Mayor backs Cambridge South station as infrastructure that powers growth

Mayor backs Cambridge South station as infrastructure that powers growth

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow has said the opening of Cambridge South rail station is vital in supporting local growth and jobs, as he returned to the site ahead of its planned opening in June. 

Cambridge South will serve the Biomedical Campus, which is at the heart of the region’s world-leading life sciences and healthcare sector and is expected to support around 27,000 jobs by 2031. The station is forecast to handle about 1.8 million passenger journeys a year, benefitting business productivity on the campus, and supporting visitors using the hospitals.  

The four-platform station is being delivered by Network Rail and partners and will form a spine of stations for the city including the Central and North stations. The station is expected to be served from day one with up to nine trains per hour between Cambridge South and Cambridge, and including all passing services operated by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and CrossCountry. 

It has also been designed with built-in capacity to support future East West Rail services, strengthening links across the Oxford to Cambridge corridor and beyond.  

The Combined Authority played a key early role in making the station happen, providing early-stage funding for a delivery approach that allowed Cambridge South to be brought forward ahead of East West Rail. Improved and accelerated infrastructure is central to the Mayor’s ambition, set out in the Local Growth Plan, to triple the size of the regional economy. 

Paul Bristow said: “We’re all looking forward to this much-needed station opening, benefitting those who visit or work on the Biomedical Campus, as well as the local community. 

“The Combined Authority backed this project early because we knew it was critical, and because upgrades to transport infrastructure are how we unlock jobs, investment and better wages. This will be Cambridge’s third station, with a fourth now identified at Cambridge East through East West Rail, and it’s exactly the kind of infrastructure-led growth I’m determined to push for.  

“With strong service levels from day one, the focus is now on opening Cambridge South and ensuring passengers can start benefiting from this vital new connection as soon as possible.” 

The new station will provide step-free access to all platforms, accessible toilets, waiting areas, space for retail, and parking for up to 1,000 bicycles. It will improve access to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the wider biomedical campus while supporting sustainable travel and reducing pressure on Cambridge’s road network.