Universal Studios United Kingdom Looks To Be Getting Two Train Stations

With a reported 8.5 million visitors attending in its first year, Universal Studios United Kingdom’s approval has hinged on major improvements to the local road and rail networks to deal with the crowds.

This, according to the park’s master plan, involves the construction of two new train stations – one to the west of the site on the new East-West rail link that is planned between Oxford and Cambridge, and one to the east that would reside on the Thameslink line.

The station to the west already exists – Kempston Hardwick – and currently has the title of being the least-used station in Bedfordshire, although with the intended upgrade of the existing Marston Vale to East-West Rail to cope with more visitors, this title is unlikely to be kept. The plans for Universal Studios United Kingdom do include plans to rebuild the station to help cope with a large swell in visitor numbers, alongside upgrades to surroundng roads.

The station on the eastern side looks to be more of a national option, with the new Wixams station being added to the existing Thameslink service that runs from Bedford into London, and further afield to the south – Brighton, and Three Bridges. The station is expected to open in mid-2026, with construction underway with two platforms, and the option to expand to four platforms if needed.

Before Universal Studios United Kingdom was even announced, it was expected in mid-2024 that the station would require extra investment to bring it up to scratch for a high flow of visitors if the theme park went ahead, with it needing to be a four-platform station and more investment, as per the BBC.

Read on to find out everything we know about Universal Studios United Kingdom.