East West Rail selected Route E from five routes during a flawed consultation in 2019.  The route they selected is longer, has more steep gradients, tighter curves, and greater journey times- it, therefore, requires more materials to construct and energy and fuel to run than the alternatives. It is more damaging to the environment than other routes.

EWR performed no Carbon impact calculations for the routes when they selected Route E - they state it is the most environmentally friendly, but cannot substantiate that statement.  They are under investigation by the ICO for this.

It also means carving through a swathe of unspoiled countryside, rather than using the existing A421 transport corridor (as per DfT guidelines). This will impact delicate ecosystems, wildlife, ancient woodland, and endangered species.

East West Rail's flawed Route selection consultation failed to adequately communicate with many affected people and missed key Parishes from the Proscribed Consultee list. It only contacted 5% of residents in some impacted parishes in North Beds. 

It did not use a level playing field regarding costs in 2019 which also changed radically during the process - without explanation or communication to the public.  2021 EWR has hidden the new end-to-end costs for Bedford to Cambridge. They are not being transparent because we suspect the costs have significantly increased. They are under investigation by the ICO for this.

The subject of Freight was not consulted on in 2019.  Using a longer, steeper, more circuitous route is not consistent with the government's decarbonisation ambitions - this represents new information and should trigger a reconsideration.

The current traction for trains can only be Diesel. EWR has no approval to deploy electrification.

Bedford Borough Council had an undemocratically large influence on the decision and cited a tiny incremental economic gain (0.05% - 0.13% p.a.) of using a route through Bedford. However, they have so far failed to perform a traffic, congestion, air quality or noise pollution study for Bedford Midland station.  Bedford already frequently breaches WHO air quality standards.

Bedford Borough Council knew of the potential for demolitions in Bedford in July 2019 - They chose not to disclose this to residents.  They have not been transparent with their own constituents.

Many questions regarding both the 2019 and 2021 consultations remain unanswered. We need transparency.

Given the new information on costs, freight, the carbon emergency, and the impact of Covid on predicted passenger numbers, we ask the Minister and Secretary of State for Transport to instruct EWR to re-consult on a shortlist of the routes making environmental considerations the focus.  We recommend that an adjusted Route B is considered, as this is the most consistent with government environmental and decarbonisation policy: Shorter, Flatter, Straighter along an existing transport corridor with less disruption.

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