition of a new eastern entrance to Cambridge Station, responding to strong public support for easing congestion at the station’s busy western concourse.
The entrance would sit to the east of the existing tracks and provide:
- A new ticket gate line
- Step-free access to all platforms
- An “active travel hub”
- Direct walking and cycling connections to surrounding neighbourhoods, including the Clifton Road area
The company states the entrance would “significantly [improve] access to the eastern side of the tracks and the surrounding communities,” and would “kick start the transformation of the Clifton Road area.”
With development accelerating to the east and southeast of the station—including growth around Mill Road, Cherry Hinton and the Biomedical Campus—local voices have long argued for better station accessibility. The proposal is one of the most widely welcomed elements of the updated design package.
Cambourne Station: Relocated After Strong Community Feedback
Another major revision concerns Cambourne station, which will be relocated around one kilometre west of the previous site. The new location, north-east of the A428/Cambourne Road double roundabout, was chosen after significant public concern about the original proposal’s environmental and connectivity impacts.
EWR Co summarised the reasoning: the new site would “enable a greater degree of growth and development” due to its proximity to the centre of Cambourne and its connections to the A428; would avoid ancient woodland; align more closely with Local Plans; and “would have a lower environmental impact” overall.
The company emphasised that the revised station location was “preferred by communities and stakeholders, based on the consultation feedback we’ve received.”
Residents had raised worries that the original location risked poor accessibility—especially for Lower and West Cambourne—and could increase car dependency. The new site, closer to existing road and bus corridors, is expected to integrate more cleanly with future active travel routes.
Bourn Airfield Crossing: Switch to a Mined Tunnel
One of the most technically significant changes is the move from a cut-and-cover tunnel to a mined tunnel beneath the A428 and Bourn Airfield.
Residents, developers and environmental groups had expressed concerns about the long-term disruption, environmental damage and construction challenges posed by the initial cut-and-cover concept.
Following new evaluations, EWR Co now says the mined tunnel would be:
- Cheaper
- Quicker to build
- Less disruptive to road networks and the Bourn Airfield development
- Less damaging to trees and groundwater
- More environmentally sustainable, with reduced noise, visual impact and biodiversity loss
The company explains that it now plans to reuse much of the extracted material and avoid the deeper excavation required for the cut-and-cover alternative, which recent design work showed would need a larger tunnel bore and more complex ventilation systems.
Local feedback strongly favoured a mined or bored tunnel over the previously preferred option. Many respondents said it would provide a “better long-term solution with less disruption to the environment, local businesses, residents, and existing infrastructure.”
Newton–Harston Connectivity: Revised Road Link and New Footbridge
Communities south of Cambridge had raised major concerns about changes to local roads and the closure of level crossings, particularly around Newton and Harston. In response, EWR Co has now confirmed Option 4 as the preferred solution.
This option creates a new road between Station Road and London Road using part of the former Shepreth Branch Royston Line, which will be realigned as the rail corridor shifts south. It offers:
- Lower environmental impact
- Reduced agricultural land take
- Less impact on historic landscapes
- The ability to keep London Road open to traffic during construction
EWR Co notes that Option 4 received “considerably more” support than other options in the consultation.
To support active travel and local cohesion, the company has also committed to a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Newton and Harston. This upgrade aims to ensure the villages remain connected, increase safety, and create opportunities for new circular walking and cycling routes.
Environmental Mitigation and Active Travel: Expanded Commitments
Environmental concerns were among the strongest themes in the 2024 consultation, with residents emphasising the need to protect ancient woodland, hedgerows, wildlife corridors and chalk aquifers.
EWR Co says it has strengthened its environmental mitigation proposals, including:
- Additional planting and earthworks
- Green bridge enhancements at Hardwick Road, Comberton Road and Hardwick Bridleway 5
- Integration of footpaths on upgraded crossings
- Design refinements to reduce noise and visual impacts
The company outlined that new green bridges will allow wildlife to “travel between habitats across the railway” while keeping pedestrians, cyclists and motorised users safely separated.
Concerns about groundwater, particularly around Bourn and Highfields Caldecote, also shaped the tunnelling redesign and revisions to drainage infrastructure.
Public Voices: Strong Opinions on Route, Connectivity and Impacts
The consultation records a wide spectrum of views from Cambridgeshire residents, including deep divisions over the preferred approach into Cambridge.
While some see EWR as a transformative east–west transport link that will boost local jobs, reduce car dependency and support economic development, others remain worried about the project’s environmental and social impacts, from noise and construction disruption to the loss of farmland and heritage features.
A recurring theme was frustration about transparency and decision-making, with some respondents calling for an independent ombudsman and stronger oversight of the project’s engagement process.
But the engagement was extensive: more than 6,200 people provided feedback, influencing every major design change presented in the updated proposals.
Next Steps: More Engagement, More Detail, and a 2026 Consultation
EWR Co will return to communities, and a full non-statutory consultation will follow in spring or summer 2026.
The company continues to work with local authorities, environmental bodies and utility companies, and is conducting further technical assessments as it refines its Development Consent Order application.
Hughes said: “We’re continuing to develop our designs for East West Rail in discussion with statutory stakeholders… and we’re also continuing to use the feedback from our most recent consultation to refine our design proposals for the areas where we’ve not confirmed decisions within this report.”
For now, Cambridgeshire residents can expect another busy year of engagement, discussion and debate as one of the region’s most significant infrastructure projects in decades continues to evolve.
