Cambridge South new station opening

[absolutelymilk]

Annoying that they can't fulfil the half promise around toilets for the park, but definitely useful to have toilets inside the barriers for people changing trains - definitely seems like it will be an easier change than at Cambridge [Central]

 

[Magdalia]

I think the point here is that it was promised, or half-promised, or mooted, that as part of the compensation for the loss of parkland to build Cambridge South, the station would provide an amenity for the park (Hobson's Park) in the form of a cafe and toilets, which the park currently lacks. I don't know what exactly was said by whom or to whom, but certainly that understanding was around in the local area.

Cafes on the biomedical campus have appeared since the new station was in the planning stage: the cafes at Papworth Hospital, the AstraZeneca Hub and Discovery Drive are all quite near.

The compensation land for what was taken from the park is south of Addenbrookes Road.

 

[Jimcam]

Cafes on the biomedical campus have appeared since the new station was in the planning stage: the cafes at Papworth Hospital, the AstraZeneca Hub and Discovery Drive are all quite near.

The compensation land for what was taken from the park is south of Addenbrookes Road.

Yes, agreed on all points, and the cafe in the main AZ building is (normally) open to the public, as well as their Hub. I was only trying to explain why the councillors were chuntering.

 

[MML]

I'm amazed people consider the 'park' an important natural conservation area. It's got no established trees, just recently planted saplings. And is used by dog walkers as a pet toilet.

 

[Class 170101]

Annoying that they can't fulfil the half promise around toilets for the park, but definitely useful to have toilets inside the barriers for people changing trains - definitely seems like it will be an easier change than at Cambridge [Central]

I remain to be convinced that certain journeys will be better to change at Cambridge South than Cambridge.

 

[Magdalia]

I'm amazed people consider the 'park' an important natural conservation area. It's got no established trees, just recently planted saplings. And is used by dog walkers as a pet toilet.

Hobsons Park does not have mature trees because it is a relatively new park. Like the Biomedical Campus, it was agricultural fields less than 15 years ago.

Hobsons Park is important both for recreation and conservation, and was established at the same time as the Clay Farm housing development between the park and Trumpington village. From a conservation perspective it has Hobsons Brook on its western side, which is a chalk stream, and a lake that is now home to a decent variety of wildfowl. Hobsons Park as a place for walking dogs is part of its recreational benefit, which also includes allotments and a skate park.

Some of the trees are now about 10 years old. They haven't grown as much as might have been expected because of the high number of hot dry summers that there have been in that period. One thing where Network Rail and Murphy have been brilliant has been building the new station without destroying the stand of young trees close to the line just south of the station. These were planted by children from the local primary school in Trumpington and, when mature, will screen the park from the railway.

 

[Jimcam]

There's a deeper point here, going back to the cafe-and-toilets issue, about how much the station wants to be, or to be perceived as, part of the Trumpington / Clay Farm community rather than a facility on its edge whose purpose is to serve the biomedical campus. No doubt this is something the nascent Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership will wish to address.

 

[Magdalia]

No doubt this is something the nascent Cam Valley Community Rail Partnership will wish to address.

Is this the Foxton/Shepreth/Meldreth group trying to expand its influence?

 

[700720]

Is this the Foxton/Shepreth/Meldreth group trying to expand its influence?

They have recently expanded to include Shelford and Whittlesford on the Liverpool Street line, hence the renaming to Cam Valley CRP

 

[camflyer]

I'm amazed people consider the 'park' an important natural conservation area. It's got no established trees, just recently planted saplings. And is used by dog walkers as a pet toilet.

Yes, always though it was odd that it was considered a "park" when it is really just a patch of scrub land. It has potential with a bit of investment (Milton Park to the north of the city is a good example of what could be achieved) but that would surely include a cafe, community facilities and toilets. I can't see it's the railway's job to provide toilets for dog walkers.

 

[Magdalia]

Yes, always though it was odd that it was considered a "park" when it is really just a patch of scrub land.

It looks like scrub land because it has had very little rain for 4 months and part of it has been a building site for 3 years.

 

[fishwomp]

I remain to be convinced that certain journeys will be better to change at Cambridge South than Cambridge.

