Bedford was already a big junction station once upon a time with bay platforms for Northampton and Hitchin. All that is happening is that what was once taken away is being replenished again.
Bedford is not a cheap place to live, it is far too close to Milton Keynes and commutable to London. A 3 bed home starts at around £380k and most of the homes that Bedford is getting are massive homes climbing to the £600k range. Considering the average salary is £20 an hour or less, none of those homes are for locals. I don't know Cambridge that well, but if their parking fees are anything to go by i'd assume its as high or even higher for homes. I don't know what salaries are going to be for folk going to Cambridge to work, but if your depending on salaries to pay those mortgages they must be 100k a year or more for 1 or 2 earners. Bedford town center is a graveyard, but that doesn't relate to cheap property, at least not new builds.
I'm all for Bedford being a great interchange station if it all fits, gets the investment to make it happen and its not a 5 year stop gap until its not fit for purpose anymore.
The only shortcomings for me are no East-north curve on EWR anywhere, which is not really doable if Bedford is a through station (in the Bedford area). They could allow provision for it north of Bedford but i'm already asking questions about how the A6 will be traversed over or under it on a tight curve. And of course it will miss Bedford completely.
I am also concerned about the parking at Bedford, which seems to me to be tight with even the best of minds working on it. As is the problem of Jowitt sidings getting eaten up by 2 EWR lines.
So for Bedford to be this great interchange station it needs -
More parking
More terminus platforms for Thameslink
Parking for 12 car trains that currently reside in Jowitt sidings (x2). Currently 4 sidings available, 2 tracks eaten by EWR in the future.
If Thameslink need to move to Cauldwell walk, thats a good mile and a half of the up slow being accomodated for this and will require the driver to walk the length of the train to reverse it into Bedford station.
This is Cauldwell walk, Bedford is north of this location -
I've marked the notable areas. The top right yellow used to be sidings for what I believe to be vegetable traffic in the 60's and early 70s. I believe it to be mothballed and owned by network rail. If the current alignment through St Johns station stays, it could be used for the 12 car trains. But like I Say its mothballed would require investment. Could easily be adapted as a freight loop as well. EWR alignment is going to move west of the current alignment through the car park next to St johns (in alignment with the river bridge a bit north of there)
As illustrated - (I will admit it seems they want to spend money on alignments that give the most minimal of benefits)
So I would say there are better options, if money is on the table. Surely keeping the MML clear of 12 car empty stock is a priority?
Of course you could tell EMR that Thameslink is getting the Corby runs and be done with it. Looking at Kettering stables, it looks like 12 cars fit. It would be helpful if the 2 slows north of Bedford had increased line speed for that purpose.
I know i'm going off on a tangent, but these are viable options.