HRU responds to England’s Economic Heartland ‘Call for Evidence’ on connectivity study

England's Economic Heartland (EEH), the sub-national transport body covering a broad sweep of the south Midlands, including Northamptonshire, are consulting on connectivity across the region, between Oxford, Northampton and Peterborough.  They have rightly identified that rail provision is very much dominated by the main lines radiating out of London, with precious little linking between them.  The consultation takes the form of a 'call for evidence', and, of course, it is not just about railways.  Indeed, post-Covid, the need to travel at all may be permanently somewhat reduced.  Further information can be found here:
https://www.englandseconomicheartland.com/our-work/connectivity-studies/peterborough-northampton-oxford/  
Though Market Harborough is outside EEH, it is only so by a few hundred yards and many of its users live in the EEH area or (pre-Covid) commuted to towns etc well within EEH (e.g. Kettering, Bedford and Luton).  We therefore submitted a response, welcoming the forthcoming improvements that East West Rail (Oxford - Cambridge) will bring via interchange at Bedford, but noting other gaps.  We support in principle other proposed developments, such as the Welland Valley Rail Partnership proposal for a Kettering - Peterborough service mostly using existing lines, as well as the tentative proposal for reopening between Market Harborough and Northampton as part of a longer inter-regional link.  All of this is in the context of changed travel patterns post-Covid and the need for more environmentally friendly and low-carbon alternatives to the present almost complete dependence on private cars.
The consultation closes on 30th June and we await both the outcome and further forthcoming studies relevant to our area.

Making connections.  The Marston Vale Line train to Bletchley awaits departure from Bedford on 26th May 2021.  These trains are converted from former London Underground cars and provide a useful local service.  However, this route is now being upgraded as part of East West Rail, a main-line link reinstating a direct connection between Oxford and Cambridge, with numerous interchanges along the way.  It will make rail journeys between Market Harborough and both Oxford and Cambridge very much easier than they are now.
Picture: Steve Jones