Bletchley Railway Station Eastern Entrance 2026-01-07

Opened the debate

Good things come to those who wait, Madam Deputy Speaker. Despite the late hour, I am grateful for the opportunity to champion an issue of strategic importance to Bletchley—namely, the case for a new eastern entrance to our railway station to create a direct and welcoming connection to our town centre, for which local people have waited far too long. This is about more than bricks and mortar. We need to strengthen our transport infrastructure and give Bletchley a modern shop window through which we can welcome visitors, businesses, investors and, ultimately, opportunities from across the UK and beyond. The Minister and his officials have taken the time to listen to us carefully, examine the evidence and understand the significance of this project, not just for Bletchley, but for Milton Keynes more widely. I want our town to be home to much more than that, which is why I launched our Bletchley investment taskforce last April to begin the process of attracting new investment, new businesses, and new jobs and apprenticeships from which local people can benefit. Yet to unlock that potential in full, we must start with how people arrive in our town. A new eastern entrance facing the town would deliver three clear benefits: reconnecting the station with the town centre, unlocking early stage investment in our town centre, and creating a modern, welcoming arrival point for visitors.

Government Response

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Buckingham and Bletchley (Callum Anderson) for raising this important matter, particularly in light of the significant growth we are seeing across Milton Keynes and the wider Oxford-Cambridge arc. The Government recognise the importance of transport infrastructure in supporting economic development and improving accessibility. We have already committed to delivering East West Rail which will significantly enhance connectivity between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Cambridge and beyond. This project is a major investment that demonstrates our commitment to unlocking growth potential in these areas. With regard to the specific proposal for an eastern entrance at Bletchley station, we recognise its importance in improving direct links with the town centre and supporting wider regeneration efforts. I have been working closely with the East West Rail team and local stakeholders to understand the full implications of this project. We are currently evaluating the strategic outline business case submitted by East West Rail, which demonstrates strong economic benefits including improved passenger experience and unlocked development potential. Should the business case be found robust, we will seek to progress it further in collaboration with our partners. I am committed to continuing discussions with the hon. Member for Buckingham and Bletchley and other local leaders to explore ways of advancing this important project. The Government are committed to delivering East West Rail in full with £2.5 billion of funding announced last year, significantly impacting the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and creating economic opportunities. The first phase will connect Oxford to Milton Keynes via Bletchley, providing key rail interchanges between East West Rail and the west coast main line. The Minister acknowledges the importance of an eastern entrance at Bletchley station for connectivity and regeneration but emphasises that it is not necessary currently due to passenger demand. He mentions ongoing discussions with local partners on potential third-party funding contributions and outlines business case work funded by the Government to assess the benefits. Consultations will be held later this year, urging constituents to engage and share their views.