In 2019 we removed a footbridge with the recorded public right of way at Leighton Buzzard station, as it had become unsafe. Since then, an alternative right of way has been temporarily made available to the public over the ‘southern’ station footbridge. Network Rail previously submitted an application to legally divert the public right of way over the ‘northern’ station footbridge, which was rejected by Central Bedfordshire Council in 2025.

Your views are important to us

Network Rail needs to provide a permanent alternative solution and we’re now asking the public to provide feedback on their preferred option. Once we've taken local views into account, we'll then submit a new application to the council, either requesting that the alternative temporary right of way is made into a permanent public right of way, or to build a new footbridge in the location of the previous one.

You can view the three options we're considering at this time below and provide feedback on your preferred option here.

The deadline to submit your feedback is 23.55 on Wednesday 1 October 2025.

Option 1

To make a permanent public right of way over the southern station footbridge.

Network Rail would look at ways to improve the existing bridge - in collaboration with our partners at London Northwestern Railway - including looking at lighting, windows and handrails.

Option 2

The drawing below shows what a new ramped footbridge would look like built at the same location as the previous footbridge. The ramps would provide a step-free bridge across the railway and its construction would comply with Public Sector Equality Duty standards. The approximate cost of building the footbridge would be up to £10m at cost to the taxpayer.

Option 3

A third option would be to build a new stepped footbridge at the same location as the previous stepped footbridge. Similarly to the option above, this would involve a multimillion-pound investment.

We’ll collect feedback from the community and use this to make an informed decision on a way forward between the three options presented. Depending on the decision made, we will be applying to Central Bedfordshire Council to legally divert the public footpath over the southern station footbridge, or submit a planning application for one of the new bridge options. 

We will be working closely with the council to progress an application as quickly as possible.

Please provide feedback on your preferred option here by 23.55 on Wednesday 1 October 2025.

If you have any questions, please call Network Rail's 24 hour Helpline on 03457 114 141. You can also visit networkrail.co.uk/contact for other ways to get in touch.