East West Rail

Since being elected, Richard has been an advocate for his constituents, consistently voicing their concerns to East West Rail and Department for Transport ministers. He has also regularly raised these issues in the House of Commons, through parliamentary questions to the Treasury and Department for Transport and securing debates on East West Rail in June 2021 and June 2023.

In May 2023, following the announcement of the East West Rail route alignment, Richard reconfirmed his opposition to the plans in this video. The route announcement by East West Rail can be found here.

In the new Government's Budget in October 2024, it was confirmed that East West Rail would go ahead and that a new non-statutory consultation would open on 14 November. Richard's reaction can be read here. The consultation closed on 24 January 2025 and Richard's submission can be read here. Feedback from this consultation has yet to be published.

In the then Chancellor's growth statement on 29 January 2025, Rachel Reeves confirmed her backing for East West Rail and announced that the building of an East Coast Mainline Station at Tempsford would be expedited by 3-5 years and it would later join with the East West Rail line.

The proposed new section of railway between Bedford and Cambridge has been designated as a project of national significance. This means East West Rail will apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Development Consent Order (DCO), granting consent to build and operate the new railway.

A non-statutory consultation was open from 14th April to 9th June 2026, ahead of the DCO application in 2027.

In July 2026 the Secretary of State for Transport issued new maps and revised the Safeguarding Directions which protects the Safeguarded area of land that is required to build and operate the new railway from conflicting development. Richard was critical of the vast area of North Bedfordshire that is covered by this project describing it as a 'Ribbon of Blight' across our countryside.

Please check back here for more updates.

See below for all of Richard's contributions on East West Rail.

News

National Audit Office publishes investigation - prompted by Richard - into the East West Rail project

Thursday, 14 December, 2023

The National Audit Office (NAO), which is the taxpayers’ watchdog, has completed its investigation into the East West Rail (EWR) project and published their report on Wednesday. Richard Fuller MP said: I met with the NAO earlier this year to push for an investigation and I am pleased they f

Huw Merriman meeting with parish councillors and BFARe

Rail Minister visits East West Rail route in North East Bedfordshire and meets with Parish and Borough Councillors

Thursday, 26 October, 2023

On Thursday, Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, visited North East Bedfordshire to look at some of the challenging topography of the East West Rail route and meet with parish and Borough Councillors and representatives from BFARe. The Minister took up Richard Fuller MP’s invitation to visit during a parl

NAO responds to Richard's calls and launches investigation into East West Rail

Friday, 20 October, 2023

This week, the National Audit Office (NAO) announced that it would be launching an investigation into the East West Rail (EWR) project. Richard met and wrote to the NAO earlier this year, asking them to look into EWR.

Richard holds parliamentary debate on East West Rail

Friday, 16 June, 2023

On Tuesday in Parliament, Richard held a parliamentary debate in Westminster Hall to highlight the flaws in the underlying rationale for East West Rail, and to continue to push the argument that better, greener alternatives exist to deliver the growth that EWR purports to enable. Westminster H

Richard is interviewed on Three Counties Radio about East West Rail

Tuesday, 13 June, 2023

Ahead of his Westminster Hall debate on East West Rail on Tuesday afternoon, Richard was interviewed on BBC 3 Counties Radio about his disappointment on the recent route announcement and the further confusion it has created for residents.

Richard meets with EWR Chief Executive, local campaigners and councillors to discuss EWR's route decision

Wednesday, 7 June, 2023

Following East West Rail's recent alignment announcement, Richard met with representatives from affected Parish Councils, Bedford Borough Council, local campaign groups and the newly elected Bedford Mayor. Richard Fuller MP said: I met with representatives along the proposed route to discuss next

Richard discusses East West Rail route announcement on Three Counties Radio

Friday, 2 June, 2023

Last week Richard appeared on the Roberto Perrone show on BBC Three Counties Radio to discuss the East West Rail route announcement.

East West Rail route announced - Richard reconfirms his opposition to the plans

Friday, 26 May, 2023

On Friday, East West Rail published its chosen route. Richard Fuller MP said: Disappointingly it leaves a lot of questions still up in the air about freight, about the financial case and whether it will be powered by diesel or not. I have produced this video to outline the chosen route and expla

Richard visits farm affected by East West Rail route decision

Thursday, 25 May, 2023

Last week, Richard visited Rectory Farm in his constituency. Speaking after the visit, Richard Fuller MP said: I am grateful to Helen at Rectory Farm near St Neots for inviting me to visit her farm. Not only does Helen have to contend with the issues affecting all farmers; the transition fr

Richard meets with the new Mayor of Bedford

Friday, 12 May, 2023

On Friday, Richard met with the new Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton. Speaking afterwards, Richard Fuller MP said: Tom Wootton and I are united in our opposition to the plans of East West Rail that are so environmentally damaging and lack a coherent business case for taxpayers. We agreed to w