Little Shelford news headlines

Life on the ‘other side’ of the railway crossing

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East West Rail want to permanently close the Hauxton Road railway crossing. East West Rail have confirmed that they will not provide a footbridge over the crossing. This is the impact on one family in Hauxton Road.

Many people in Little Shelford will already know that East West Rail plan to permanently close the Hauxton Road railway crossing.

What fewer people may realise is how deeply that crossing is woven into the everyday lives of the small number of families who live on the Hauxton side of the tracks — including ours.

We have three children: Amélie, who is 9; Orla, who is 6; and Lucia, who is just 4 months old. On a normal day, we cross the railway several times a day (as seen in the photo above.)

We walk over it to get to school, to pop into the village, to visit friends, and to reach the GP or the shops. It isn’t a special journey — it’s simply how we move around our village.

Being able to do those things on foot matters, especially in a village where the roads are already very busy, particularly at school drop-off and pick-up times. The crossing allows us to walk directly into the heart of Little or Great Shelford, rather than taking a long diversion by road or adding another car to already crowded streets.

Amélie is now at an age where she’s starting to value a bit of independence. She’s become really excited about being able to walk to and from school, and about the small freedoms that come with that — something that feels like an important milestone for her, and for us as parents. That independence depends on the crossing being there. Under the current plans, once it closes, even walking to places that are literally a stone’s throw from our house would mean a long detour along a new, isolated road. Driving to visit friends, or to reach the centre of the village, would quickly become the default.

Looking further ahead, we’d like Orla, Lucia and other children in Little Shelford to grow up with the same opportunities — to walk to school, to walk to friends’ houses for play dates, and to gradually explore their independence in a way that feels safe and familiar. These everyday journeys are a big part of what makes village life feel connected.

The issue also extends beyond families with children. Longer, indirect walking routes make everyday trips much harder for people with limited mobility — whether that’s someone using a wheelchair or mobility scooter, a parent with a pushchair, an older resident, or someone temporarily injured or unwell. Direct, well-used walking routes matter most to the people who rely on them most.

There are 13 homes in this position, but this isn’t really about numbers. It’s about whether people can continue to move around Little Shelford naturally and independently on foot, without needing to get into a car for journeys that are currently short, simple and part of daily life.

We understand why rail safety matters, and we’re not opposed to the railway improvements. What we’re asking for is something simple and proportionate: if the existing crossing is taken away, there should be a safe, accessible pedestrian bridge so families — and anyone who relies on walking — aren’t effectively cut off from the rest of the village.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be asking residents to support a petition calling for a pedestrian bridge to be included in the plans. I hope this is something our village can come together on — not just for those of us directly affected now, but for the kind of walkable, connected village we want Little Shelford to remain.

Carl Anderson

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Carl has also launched an East West Rail petition.

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A spokesperson for East West Railway Company said:

“Hauxton Road level crossing will be closed to comply with rail safety standards due to the proposed increase in the number of trains along the line.

“We realise this decision may cause some inconvenience to users of the current crossing, however, to maintain access we are proposing an active travel solution that better links local people to the primary school. More information on this solution is due to be presented to residents at upcoming engagement events.

“Even if a footbridge solution at the level crossing was feasible, constraints at this location would still entail a significant walking distance which may not be much shorter compared to the new road alignment route which will have a foot/cycle way.”

Updated Jan 8 2026

*An informal short survey was carried out in January 2026 which indicates what Little Shelford residents think about a number of East West Rail issues that are likely to impact on the village.

**The full details of the East West Rail proposal can be read here.