Unless easements are added, a whole heap of routes would no longer be valid via Cambridge (central), as they will become "doubling back" and Cambridge (central) will no longer be shortest route. Royston to Whittlesford Parkway, say

 

[WesternBiker]

They have recently expanded to include Shelford and Whittlesford on the Liverpool Street line, hence the renaming to Cam Valley CRP

And I note that the Cam Valley CRP website includes already information about Cambridge South accessibility. (See link here https://camvalleycrp.org.uk/station-accessibility/)

Cambridge South​

​

This station is expected to open during 2026 and is expected to have step-free access to all areas via lifts.​

 

[Class 170101]

Unless easements are added, a whole heap of routes would no longer be valid via Cambridge (central), as they will become "doubling back" and Cambridge (central) will no longer be shortest route. Royston to Whittlesford Parkway, say

Oh I wasn't think of these journeys but say for example Shelford to Waterbeach, due to the layout of Cambridge South I think Cambridge would actually be better to change at rather than Cambridge South.

 

[camflyer]

AstraZeneca have announced plans to build a new office block, a 450-person auditorium and conference centre on Francis Crick Avenue next to the new Cambridge South station

Latest on plans to expand Cambridge Biomedical Campus with conference centre

AstraZeneca has briefed councillors on their plans to build a new office and conference centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The plans include a rooftop auditorium.

www.cambridge-news.co.uk

 

[neill]

Photos from earlier in the week. Most of the forecourt hoardings have been removed giving a much better view. In addition to the campus side bike parking it is also possible to see construction of the new retaining wall for the busway bridge embankment.

There is also another large Astra Zeneca building going up right next to the station. The one mentioned in the previous post cannot be any closer.

 

[Magdalia]

There is also another large Astra Zeneca building going up right next to the station. The one mentioned in the previous post cannot be any closer.

Thanks for the pictures. The AZ building adjacent to the station entrance has been in construction since the spring, aided by 2 big red cranes.

AstraZeneca have announced plans to build a new office block, a 450-person auditorium and conference centre on Francis Crick Avenue next to the new Cambridge South station

I'm guessing that this will be going in the vacant plot between the AZ travel hub (grand name for car and cycle park) and the Anne McLaren building.

 

[camflyer]

I'm guessing that this will be going in the vacant plot between the AZ travel hub (grand name for car and cycle park) and the Anne McLaren building.

I would expect so. I used to do some work for AZ but I'm out of the loop now.

When AZ moved a lot of staff to the CBC, one of the biggest issues was the lack of parking. For people who used to work at the (Milton Rd) Science Park or at Granta Park the commute was considerably harder

Interesting also that they say that they will relocate all staff in the Cambridge area to the CBC will presumably will mean closing Academy House on Hills Rd. I remember when they moved there the reasoning was they needed some offices closer to the station for visitors coming up from London. I suppose the opening of Cambridge South removes that need.

 

[cle]

Especially if the 'Cruisers' call there, it'll be an even shorter journey. Also for anyone from the Liverpool St direction (and indeed Stansted)

I expect South will attract a lot more development / investment after this too.

 

[camflyer]

Especially if the 'Cruisers' call there, it'll be an even shorter journey. Also for anyone from the Liverpool St direction (and indeed Stansted)

I expect South will attract a lot more development / investment after this too.

There is already a new Cambridge Children's Hospital and Cancer Research Hospital planned for the site plus there are several plots to the south of the site (on Mary Archer Drive) yet to be developed and completed as part of Phase 2. Then phases 3 and 4 are still on the drawing board. The current masterplan is predicting 40,000 jobs by 2050.

 

[Jimcam]

It will be interesting to observe which stations see an increase in passengers when Cambridge South opens. Are there any forecasts?

 

[zwk500]

It will be interesting to observe which stations see an increase in passengers when Cambridge South opens. Are there any forecasts?

Presumably Cambridge South is projected to have rather more than currently

If you're interested, there's an Outline Business Case from 2021 Available online (https://gat04-live-1517c8a4486c4160...dge_south_outline_business_case80119701_1.pdf) that has this table:

Perhaps not surprisingly, stations closest to Cambridge show strongest growth.

The Final Business Case will have superseded those numbers, although covid will obviously have impacted the data for any work done since 2021.

