Progress made on £50m Cambridge North station

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin has inspected work at the site of the new £50 million Cambridge North station, ahead of its expected opening in May 2017.

Sixty tonnes of steelwork have been put in place, and progress made on the installation of track, points, overhead wires, power supply and platform foundations. Once completed the station will have three platforms and parking space for 450 vehicles and 1,000 bicycles.

Serving Cambridge Science Park, it is expected to handle 3,000 passengers a day and encourage new businesses to locate to the Science Park and St John’s Innovation Centre.

Station construction is being funded by the Department for Transport, and the project developed by Network Rail in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council.

“We have invested over £50m into Cambridge North station to improve journeys for passengers, and I am pleased to see the progress that has been made so far,” said McLoughlin.

“Once open in 2017, I am confident that the new station will make a significant difference to commuters’ journeys, as well as linking this vital Science Park directly into the rail network.”

Richard Schofield, Network Rail route managing director for Anglia, said: “This new station will be a huge boost for businesses in Cambridgeshire, allowing them to be better connected to both Cambridge city centre and to London.”

He added: “The new station will go a long way to help the economic growth in Cambridge, and passengers’ journeys around the city will be greatly improved with better connections and journey times.”