New railway station could open ahead of schedule

Building Beaulieu Park station was expected to cost £175m

Passengers at Essex's newest railway station could be welcomed ahead of schedule in autumn.

Beaulieu Park station was initially expected to open in north Chelmsford at the end of 2025 at a cost of £175m.

It would become the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in 100 years, coming complete with three platforms, 700 car parking spaces and 20 staff.

Emma Sharpe, from Network Rail, praised staff as she revealed the project was running ahead of schedule.

Martin Beable, managing director of Greater Anglia, hoped it would alleviate pressure on Chelmsford's main station.

Averaging about six million entries or exits a year, the station runs services from Norwich to London.

Martin Beable said the station would complement "phenomenal" housing growth

Passengers using Beaulieu Park, of which work started in March 2023, could get to the capital in 40 minutes.

The new station is part of a wider regeneration of the Beaulieu Park estate, with new road infrastructure and up to 14,000 homes.

Mr Beable said: "The growth here in terms of housing is phenomenal, and anybody that travels in and out of Chelmsford knows it's a busy city."

No new trains will run on the lines, but it was hoped the station will ease congestion in the area.

"It's been a really, really well-thought through scheme that's been future-proofed and is going to serve the people of broader Essex really well," Mr Beable continued.

Work has been ongoing to build Beaulieu Park station since March 2023

Workers were fitting out the station's main building and installing furnishings, he added.

Step-free access to all platforms was in place due to two lifts, with a bus interchange and about 500 spaces for cycle parking.

Louise McKinlay, the Conservative deputy leader of Essex County Council, said it had been a "phenomenal" effort.

"To have this delivering ahead of time is just fantastic," she said. "It's going to have a real impact on the local area."