Wixams station construction work halted so larger version can be designed

Construction of a new station on the Midland Main Line has officially stopped so a larger version can be designed.

A two-platform station at Wixams, near Bedford, was approved in July 2024 with building work starting two months later. Since then, much of the work has been focused on groundworks.

However, since the government’s approval of Universal’s proposed theme park in April, a four-platform station needs to be designed.

Bedford Borough Council terminated its existing agreement with Network Rail on July 25, a decision signed off by the Mayor of Bedford.

The council had inserted a terminated clause into the contract should the theme park be approved.

The executive decision also states: “Works have continued on site pending any announcement on Universal, though Bedford Borough has worked closely with Network Rail to adjust work scope and through agreement, delay the award of sub-contract work packages via their supply chains to mitigate risk and additional contractual obligations in anticipation of any announcement on Universal.

“The Council has instructed Network Rail to desist from awarding any further non-safety critical work packages. Commitments for the civils package of c.£4 million value has been avoided, and Network Rail has paused procurement of the wider civils package planned for August 2025.”

So far £28.3 million has been spent on the station. The two-platform version would have been on the slow lines with a proposed service of four trains per hour.