Cambridge South railway station explained

Cambridge South
Symbol Location:gb
Symbol:rail
Borough:Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Country:England
Coordinates:52.1744°N 0.131°W
Platforms:4 (planned)
Years1:2023
Events1:Construction began
Years2:2025
Events2:Planned opening

Cambridge South railway station is a railway station that is under construction.[1] Located in southern Cambridge, it is planned to serve the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the adjacent suburb of Trumpington. The station will be on the Cambridge line and the West Anglia Main Line, and is scheduled to open in 2025.

Background

A new station was proposed in 2017.[2] In August 2017, the Transport Secretary backed plans for a new station as part of the East West Rail plan,[3] [4] with a possible opening date of 2021,[5] [6] that could also include a light rail link.[7] An unsuccessful application was made to the New Stations Fund 2 in 2017,[8] but £5million was allocated to the project in the November 2017 Budget Speech.[9]

Funding for Cambridge South station was announced in the budget of March 2020.[10] Three options for its location near Addenbrooke's Hospital were identified between the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway bridge on Cambridge Biomedical Campus to the north and the Addenbrooke’s Road bridge to the south.[11] Network Rail stated that its preferred location for the station was at a site adjacent to the Biomedical Campus and the Guided Busway crossing[12] and submitted a Transport and Works Act Order application in June 2021 for a station on this site.[13]

In September 2022, the government announced Cambridge South as one of the "138 major infrastructure projects that the Government aims to fast-track, although "inclusion in the list [does] not guarantee funding, planning consent or approval at this stage".[14]

Funding approval

In December 2022, the station was given a Transport and Works Act Order approval, which authorised construction of the station and track laying. The station is expected to be fully accessible by people with disabilities and to have 1,000 cycle spaces. Elsewhere but as part of the works, improvements will also made to Shepreth Branch Junction and a new crossover installed at Hills Road.[15]

Construction

In October 2023, Network Rail awarded a contract for construction of the station. It is to have four platforms and anticipates 1.8 million passengers per year.[16]

, the construction of a second pair of tracks has started. New overhead catenary poles are in place and the original tracks have been shifted a few metres to the side to make way for the platforms.

East West Rail

See main article: East West Rail. East West Rail is a major project to build (or rebuild) a line between and Cambridge. In its 2023 Bedford–Cambridge preferred route announcement, the East West Rail Company proposes that its new alignment into Cambridge will do so via Cambridge South.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Findlay . Cait . 2023-01-19 . First look as Cambridge South station work begins after approval . 2023-05-21 . CambridgeshireLive . en.
  2. Web site: Cambridge South Station – Project Update . 16 January 2017 . Cambridge City Council . cambridge.gov.uk.
  3. Web site: An Addenbrooke's train station has got the thumbs-up from the Transport Secretary. Josh Thomas. Cambridge News. 11 August 2017 . 12 August 2017.
  4. Web site: Cambridge looks ahead to another new train station at Addenbrooke's Hospital. Josh Thomas. Cambridge News. 22 May 2017 . 12 August 2017.
  5. Web site: ANOTHER new Cambridge train station could be here within four years. Josh Thomas. Cambridge News. 20 June 2017 . 12 August 2017.
  6. News: Sustainable solutions must be found at new Cambridge railway station. Thomas. Josh. 22 August 2017. cambridgenews. 22 November 2017.
  7. News: Light rail link will mean no need for Cambridge South station car park says mayor Palmer. Comber. Ben. Cambridge Independent. 22 November 2017. en.
  8. News: Nineteen bids for New Stations Fund second round – Proposed Railway Schemes. 22 August 2017. Proposed Railway Schemes. 22 November 2017. en-GB.
  9. Web site: Chancellor accepts East West Rail targets and strengthens plans with extra cash. www.railtechnologymagazine.com. 22 November 2017.
  10. Web site: Government announce funding for Cambridge South station. 11 March 2020 .
  11. Web site: Three locations for Cambridge South station unveiled. 20 January 2020 .
  12. Web site: Cambridge South station's preferred location selected . Network Rail . 22 June 2020.
  13. Web site: Cambridge South station. Network Rail. 2021-06-23.
  14. Web site: Fast-track 138-project growth plan – full list . 2022-11-16 . Construction Enquirer . en-GB.
  15. Web site: First look as Cambridge South station work begins after approval. Cambridgeshire Live. 2023-01-19. 2023-05-11.
  16. News: Cambridge South station building company gets £93m contract . BBC News . 24 October 2023 . 31 October 2023 .
  17. Making Meaningful Connections: Consultation Technical Report . March 2021 . East West Rail Company . 372423.