Strategies and major projects - Overview

These transport strategies and projects range help shape transport and travel in and around Bedford Borough. 

Transporting Bedford 2020 strategy

Transporting Bedford 2020 is a strategy set to tackle congestion hot spots across Bedford.

Bedford Rail Strategy 2022

Bedford Borough Council has launched the Bedford Rail Strategy, setting out priorities for railway services for Bedford Borough. The priorities of the Bedford Rail Strategy focus around new and better connectivity and stations.

Better rail services are considered to be essential to support economic growth and prosperity, and to improve life choices for people living, working and visiting the Borough. The Council has laid out its plan to work with rail industry parties including Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

The Council’s plans for Bedford Borough to have better rail connectivity include:

  • building a new station at Wixams
  • maximising the benefits of East West Rail
  • promoting Bedford Station as an Interchange Hub
  • maximising wider connectivity including to the East Midlands and internationally

East West Rail

East West Rail is a major project to establish a strategic railway connecting East Anglia with Central, Southern and Western England.

Wixams rail station

Wixams new settlement is 3 miles (5km) south of Bedford and covers an area of some 384 hectares. 

The original plan for the Wixams development included the provision of a railway station. Following considerable delays and an absence of any progress on building a station through the planning process, we are proposing to step in and commit £14 million of capital funds to fill the funding gap and deliver the station. These funds would be recouped from a share of the fares through an agreement with the rail industry.

You can find out more about the plans for Wixams Station here.