Cambridge South station is now open to passengers, with the new station expected to welcome around 1.8 million passengers per year as part of efforts to improve connectivity across the region.

Cambridge South station starts passenger service
Cambridge South Station is now officially open. Photo: Department for Transport

Cambridge South station services and operators

As many as nine trains an hour will link passengers with Cambridge city centre. Services will also connect Cambridge South with London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport, alongside international rail services via St Pancras. During peak periods, up to 20 services will call at the station⁠.

The project has been backed by 250 million GBP in Government funding⁠. Train services at Cambridge South will be operated by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and CrossCountry.

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Access to Cambridge Biomedical Campus

The station will directly serve the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which currently contributes 4.7 billion GBP to the UK economy⁠ each year.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

“The newly opened Cambridge South station cuts journey times, improves access to jobs, and makes everyday life that little bit easier for thousands of people.”

“This £250 million investment means a journey that once took over an hour – involving a train, a bus, and a walk – is now a single 45-minute direct train from London. That’s a real, tangible difference in people’s lives.”

“With up to 20 services in peak hours connecting passengers to London, Birmingham, Stansted, and beyond, Cambridge South will connect people with opportunities across the region and the wider country. This is Great British Railways in action.”

What will change for passengers?

The practical change is concentrated around access to Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Network Rail says Cambridge South provides direct rail services to Europe’s largest biomedical campus and is intended to improve journeys for about 1.8 million passengers, patients, visitors and employees travelling to and from the site each year. The Department for Transport also says the campus receives around 40,000 visitors a day, while the London King’s Cross journey changes from a train, bus and walk taking more than one hour to a single 45-minute direct train.

Green roof, cycle spaces and GBR branding

The station has been designed to fit into the surrounding area and integrate with the existing Hobson’s Park nature reserve. Its design is intended to help protect green space, recreational areas and wildlife habitats.

Environmental features include a green roof with a wildflower meadow and a rainwater catchment system. The system will store rainwater and release it gradually back into the environment and the nearby brook. Design and construction efficiencies have also reduced the station’s carbon footprint by more than 22 percent.

Cambridge South is also the first station to carry GBR branding. It is connected to the local cycle network and includes 1,000 cycle spaces, blue badge bays and a location next to the guided busway system.

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