A new Cambridge South Station will be handed over by early 2026, which will offer the full complement of passenger services from opening day onwards. The scheme increases access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and enhances international and UK connectivity.

Cambridge South Station set for 2026 launch
Photo: Network Rail

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Background history of the station

Plans to construct a new southern station in Cambridge started as early as 2013, when the rapid development at the Biomedical Campus raised the possibility of the need for better transport connections. Network Rail released feasibility studies in 2017, which reaffirmed robust passenger demand.

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The UK government invested in 2020 as part of the overall railway investment plan and formally endorsed the scheme. The detailed design was completed in 2021, following the signing of the final plans by the Department for Transport in December of that year.

It started construction in January 2022, managed by contractor J. Murphy & Sons as part of a £184 million contract. Major works by 2023 comprised track realignments, construction of the bridges, and preparation of the platforms. Meanwhile, fitting of signalling and overhead line equipment continued throughout 2024 and 2025.

Accordingly, it is the product of over a decade of planning and investment, delivering one of the highest-profile rail investments in the East of England over the last few years.

Cambridge South Station boosts access to main centres

It will be located on Francis Crick Avenue and will be the city’s third rail centre, directly serving the Biomedical Campus where 23,000 staff will be located. As such, it will provide easy access to London, Birmingham, Stansted, Gatwick, and international destinations by St Pancras.

The East Coast Main Line December 2025 timetable adjustment will also include the station. It will therefore ensure that trains belonging to Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, and CrossCountry will call at the station, offering the public a regular and guaranteed service timetable since day one.

Network Rail Anglia Route Director, Katie Frost, said: “Cambridge South will be an excellent new station for passengers arriving at and leaving the surrounding biomedical campus. With up to nine trains per hour from Cambridge, the campus will become very connected to key destinations across the country as well as to cities and airports across Europe via the Eurostar, helping this vitally important medical research hub to thrive and further the UK’s ambitions to be at the forefront of medical excellence.”

Strong support for Cambridge South Station opening

Service levels will be comparable to those of Cambridge’s main station, three to five trains an hour will operate to and from Ely, while the passengers will be served by up to nine trains an hour throughout Cambridge, connecting the campus to major destinations and airports.

John Whitehurst, Chief Operating Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway, commented: “The new station will make traveling simpler, with fast and frequent services to London as well as direct access to major regional hubs such as Stevenage, Ely, King’s Lynn and Gatwick Airport. Faster journey times between London and Cambridge will also be a consequence of the new timetable coming into existence next December.”

Rail Minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill also added: “The station offers vital links to jobs and homes, which will unlock opportunities within this great city.”

As a result, the hub will annually serve approximately 1.8 million passengers and will improve the transport network of the East of England.

Source: www.bbc.com

Opening date of the Cambridge South Station?

It will be introduced in service during the early months of 2026 and will offer the entire array of train services immediately as part of an East Coast Main Line timetable improvement.

Which of the destinations will the station be serving?

Regular trains will be available to London, Birmingham, Stansted, Gatwick, Stevenage, King’s Lynn, and Ely, with connections to European cities directly via St Pancras International.

Why is the Cambridge South Station important to the city?

The station will have direct access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, will serve almost 1.8 million yearly passengers, and will have better connections between Cambridge, airports, and the mainline rail network.

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