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Monday 7 Aug 2017

Secretary of State officially opens Cambridgeshire’s newest station

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

The Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, unveiled a plaque at Cambridgeshire’s newest station today (Monday 7 August) to officially mark its opening.

Network Rail delivered the station as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan and it opened on 21 May this year. It is now a vital point of access to the business park, which was previously only accessed by road. It is anticipated that the station will encourage new businesses to the area in the future as well as aid the expansion of Science Park and St John’s Innovation Centre.

The striking landmark station has three platforms which serve trains operated by Greater Anglia on the Cambridge to London Liverpool Street and Cambridge to Norwich routes. There are currently four Greater Anglia trains an hour, two in each direction.

Great Northern trains also stop at the station, with two trains per hour to London King’s Cross, of which one is a stopping train starting at Cambridge North and one a fast train per hour on the new Ely to London fast service off peak.*

Local cycle routes connect with the new station and it is within easy reach of the A14 and A10. The station also has 450 parking spaces and 1,000 cycle spaces in a cycle shelter that holds solar panels that provide up to 10% of the station’s power. The exterior of the building and footbridge incorporates a pattern based on a mathematical theory called the Game of Life by Cambridge mathematician John Conway.

Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, MP, said: “The opening of Cambridge North marks the start of our plans to transform journeys for passengers in Cambridgeshire and maximise growth for the wider region. We are committed to making journeys across this region quicker and easier, as soon as possible. The new station is already contributing to that. East West Rail is at the heart of that transformation and can be a critical part of our plans to make this region the UK’s own Silicon Valley, a world renowned centre for science and innovation.”

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This station brings a welcome boost to the local economy as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. It has improved the way people travel around the city with better connections to both Cambridge city centre and to London, and provides vital rail links to the science and business parks, to support jobs and create new opportunities.”

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “We’re delighted that our impressive new station is already proving popular with customers travelling to and from Cambridge. It makes rail travel much more convenient for many journeys in the region and is ideally situated to attract many more passengers in the years ahead. We’re grateful to our partners at Network Rail, the Department for Transport, Cambridgeshire County Council and Great Northern for their work with us in developing, funding and operating the station.”   

Nick Brown, chief operating officer, Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “With two Great Northern trains an hour from King’s Cross to the new station, it’s never been easier for companies from the UK and across the globe to do business at the renowned Cambridge Business Park. Our service will support the wider economic growth of Cambridgeshire by attracting commercial and residential development to the area."

In 2019, a new direct Greater Anglia Norwich to Stansted Airport service will be introduced, stopping at Cambridge North, when the company brings in new trains across every route on its network during 2019-20. A coffee shop and retail unit will open soon in the main station concourse.

Funded by the Department for Transport and developed by Network Rail in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge North station provides an alternative connection point for commuters in the north east of the city and provides improved access and journey times for passengers.