Some good news for the Marston Vale line from our local “TOC”. From Feb 19th – May 19th 2024 the maximum fare between any Marston Vale station (including Bedford and Bletchley) is just £2 return or £1.30 with a railcard!
From Feb 19th LNW have reintroduced (subject to train crew) a full hourly service on the branch using 2 150’s from the former Northern pool of 150137, 150139 and 150141. Well worth a cheap trip on this classic railway backwater.
The line suffered from VIVA rail collapsing and all branch services (formerly worked by Viva Rail 230s) on December 1st 2023. Bus substitutions then appeared on all services until Nov 2023 when 4 trains each way in addition to buses started.
From Feb 2024 full services have resumed although check for cancellations in advance…
Bedford – Bletchley phots from down the years
150137 leaves Fenny Stratford with the 1345 Bletchley – Bedford on February 27th 2024
150141 leaves lonely Kempston Hardwick with the 1147 Bedford – Bletchley on February 27th 2024
The former Viva Rail 230s once settled in seemed pretty reliable, 230003 leaves Bedford St Johns with the 0959 Bletchley – Bedford on November 7th 2019
The late Tony Ewer catches 55027 and 55031 approaching Stewartby’s distant semaphore on the 0840 Bedford – Bletchley on September 14th 1996
31452 with 31468 tailing arrives at Stewartby with the 1546 Bedford – Bletchley on April 28th 1999, everything here is very different today
An immaculate 31601 at Bletchley with the pre loco hauled launch special on the 1050 Bletchley – Bedford on March 22nd 1993
Sample those cheap fares on the Bedford – Bletchley, its a classic cross country backwater line
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