Wixams Station FAQs

Bedford Borough Council undertook a non-statutory public engagement on its plans for Wixams Station, before submitting applications for planning permission in Summer 2022.

The purpose of the public engagement was to share details of Wixams Station and provide an opportunity for the local community, businesses, and other stakeholders to share their views while the plans were still being finalised.

We invited people to provide their comments on the plans for Wixams Station by completing our online response form on our Wixams Station page.

We reviewed all the feedback we received and where necessary refined the plans and supporting information ahead of the submission of applications for planning permission.

As part of the planning applications, we submitted a Statement of Community Engagement (SCE). This describes how the local community, businesses and stakeholders have been engaged in the plans for Wixams Station and how this feedback has informed the outline proposals. A summary of the SCE has been added to the Wixams Station webpage.

Further opportunity to provide feedback on the applications for planning permission was possible during the consultation period as a part of the planning process.  All requisite planning approvals for the two-platform station are now in place so the consultation has closed. This was undertaken by the Local Planning Authority, Bedford Borough Council.

You can contact us by emailing WixamsStation@bedford.gov.uk or by post to:

Wixams Station
Major Projects
Borough Hall
Cauldwell St
Bedford
MK42 9AP

The scheme is funded by developer contributions and Bedford Borough Council.

The scheme is being delivered by Bedford Borough Council with support from the rail industry.

Bedford Borough Council has commission Network Rail to deliver Wixams Station with works having commenced in September 2024. The entry into service date was anticipated to be second half of 2026 (prior to Universal announcement). 

No, the delivery of Wixams Station is independent of the East West Rail project, which is being delivered by the East West Rail Company.

East West Rail is still in its development phase, but its ambition is to connect Cambridge and Oxford by rail, with services calling at Bedford Midland. To stay up to date with the East West Rail project or for further information please visit East West Rail’s website.

Whilst Wixams was identified as being on a possible route in earlier options, it is no longer situated on the route options consulted upon in 2021, or during the non-statutory consultation in 2024.

Wixams Station is located in the Station Quarter, at the western boundary of Wixams accessible from Meadow Road.

The station will provide:

• two platforms with seating and shelters
• station building including toilets, waiting room and coffee shop
• landscaped public realm
• footbridge with stairs and lifts
• parking including electric vehicle charging, blue badge and cycle
• passengers drop off/pick up
• provision for taxis/bus stops
• ticket purchasing facilities
• real-time information boards
• cctv
• audio frequency induction loops

You can view a plan of the proposed station here (JPEG).

The plans for the station include a dedicated space for a coffee shop. (Information correct prior to Universal announcement).

The ‘Station Quarter’ refers to a wider area within which Wixams Station will be located.  

Outside of the station footprint (the railway corridor including the station building, footbridge, platforms, car park and access) plans for development are being bought forward by Urban and Civic (formerly L&Q Estates). 

Bedford Borough Council is investing in active travel at this location and is keen to encourage those travelling to and from the station to walk, cycle or travel by bus where possible.

The flat landscape of Wixams makes it ideal for walking and cycling and with Wixams Station located within 2km for all residents, you are no more than a 25-minute walk or 10-minute cycle journey from the station. We are also creating facilities at the station to enable and encourage active travel including secure cycle parking and bus stops within the station drop-off area.

The car park will provide parking for up to 280 cars. Five percent of the spaces will be allocated parking bays for users with reduced mobility and five percent for electric vehicle charging points. The number of parking spaces has been informed by car parking demand assessments and is in line with national guidance for car parking standards.

In addition, the station will provide secure cycle parking. The details of the secure cycle parking are yet to be determined and will be subject to a planning condition requiring details to be submitted and approved before installation.

Yes, a charge is proposed for parking at this location.

The tariff is yet to be determined.

There are no plans for a residents' parking discount. Bedford Borough Council is investing in active travel at this location and is keen to encourage those travelling to and from the station to walk, cycle or travel by bus where possible rather than by private car.

Bedford Borough Council is considering the measures that will be required to prevent overspill parking on surrounding roads. These measures will be the subject of a separate consultation.

The station is being designed in line with Department for Transport guidelines on accessible railway stations to provide step-free access.

Amongst the facilities at the station the following make it easier for those with accessibility requirements to use the station:

• tactile paving
• accessible toilet
• covered seating on the platform and a waiting room in the station building
• footbridge with stairs and lifts to provide access between the platforms
• blue badge parking
• passengers drop off/pick up
• provision for taxis/bus stops
• real-time information boards
• audio frequency induction loops for station announcements

The station and train services calling at the station will be operated by Thameslink. Thameslink has an assisted travel scheme ‘Passenger Assist’ that helps passengers with disabilities as well as older people who need a little extra help using their services.

You can find more information about Passenger Assist on the Thameslink website.

The station will be served by up to four Thameslink trains per hour, in each direction.

The price of tickets has not been determined yet.

As a result of the pandemic, the project team has undertaken financial modelling at various levels of future anticipated usage for the station, the business case for its development remains strong in a post-COVID world.

Construction of the station began in Autumn 2024.

Details of how construction will be managed to mitigate the environmental impacts (including noise, vibration, dust, and traffic) will be subject to a planning condition.

There will be out-of-hours construction at this location because we are building a station on an operational railway line. Network Rail will keep neighbours informed about planned working arrangements and any out-of-hours working so they are aware of and can plan for any disruption.

Every effort will be made to ensure that the impacts on residents and businesses are kept as low as possible during daytime, night, or weekend working.

The potential theme park and resort will serve as a major draw for tourists, attracting millions of annual visitors, with many projected to come from Europe and overseas. It will also help bolster the UK's profile as a leader in the creative industries, as a must-see visitor destination and business investment hub, resulting in major economic growth for the region. We are working closely with partners to help deliver a unified approach to the project across all levels of both central and local government. 

This balances the social and economic impact of the project with the necessary enhancements to infrastructure to make the park financially sustainable in the long-term.

However, the impacts from the announcement of Universal are currently under review.

We expect to know more about the likely impacts later in 2025.

Yes. Universal’s arrival, bringing thousands of jobs and millions of annual visitors, has transformed the strategic importance of Wixams Station. While it has always been a central part of Bedford Borough’s growth agenda, the development significantly strengthens the case for enhanced rail connectivity, extending the station’s role beyond local needs to serve regional and international visitors.

We’re awaiting proposals from with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to assess the impact of Universal on project timelines. Rail infrastructure involves complex design, funding, and regulatory processes, so it’s too early to confirm any acceleration. However, as Universal’s transport requirements become clearer, we’ll ensure the station evolves to meet both local and visitor demand.

Yes. To future-proof the station, Network Rail and the Department for Transport are exploring a four-platform design, which would offer greater capacity, flexibility, and reliability. Early ground investigations already underway support multiple layout options, and we’re ensuring that key constraints - such as the railway alignment and nearby tunnel portals - are fully factored into design work.

Absolutely. This is a joint effort between Bedford Borough Council, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport. We’re grateful for their support and are committed to a collaborative approach that delivers a station meeting both community needs and national infrastructure standards.

Initial site works, including surveys and ground investigations, are already visible. We understand residents want to see progress, and we do too. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a station that meets long-term needs, and we’re working with urgency and ambition to make it happen.