Trains to Universal's Bedford resort within 'first few years'

Trains will call at a station serving the new Universal theme park within the resort's "first few years", according to a rail company. East West Rail (EWR), which is planning a new rail line connecting Oxford and Cambridge, said it was accelerating some of its plans in part because of the proposed visitor attraction in Bedfordshire. More frequent and longer trains will run on the line because of expected higher demand. A new station built on the site of one of the government's new towns could also be brought forward by five years. But some of those living along EWR's route said they were "fed up" with the plans. An eight-week consultation into the £6bn railway is opening today. It will be the final consultation before EWR applies to government for permission to build the line in 2027. Universal has said it wants to open its first European theme park and resort on land at Kempston Hardwick, south of Bedford, in 2031. More than eight million visitors are expected to head to the attraction in its first year. According to EWR, Universal initially plans to run shuttle buses from Milton Keynes to the theme park. But the rail company said by "fast-tracking" an upgrade of the existing rail