Bedford to Cambridge Dismantled Railway Line

Below is some pictures of the dismanteld railway line taken on 31st May 2004.  These shows the line as it runs out of Bedford Town Centre to where the line would have crossed the A421 just east of Bedford.  The line is now part of a national cycle network with this section running from Sandy (A1) to Bedford A603 junction with A5140.  Most signs that this was once a railway line have vanished, no sign of old sleepers, buried track on the bridge or anything else.  Although the old bridges in bedford still appear, along with some signs of the old stations further along the line which I hope to take pictures of shortly.

Taken from Bridge of the A600 as it crosses the line.  You are looking towards the St John's junction at bedford where the old hitchen line joins the old cambridge line.  Unfortunately you are unable to walk this part as big metal fencing has been put up, properbly because the line passes right next to the main Bedford to Bletchley line and National Rail didn't like people gettting that close to the line, either that or dumping was taking place underneath the bridge.

This is the other side of the bridge, the car park belong to Stagecoach Bus Depot which now goes across the line, in the distance you can see part of the old line but very over-grown.  If this line re-opens then this will need to be looked at as well as the next picture.

The line passes the back of several industrial sites, ie B&Q, Halfords which have there yards going out into the old track bed.  Your looking towards St Johns Junction.

Very over-grown part of the line now, again looking towards St Johns Junction, with part of the B&Q building showing.  Also some gardens now go into the track bed, also needs looking at if the line re-opens.

The line has now just crossed the A603, just to the left of the picture is where the cycle path starts, this shows the old track bed still in place, you can walk along this part but it is very difficult to do so.

NEXT 5 PICTURES

Map courtesy of www.streetmap.co.uk First map the ------ line in the top left hand corner shows the line going under the A600 The second map shows the line passing stagecoach, B&Q and then crossing the A603.