New (Old) Trains for the Marston Vale Line Plus Universal Studio’s Theme Park Go Ahead

The Marston Vale line has finally regained its passenger service following the withdraw of the Class 230 D-Train units in December 2022. Service over the line between Bedford and Bletchley are now operated by Class 150 diesel multiple units.

The Class 150 Sprinters were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at the York Carriage Works between 1984 and 1987. They were used to work Regional Railways services across Great Britain. Over 35 years later and they are still working in front line passenger service.

In April of this year it was officially confirmed that Universal Studios are going to build a theme park situated on an area of land between Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick.

As can be seen from the initial plans the Marston Vale line will run along the western perimeter of the park.

Universal Studios have acquired a large area of land including the former derelict brickworks at Stewartby as well as farm land to the north as far as Kempston Hardwick.

This foot crossing over the Marston Vale line leads to a footpath which crosses right through the middle of the Core Zone marked on this map. It is unclear from the plans what will happen to this crossing and the associated footpath.

In these scenes filmed in early September 2025 it can been seen that some preparatory work on the park has already begun. It is hard to image that in a few years time these empty field will be transformed into a bustling tourist attraction.