Media centre

Thursday 8 Aug 2019

Community events to learn more about the work to deliver longer trains between King’s Lynn to Cambridge

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Three events are being held to give local communities in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk the chance to learn more about the work that starts this autumn to lengthen trains between King’s Lynn and Cambridge.

The planned work announced last month, which starts in October, will see two platform extensions at Waterbeach station and one platform extension at Littleport station to accommodate longer trains during peak times. In addition, Littleport station will also have step free access, and there will be new stabling at King’s Lynn station to support the longer trains.

Once the work is complete in the summer of 2020, eight-car services can be introduced on the route between King’s Lynn and Cambridge during peak times to provide more seats and a better experience for passengers.

It is anticipated Great Northern will introduce longer eight car services at the first available opportunity, which is likely to be as part of the December 2020 timetable.

Network Rail and its contractor VolkerFitzpatick are running three drop-in sessions to provide an opportunity for residents and businesses to speak to members of the project team and to ask any questions. The three planned public sessions are:

Waterbeach:
Tuesday 13 August 2019 from 16:00 to 20:00 at the Waterbeach Baptist Church Hall, Chapel Street, Waterbeach CB25 9HR.

Littleport:
Wednesday 14 August 2019 from 16:00 to 20:00 at Littleport Village Hall Day Centre, Victoria Street, Littleport CB6 1LU.

King’s Lynn:
Wednesday 21 August 2019, from 17:00 to 20:00 at The Board Room, King’s Lynn Football Club, The Walks Stadium, Tennyson Road, King’s Lynn PE30 5PB

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This important project will enable longer trains to run between Cambridge and King’s Lynn during peak times, providing a better service for passengers with more seats, reducing overcrowding.

“These events will give the local community an opportunity to speak to the project team to address any concerns they might have before works begin in the autumn.”

Preparation work is expected to start later this summer with main works starting around October 2019, with the work expected to be complete in the summer of 2020.

From October 2019, some weekend services will be suspended to allow engineers to get onto the track and start to build the platform extensions. Passengers planning to travel at weekends between King’s Lynn and Cambridge during autumn and winter are advised to check with their train operator or nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.

For more information, please visit our King’s Lynn Service Enhancement webpage at:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/kings-lynn