Cambridge South railway station

Cambridge South
General information
Location	Cambridge Biomedical Campus England
Coordinates	52.1744°N 0.1310°E / 52.1744; 0.1310
Platforms	4 (planned)
Other information
Station code	CMS
Key dates
2023	Construction began
2026	Planned opening

Background

Summarize

Perspective

History

A temporary station, Trumpington Station was once located approximately 570 m (1,870 ft) north of the current Cambridge South station site. It was specifically constructed for the Royal Agricultural Society's show in July 1922, and was demolished after the event concluded.^[3] Between 1966, when Barnwell Junction station closed,^[4] and 2017, when Cambridge North station opened,^[5] Cambridge Station was the only railway station serving the city of Cambridge.

Proposal

Another new station in Cambridge to the south of Cambridge station was proposed in 2017.^[6] In August 2017, the Transport Secretary backed plans for a new station as part of the East West Rail plan,^[7]^[8] with a possible opening date of 2021,^[9]^[10] that could also include a light rail link.^[11] An unsuccessful application was made to the New Stations Fund 2 in 2017,^[12] but £5 million was allocated to the project in the November 2017 Budget Speech.^[13]

Funding for Cambridge South station was announced in the budget of March 2020.^[14] 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.^[15] Network Rail stated that its preferred location for the station was at a site adjacent to the Biomedical Campus and the Guided Busway crossing^[16] and submitted a Transport and Works Act Order application in June 2021 for a station on this site.^[17]

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".^[18]

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.^[19]

East West Rail

East West Rail is a major project to build (or rebuild) a line between Oxford 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.^[20]

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Construction and facilities

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.^[21]

As of March 2024^[update], the construction of a second pair of tracks had 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.^{[citation needed]}

As of October 2024^[update], work had begun on fitout of the station building, including roof insulation, floors, glazing and internal walls.^[22]

In February 2025, it was announced that the station opening would be delayed until early 2026 due to an upgrade to signalling across Cambridge. ^[2]

Access

Network Rail projects that 95 per cent of passengers using the station will travel onwards by public transport, walking, or cycling.^[23] The station will have no public car park, with its 15 spaces reserved for disabled drivers, staff, taxis, and pick-up/drop-off.^[24] The station will have 1,000 bike spaces.^[25]