 

[Magdalia]

There is already a new Cambridge Children's Hospital and Cancer Research Hospital planned for the site

These have planning permission and the site preparation is already done. What they don't have yet is finalised funding and main building contracts awarded.

there are several plots to the south of the site (on Mary Archer Drive) yet to be developed and completed as part of Phase 2.

On the other hand, building is happening quickly here. 1000 Discovery Drive is complete and being fitted out for occupation, 2000 is being constructed now (the 2 big blue cranes), 3000 and 4000 have planning permission.

 

[Jimcam]

Presumably Cambridge South is projected to have rather more than currently

If you're interested, there's an Outline Business Case from 2021 Available online (https://gat04-live-1517c8a4486c4160...dge_south_outline_business_case80119701_1.pdf) that has this table:
View attachment 184784
Perhaps not surprisingly, stations closest to Cambridge show strongest growth.

The Final Business Case will have superseded those numbers, although covid will obviously have impacted the data for any work done since 2021.

I was hoping to tie it down to actual stations, rather than general areas as in the OBC table. As an example, people coming from north or west of Cambridge who currently struggle with the congested M11 and Addenbrooke's Road or the rammed-full 'A' bus may be attracted to Cambridge North as a railhead: it's easily accessible from the A428, A10 and A14, served by the guided bus and the citi2 route, and will have direct trains to Cambridge South. So I would expect to see an uplift in the usage of Cambridge North, for example. But that's only speculation.

 

[zwk500]

I was hoping to tie it down to actual stations, rather than general areas as in the OBC table. As an example, people coming from north or west of Cambridge who currently struggle with the congested M11 and Addenbrooke's Road or the rammed-full 'A' bus may be attracted to Cambridge North as a railhead: it's easily accessible from the A428, A10 and A14, served by the guided bus and the citi2 route, and will have direct trains to Cambridge South. So I would expect to see an uplift in the usage of Cambridge North, for example. But that's only speculation.

The FBC might have more detailed modelling, although the OBC table does have some specific stations.

 

[camflyer]

I was hoping to tie it down to actual stations, rather than general areas as in the OBC table. As an example, people coming from north or west of Cambridge who currently struggle with the congested M11 and Addenbrooke's Road or the rammed-full 'A' bus may be attracted to Cambridge North as a railhead: it's easily accessible from the A428, A10 and A14, served by the guided bus and the citi2 route, and will have direct trains to Cambridge South. So I would expect to see an uplift in the usage of Cambridge North, for example. But that's only speculation.

I would expect Cambridge North to see a big rise in usage. It will also improve the links between the Addenbrookes/CBC and the [Milton Rd] Science Park. Currently getting between the two of them for meetings is an absolute pain.

Don't think it will make much difference from those coming from the east of Cambridge as it will need a change at "Central". With only an hourly service on the Ipswich line then it's not going to be attractive for commuting compared to driving to the Park and Ride.

 

[William3000]

Especially if the 'Cruisers' call there, it'll be an even shorter journey. Also for anyone from the Liverpool St direction (and indeed Stansted)

I expect South will attract a lot more development / investment after this too.

What are ‘Cruisers’ - fast trains to London? I’ve not heard the term before.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

What are ‘Cruisers’ - fast trains to London? I’ve not heard the term before.

The Kings Lynn/Ely - Kings Cross services between Cambridge and London

 

[Magdalia]

What are ‘Cruisers’ - fast trains to London? I’ve not heard the term before.

Yes. The Kings Cross-Cambridge fast service first had 2tph non-stop off peak in 1994. The Cambridge Cruiser name was used to promote the service, with the strapline "we've pulled out all the stops". I can't remember whether it was first used by Network SouthEast or WAGN.

The name is still in fairly common usage in the Cambridge area.

 

[700720]

Especially if the 'Cruisers' call there, it'll be an even shorter journey. Also for anyone from the Liverpool St direction (and indeed Stansted)

I expect South will attract a lot more development / investment after this too.

According to the draft Dec 25 ECML timetable, all GN, TL & presumably GA services (including all the cruisers) passing through Cambridge South will call. The only unconfirmed stop is on the XC Birmingham-Stansted route, but I imagine that will be calling as well.