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We wish East West Rail was already here, say teens

Janine MachinEast of England technology correspondent
News imageBBC Five students sit on a hill outside Cambourne Sixth Form College. There are two girls and a boy on the back row and two boys on the front row. They are all looking at the camera. It is a sunny day and they cast shadows onto the ground around them. BBC
Students at Cambourne Sixth Form believe EWR will help them feel less isolated and find work, but they also have some concerns

Teenagers living in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire say they hope East West Rail (EWR) will help them overcome transport hurdles that are holding them back from taking up opportunities in work and further education.

A national review commissioned by the UK government found job and career opportunities for young people were "not growing, they're shrinking", with one in six set to be out of work, education or training in five years unless action is taken.

The new train line, which will take a decade to complete, will eventually link Cambridge and Oxford (via Bedford, Milton Keynes and several new stations).

"I want to work in finance so I'd be able to commute to Milton Keynes, London or Cambridge," says 17-year-old Liv, who is studying for her A-levels at Milton Keynes College.

Critics of the project have objected to the proposed route and the impact its construction will have on local communities.

News imageJamie is smiling at the camera. He has dark hair with a floppy fringe, a goatee beard and studs in his nose. He is wearing a black T-shirt and just his head and shoulders are in shot - with the sixth form college and trees behind him.
Jamie says too many people like him have to rely on Cambridge for jobs and EWR can change that

"The job and apprenticeship opportunities here are really limited," says 17-year-old Jamie, who is studying A-level politics, geography and English language at Cambourne Sixth Form.

EWR plans to build a railway station in Cambourne, which sits 11 miles (18km) west of Cambridge.

"The surrounding villages have the same problem with a lack of jobs, so most people migrate to Cambridge," Jamie adds.

"It means those jobs are heavily contested and opening up travel to Oxford would give us so many more options," he says.

News imageBofeng is smiling at the camera. He has black wavy hair with his fringe covering one eye. He is wearing a white shirt with a dark sweater and is standing in the college grounds.
Bofeng wants to apply to Oxbridge after his A-levels at Cambourne Sixth Form College

Bofeng, 18, is about to start a work experience placement at the University of Oxford's engineering department, but says without EWR others might not have the same opportunity.

"The current train commute via London takes so long it's not an option every day.

"I'm lucky that my parent is helping to pay for accommodation in Oxford but not every student has that," he says.

News imageRobyn is smiling at the camera. She has long curly reddish-brown hair resting over her shoulders. She is wearing a white T-shirt with a delicate gold necklace visible over the top. She is standing in front of the college building.
Robyn says she and her parents would benefit from EWR for work and study

Robyn says if EWR was already running it would influence her university choice.

"I'd be considering the University of Bedfordshire, because commuting from home would save a lot of money. Instead I'm looking at York or Lancaster."

The 17-year-old says her parents would also benefit from EWR because "they both drive into Cambridge for work and are often stuck in traffic".

"The train would reduce carbon emissions," she adds.

News imageOghenevize is standing in front of a college building and wearing a white T-shirt. He has short black hair and is smiling at the camera.
Oghenevize hopes EWR can help young people in Cambourne to feel "less isolated" and access new areas

Oghenevize, 17, balances A-level studies with a part-time job at a chip shop. He says many people "come in looking for jobs but we haven't hired in months. We need more options."

He feels EWR would help socially because "living in Cambourne can be isolating" for young people and many would embrace "the chance to go to Milton Keynes or Universal [theme park]".

Yet, Oghenevize is also concerned that the railway station "will push up house prices in the town, making it harder for younger people to buy - and if rent skyrockets it'll be harder for poorer residents to stay".

News imageArya is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a camel-coloured ribbed top and black-framed glasses. She has dark brown wavy hair which is tucked behind her ears and back and she has a small hoop earring in each ear. There are trees and college buildings in the background.
Arya says Cambourne will need more GPs, schools and shops to support residents in the extra homes that EWR will bring to the town

Arya, 18, who is due to begin studying Law and International Relations at Royal Holloway in September, also has some concerns about the effect of EWR.

"It'll bring amazing opportunities, but it will also bring even more homes.

"We only have one GP practice, there's already pressure for school places and even on the local supermarket. These things need addressing before we grow more," she adds.

News imageLiv is beaming at the camera. She is standing in the library at MK College. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a white top under a black jacket.
Liv says EWR will give her and others at Milton Keynes College "independence"

Forty miles (64km) west, in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, Liv is studying business, politics, psychology and maths A-levels at Milton Keynes College.

The 17-year-old finds the 10-mile commute difficult from her home in Winslow.

"The bus takes 45 minutes and the timings don't work for me, so I usually rely on lifts from my mum.

"I'm learning to drive, but that takes time and it's really costly."

EWR will offer direct services from Winslow to Bletchley, which Liv says "would a 100% improve my logistics and independence. Bletchley station is across the road from the campus."

News imageA deserted station building stands behind a wire fence. There are bike racks in the foreground and a blue ticket machine outside the station door. Above the door is a sign saying Winslow.
The opening of Winslow Station has been delayed, but it will connect passengers to EWR services

Winslow's new station was due to open in December 2025, with Chiltern Railways running passenger services.

Yet the project has been delayed following disputes over staffing and as platforms need to be extended to accommodate longer trains after the approval of Universal's theme park in Bedford.

Liv says the delay is "really frustrating".

"I have friends who took jobs at Bicester Village, and now they're having to catch loads of buses instead.

"Also we still have to drive to Oxford to visit people and parking there is hell and horror."

Jules Quinn, the group director for people services at Milton Keynes College, says EWR will open up opportunities for staff too.

"We're a technical college and EWR means we could attract tech talent from across the region that otherwise couldn't consider us as an employer.

"It also means we can collaborate more with businesses and universities to make sure our students leave us industry ready.

"For students it's all linked to social mobility. We all know how expensive it is to run a car so having reliable public transport can make a massive difference and the opportunity it brings could be incredible."

EWR company is due to submit detailed plans for the remaining stretch of the railway to government next year.

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