Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership

Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership Helping people along the Marston Vale Line get the most from their local railway!

Getting people on the Marston Vale Line (Bedford to Bletchley) involved in their local railway!

Just one day left to respond to the last East West Rail route wide consultation - open until midnight tomorrow.The lates...
08/06/2026

Just one day left to respond to the last East West Rail route wide consultation - open until midnight tomorrow.

The latest proposals include the following:
• Closure of 5 stations - Kempston Hardwick, Millbrook, Aspley Guise, Bow Brickhill & Fenny Stratford
• Relocation of 4 stations - Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby.
• Electrification of the Marston Vale Line
• Closure of Millbrook Level Crossing

Check out https://bit.ly/4t6RJex

Don’t miss the chance to have your say!


Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Kimberley 6th Form College
DonsAction
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership

Bletchley Fenny Stratford TC
Aspley Guise Parish Council
Bow Brickhill Parish Council
Millbrook Village - Bedfordshire
Marston Moreteyne Parish Council
Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council
Ridgmont Village, Bedfordshire
Save Fenny Stratford Station
East West Railway Company

Just a couple of days left to respond to the last East West Rail route wide consultation - open until midnight on 9th Ju...
07/06/2026

Just a couple of days left to respond to the last East West Rail route wide consultation - open until midnight on 9th June.

The latest proposals include the following:
• Closure of 5 stations - Kempston Hardwick, Millbrook, Aspley Guise, Bow Brickhill & Fenny Stratford
• Relocation of 4 stations - Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby.
• Electrification of the Marston Vale Line
• Closure of Millbrook Level Crossing

Check out https://bit.ly/4t6RJex

Don’t miss the chance to have your say!


Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Kimberley 6th Form College
Bedford Credit Union
Community Rail Network
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership

Save Fenny Stratford Station
Bletchley Fenny Stratford TC
For the love of Lidlington

Hop on the train to Milton Keynes (via Bletchley) for the fantastic Milton Keynes Model Railway Society Exhibition tomor...
05/06/2026

Hop on the train to Milton Keynes (via Bletchley) for the fantastic Milton Keynes Model Railway Society Exhibition tomorrow (Saturday 6th June)!

There's something for all the family with layouts of all gauges, trade stands, demonstrations & refreshments! It's all happening at Walton High Brooklands Campus, Brooklands, MK10 7HE – 10:00 – 4:30.

Check out https://mkmrs.org.uk/2026-exhibition

Frequent bus service from Milton Keynes Central Station via Arriva Milton Keynes Route 3.

Don’t forget groups of 3 – 9 adults travel for a third off with GroupSave and Bedfordshire Bus Pass holders travel half-price (ticket available at staffed stations and on the train only).

We will be there with an information and sales stand – with some special show offers!

Cash only.

Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association will be there too.


Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
London Northwestern Railway
Avanti West Coast
Community Rail Network
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
East West Railway Company

Forest of Marston Vale

Don't miss it! Last few days to catch the 180 years of the Marston Vale Line exhibition here at The Higgins Bedford unti...
05/06/2026

Don't miss it! Last few days to catch the 180 years of the Marston Vale Line exhibition here at The Higgins Bedford until Sunday 7 June in our entrance foyer space, curated by Volunteers of Ridgmont Station, and in partnership with . They are hoping to gather 180 memories ahead of the official date in November for the anniversary, so please do come and complete a 'Share Your Story' card by the display, or enter your memories into our memory folder - including some of the images shared here of key moments in the Lines history. We look forward to seeing you.

Great day in Bedford today promoting our lovely Line and celebrating Community Rail Week. Thanks to all those who braved...
03/06/2026

Great day in Bedford today promoting our lovely Line and celebrating Community Rail Week. Thanks to all those who braved the weather to visit, it was great to see you!

Thanks to our willing team of volunteers and the team at Bedford Market who supplied the gazebo.

The winners of the competition – prizes kindly donated by Thameslink will be notified in the next few days.

We’ve had a good Community Rail Week so far with several other fantastic events and more to come! Watch this space!


Bedford Borough Council Community Rail Network
Bedford Borough Libraries
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
London Northwestern Railway
EMR Community Rail
Avanti West Coast
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
Forest of Marston Vale
Bletchley Park
Greensand Country
The Higgins Bedford
Community Rail Network
Bedford Radio
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership
Gallone's Ice Cream Bedford

Join the Bedford Railway Club at 7:45 pm tomorrow (2nd June) at St John’s Church Hall, St John’s Street Bedford MK42 0DL...
01/06/2026

Join the Bedford Railway Club at 7:45 pm tomorrow (2nd June) at St John’s Church Hall, St John’s Street Bedford MK42 0DL when Sean Devaney will be giving an illustrated talk on growing up in the crossing keepers house at Kempston Hardwick.

