Accelerated funding for the Marston Vale Line

Funding for the upgrade of the Marston Vale Line will be accelerated. Accelerated funding means work on this stretch of East West Rail—from Bletchley to Bedford—can begin sooner, with services for the upgraded line planned to start in 2030.

The accelerated funding of £240 million was announced in the Sunak government’s spring budget in 2024.

According to East West Rail, upgrade work on the Marston Vale Line will include:

  • Level crossing works

  • Track and signalling upgrades

  • Safety and accessibility improvements

Sarah Jacobs, Local Representatives Groups Engagement Manager for East West Rail, said in an email to STARC that ‘visible works’ will begin later in 2025 or in early 2026. She also provided more detail about East West’s Rail’s approach for getting started with the work. Ms Jacobs said:

‘The first priority will be to progress the infrastructure design work to the next level of detail and construction will then follow. We can’t yet confirm precise details as the scope is still being developed and will depend on both the design and procuring the right supply chain.’


Jean Prince