The East West Rail Company has unveiled its five potential routes for a huge new railway project, which includes proposals for a flyover and a new train station on the outskirts of St Neots.

The proposals are the latest phase for the public consultation on the £5billion line linking Oxford and Cambridge, via Milton Keynes and Bedford and were announced last week.

The East West Rail Company, which hopes to complete the new line by the end of the decade, is seeking feedback from the public on the five proposed route alignments, connecting existing stations in Bedford and Cambridge, via new stations in the area around Sandy and St Neots and also at Cambourne.

East West Railway Company chief executive Simon Blanchflower said in a statement released last Thursday: “This rail link is vital to the future prosperity of the region, so we ask people to encourage their friends, relatives and colleagues to get involved. The consultation can help us to bring the right connections to all of the communities who live and work along the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

The Oxford-Cambridge Arch is an ambitious plan to unleash the economic and cultural potential of the area and transform it into one of the world’s premier growth corridors and a world-leader in sustainability, according to the Government. Plans were launched in February 2021 by housing minister Christopher Pincher.

“In developing these proposals, our team has focused on how we can minimise disruption to local communities and looked for ways we can protect and enhance the local environment. Now it’s time for communities to share their valuable local knowledge and ideas with us.”

A summary of the consultation is being posted to 270,000 addresses along the route and East West Rail Company will hold a series of online events for communities and stakeholders. Details of these events will be released at a later date.

Community events and live-chat sessions are planned, along with an interactive virtual consultation room due to launch on April 12.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Would you like to see a new station on the outskirts of St Neots and would it be beneficial to be able to travel direct to Cambridge? Contact: editor@huntspost.co.uk.