New station built with 'East West Rail in mind'

Stephen Deaville from Network Rail Anglia said construction of the station was going well

A new railway station expected to be open by 2026 is being built with "East West Rail in mind".

The new Cambridge South site on Francis Crick Avenue at the city's Biomedical Campus will have four platforms.

Stephen Deaville, senior communications manager for Network Rail Anglia, said it would help accommodate the planned East West Rail route, which aims to connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, "as and when they appear on this part of the network".

Completion of the station was delayed from 2025 due to the £194m Cambridgeshire re-signalling project and the East Coast Main Line timetable rejig.

Having four platforms at the site aims to reduce delays

The government invested more than £200m to build the new station and upgrade the associated rail infrastructure.

It will have two storeys with four platforms, ticket vending machines, lifts, retail space and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Senior project engineer Philip Holbourn said having four platforms at the site could reduce delays.

"The biggest benefit is the time taken for the trains to go through the area," he said.

"By minimising the time for the station stop and minimising the time trains have to slow down we're making sure the actual delay incurred to trains stopping at the station is absolutely minimal.

"It will also allow greater capacity in the timetable so there is additional space for new trains, which are coming."

Philip Holbourn said some trains would be able to travel at faster speeds as a result of the work

Mr Holbourn added that the speed limit at the Shepreth junction, to the south of the site, was being raised changed from 30pmh to 50mph so trains could pass through the junction faster.

Work on rail infrastructure began in spring 2023 and is on track to be completed by 2026, Network Rail said.

Mr Deaville added the construction of the station was going well and they had built a majority of the station facility.