A new railway station at Stewartby will serve Universal's planned UK theme park in Bedfordshire within the destination's "first few years", East West Rail (ERW) says.
As previously confirmed, the station at Stewartby will be part of the Marston Vale Line, which currently has nine stations. These are being consolidated into four modern, larger stations.
Via the BBC, East West Rail said that by "fast-tracking" the upgrade of the existing rail line, its trains could "serve the park within its first few years".
Four trains per hour will run along the rail line "by the early 2030s" EWR said, with up to five trains an hour eventually running along the line.
Additionally, the trains will be five carriages long instead of four due to the anticipated "increased demand".
An eight-week consultation into the £6 billion rail line is opening today (14 April). After this, EWR will apply to the government for permission to build the line in 2027.
When the new park opens, Universal will initially offer shuttle buses from Milton Keynes.
Gideon Freeman, vice president of external affairs at Universal Destinations and Experiences, said the "proposed station by Universal would enhance guest and team member arrival".
Universal park to open in 2031
East West Railway Company CEO David Hughes said: "These updated proposals mark a major step forward for East West Rail to help ensure communities see the benefits of the project sooner as we finalise the design.
"By bringing forward key elements of the railway and planning for increased demand, we are helping to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support future growth and opportunities for our communities."
Planning permission for the new Universal park, which is expected to open in 2031, was granted in December.
Universal Destinations & Experiences has now established a temporary headquarters close to the site in Bedfordshire.
Images courtesy of Universal
