30-07-2025
New £62million train station will be made even bigger to welcome millions of passengers at UK Universal theme park
A NEW train station is being made even bigger to welcome millions of visitors to the UK's upcoming Universal theme park.
Officials estimate up to 12.5million passengers a year could visit the site in Bedfordshire.
Around 28,000 jobs will be created by the theme park bringing in £50 billion for the economy.
The park will create roughly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 when it opens in 2031.
With such a large number of passengers expected to arrive by train, the construction of a new two-platform railway station near to the site has officially been put on hold.
Work had already started on building the station at Wixams in Bedfordshire.
More than £28m has already been spent on the project.
Bedford Borough Council had budgeted £62.6m for the original railway station plan, but more money will now be needed.
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Conservative Mayor of Bedford Tom Wootton has rubber stamped the decision to terminate the existing agreement with Network Rail, reports the BBC.
Instead, design work will begin on a larger four-platform station to help accommodate the influx of tourists and visitors.
The Universal attraction will be divided into four main land areas known as the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone and the East Gateway Zone.
Within these zones will be the theme park; retail and entertainment destinations; visitor accommodation including hotels, camping and caravanning; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities and conference and convention spaces.
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The plans state: "[Guests will ] experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars.
"They'll come face-to-face with incredible creatures, heroes, and villains.
"They'll discover great food, new laughs, new ways to play, and step into immersive worlds they've only ever dreamed of."
Termination clause
Construction on the original train station began in September 2024.
But the council had inserted a termination clause in anticipation of the Universal development potentially overtaking the existing plans.
Mayor Wootton approved the decision to scrap the original agreement on Friday, July 25.
Network Rail has halted further subcontract awards, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Inside Universal Epic Universe with incredible thrill rides and amazing food
Work is focused on making the site safe and clearing materials, with the demobilisation expected to finish by the end of August.
The council had budgeted about £62m for the Wixams Station project and revised funding proposals will be laid out for councillors to examine.
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The Universal UK theme park is expected to open in 2031, and include indoor and outdoor rides, attractions, games and pools.
There is also set to be events spaces for parades, shows and displays.
Entertainment venues are set to include theatres and cinemas and sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities are also planned.
Other entertainment venues suggested are music and dance venues, nightclubs and even tattoo parlours.
museums.
By Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
Universal Studios being given the go-ahead for a UK theme park is welcome news for rollercoaster fans.
After the decade-long saga of the London Resort - a £3.5billion project dubbed the UK's Disneyland that was eventually scrapped - the new Universal park will be the first new theme park in the country in decades.
Backed by both locals and now the government, it will also be the first Universal park in the UK and could have a number of themed lands including Harry Potter, Super Mario and Minions, although nothing has been confirmed yet.
We have a way off until it opens, with it hoping to be ready by 2031.
But with our Head of Travel Lisa Minot having a sneak peak at the new Epic Universe theme park in Florida (opening this summer) – it's certainly an exciting addition to the UK.
