Cambridge South opening: Mayor Paul Bristow statement

Cambridge South opening: Mayor Paul Bristow statement

Following the Government announcement today of the opening date for Cambridge South railway station, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow, has given the following statement:

Paul Bristow said: “Cambridge Biomedical Campus is busy and growing, with 23,000 jobs and three world-class hospitals helping over 1 million people every year. With up to nine trains per hour and all passing services stopping, Cambridge South will make a real difference from day one. 

“But it’s also the difference it will make in the future. The campus already contributes more than £4.7 billion to the UK economy, and could rise to £18.2 billion with another 20,000 jobs on top. That kind of growth cannot happen without better infrastructure like this.  

“Serving a world-leading life sciences sector, Cambridge South will bring London, Stansted Airport and international markets closer, supporting the investment and skilled people we need, and creating opportunities locally too.  

“The Combined Authority has played its part. We put in early funding specifically to help bring this station forward ahead of East West Rail, with benefits arriving years sooner than they otherwise would. It’s a good example of what we can do to speed up infrastructure delivery.  

“But Cambridge South alone won’t solve the transport challenge in and around the city. Options for a mass rapid transit system, like light rail, is currently being explored, and East West Rail now has a proposed Cambridge East station, and a new western entrance to Cambridge Central station on the table. This is the scale of investment we need if we want our economy to really fly.   

“Our Local Growth Plan sets out my ambition to triple the size of the regional economy by 2050. Upgraded transport infrastructure is a big part of how we get there. 

“Cambridge South is an important step. Now let’s keep pushing.” 

Read the Government news release on the opening: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-stop-cambridge-south-new-stations-opening-date-revealed