St John’s Church Hall is just a short walk from Bedford St Johns Station. Entry fee just £3.

Don’t forget our special Marston Vale Line 180th Anniversary display in the foyer at our good friends The Higgins Bedford until 7th June. This display has been curated by our fantastic Friends of Ridgmont Station volunteers, sharing key milestones and stories for the Marston Vale Line over the decades. Free Entry!

The display includes a memories folder containing a selection of photos depicting places, trains and events related to the line. Visitors are invited to share memories these photos evoke for them or to complete a ‘Share Your Story’ postcard.

This is all part of our Marston Vale 180 Memories Project through which we will be compiling and publishing 180 memories about the line, community and stations from local people.
Also just a short walk from Bedford St Johns station!


Community Rail Network
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
Bedford Borough Council
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
Arts Council England
East West Railway Company
Rail Delivery Group
Bedfordshire Archives
EMR Community Rail

This weekend why not come and cool off at The Higgins Bedford, whilst you share your memories and explore our 180th Anni...
30/05/2026

This weekend why not come and cool off at The Higgins Bedford, whilst you share your memories and explore our 180th Anniversary display of the Marston Vale Line. This ends soon on Sunday 7th June, just a week left to catch it here at The Higgins. Our thanks to our partners and the volunteers at Ridgmont Heritage Centre for curating the display. We are just a short walk through Bedford town centre if you want to catch the train in from Bedford St Johns or Bedford station. Free Entry and everyone welcome.

The last East West Railway Company consultation event on our Line is taking place tomorrow (Saturday 23rd May) at King's...
22/05/2026

The last East West Railway Company consultation event on our Line is taking place tomorrow (Saturday 23rd May) at King's House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9AZ from 11:00 - 6:00. Hop on Grant Palmer bus routes 42, 44 or 68 from Bedford town centre, which stop on Ampthill Road near King’s House. Parking available.
Check out https://bit.ly/4t6RJex

Consultation materials are also available to view at our very own Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre during normal opening hours (Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm). Consultation feedback forms and freepost envelopes are available for collection.
The latest proposals include the following:
• Closure of 5 stations - Kempston Hardwick, Millbrook, Aspley Guise, Bow Brickhill & Fenny Stratford
• Opening of 4 new stations at new locations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont, Lidlington and Stewartby.
• Electrification of the Marston Vale Line
• Closure of Millbrook Level Crossing

This is the last route wide consultation - open until 9th June.
Don’t miss the chance to have your say!


Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Kimberley 6th Form College
Bedford Credit Union
Community Rail Network
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership

Bedford Borough Council

The Transport Salaried Staff’s Association have announced industrial action on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd May on the ...
20/05/2026

The Transport Salaried Staff’s Association have announced industrial action on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd May on the London Northwestern Railway network.

Unfortunately there will be no train service on the Marston Vale Line during the period of industrial action and no rail replacement bus service.

Please see for https://orlo.uk/YoCuv for full details and Frequently Asked Questions.

The full train service will resume on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May.


Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership

Super excited to have a special Marston Vale Line 180th Anniversary display in the foyer at our good friends The Higgins...
19/05/2026

Super excited to have a special Marston Vale Line 180th Anniversary display in the foyer at our good friends The Higgins Bedford from today until 7th June!

This display has been curated by the fantastic Friends of Ridgmont Station volunteers, sharing key milestones and stories for the Marston Vale Line over the decades. Free Entry!

The display includes a memories folder containing a selection of photos depicting places, trains and events related to the line. Visitors are invited to share memories these photos evoke for them or to complete a ‘Share Your Story’ postcard.

This is all part of our Marston Vale 180 Memories Project through which we will be compiling and publishing 180 memories about the line, community and stations from local people.

Huge thanks to the Bedford Borough Council Reprographics Team for all their help with design and printing and Arts Council England for their support with funding.

Join us for our special Bedfordshire Railways 180 years of the Marston Vale Line Reminiscence session on Thursday 21st May to share your own memories of the railway. 11am – 12.30pm. Free Entry, Refreshments £1, No Need to Book

Visit https://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Whats_on/Reminiscence_Sessions.aspx for details.

All just a short walk from Bedford St Johns station!


Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre
London Northwestern Railway
Forest of Marston Vale Community Rail Network
Bedford to Bletchley Rail Users' Association
Beds & Herts Community Rail Partnership
Bletchley Park Thameslink EMR Community Rail
East West Railway Company
Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership
Railway200 Railway Heritage Trust
Whatsup Bedfordshire
Woburn Sands Town Council
Bletchley Fenny Stratford TC
The Green Man, Lidlington
Ridgmont Village, Bedfordshire
Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Parish Council
Marston Moreteyne Parish Council
Bow Brickhill Parish Council

Address

Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre, Station Road
Ridgmont
MK430XP

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

01234 832645

Website

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