Cambridge South new station opening

[neill]

On further inspection (in cooler weather!) I think the path surface is quite hard, but of a high friction material (lots of fine gravel bonded to it) which is surprisingly effective at slowing down a bike, at least compared to the tarmac on the parallel busway path.

Here are some more photos taken today. Lots more finishing touches going in to fences, stairs, landscaping and removal of protective coverings starting to be seen.

Just four weeks to go! I assume we'll see some testing activity starting soon.

 

[iamterry]

Does anybody know if there'll be anything special planned for an opening ceremony for the station?

 

[fandroid]

Does anybody know if there'll be anything special planned for an opening ceremony for the station?

The Rail Minister, at least, has pitched up at every recent "event" so it's very likely to be bigwig heavy for a station that's been flagged as the first "GBR station".

 

[Farigiraf]

Had a look at the station site this week, and in line with @neill 's photos, it appears that it's not necessarily GBR branded, just not Greater Anglia branded either. So I think the many, many news sites with articles with that exact headline haven't done much research (shock horror! ) into what GBR branding actually entails.

The only thing that may make it truly GBR branded is the new station clock design - will there be one inside the station?

 

[neill]

Had a look at the station site this week, and in line with @neill 's photos, it appears that it's not necessarily GBR branded, just not Greater Anglia branded either. So I think the many, many news sites with articles with that exact headline haven't done much research (shock horror! ) into what GBR branding actually entails.

The only thing that may make it truly GBR branded is the new station clock design - will there be one inside the station?

Maybe they will spray paint the grass on the roof red white and blue.....

 

[Magdalia]

It seems to have a very soft surface making it quite hard work to cycle on

The path to the western entrance is in Hobsons Park, and it is similar to the other paths in the park.

Does anybody know if there'll be anything special planned for an opening ceremony for the station?

I can't find the source but I have a recollection that I've seen somewhere that there will be an offcial opening on Monday 29th.

 

[neill]

The path to the western entrance is in Hobsons Park, and it is similar to the other paths in the park.

There seem to be two new paths through the park. One is further south than the one in my photos and has a rough compacted stone finish like most of the other paths in the park.

The one in my photos is to the north near the busway and has the hard high friction surfacing.

 

[swt_passenger]

Had a look at the station site this week, and in line with @neill 's photos, it appears that it's not necessarily GBR branded, just not Greater Anglia branded either. So I think the many, many news sites with articles with that exact headline haven't done much research (shock horror! ) into what GBR branding actually entails.

The only thing that may make it truly GBR branded is the new station clock design - will there be one inside the station?

Bedlington was probably just too far up north for national media anyway…

Station names in a small text size and they don’t stand out amongst the OTT number of safety signs.

 

[sharpener]

they don’t stand out amongst the OTT number of safety signs.

Like the main station. Noticed last night the massive signage at the end of the hideous yellow safety barrier on P1/P4. Overhead electrification, high voltage. Who knew?

Road works on M11 now have "Overhead Structure" signs in advance of every overbridge.

 

[Netwrox]

The surface for the mixed-use area matches the surface used for the pedestrian side of the split-use path, so possibly it's less of (c) but more of a deliberate choice to prioritise the pedestrian-friendly surface.

There are two non-split sections, both near junctions. Feels like a conscious attempt to slow up cyclists at potential conflict points.

 

[Magdalia]

Does anybody know if there'll be anything special planned for an opening ceremony for the station?

I knew that I had seen it somewhere!

Next stop, Cambridge South: new station's opening date revealed

New Cambridge South rail station opening in June 2026.

www.gov.uk

Passengers will soon be able to take trains from the new Cambridge South station after its opening date was revealed today (11 May 2026). Services will begin calling at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June before the station’s official opening ceremony takes place the following day.

 

[neill]

I knew that I had seen it somewhere!

Next stop, Cambridge South: new station's opening date revealed

New Cambridge South rail station opening in June 2026.

www.gov.uk

Do we think the 00:11 to Cambridge is the first service or will it be something later in the day?

 

[zwk500]

Do we think the 00:11 to Cambridge is the first service or will it be something later in the day?

I would imagine that the 0635 departure (0631 Cambridge to King's Cross) that will be the first service. The early-hours services normally count as part of the previous service day.

 

[Magdalia]

Do we think the 00:11 to Cambridge is the first service or will it be something later in the day?

I would imagine that the 0635 departure (0631 Cambridge to King's Cross) that will be the first service. The early-hours services normally count as part of the previous service day.

Real Time Trains shows the 0635 departure (0631 Cambridge to King's Cross) as first train to call.

 

[mr_moo]

The official opening ceremony will be at 10:30 on the Monday.

(I shall be there and have my official invitation)

 

[Farigiraf]

Are there any other examples (UK or elsewhere) of a mainline station with at least 1mil annual users to have an entrance backing directly onto a park?
While there will be an overpriced coffee shop and a few bike racks, it'll be incredibly strange to get off a packed electrostar at rush hour and immediately be confronted with a wild meadow. Even Hampstead Heath or Clapham Common for example have a road separating station and park. Will be quite nice during summer but fairly lonely on a cold winter evening.
I'm guessing they aren't allowed to use Hobson's Park for anything that may damage the environment (e.g. food vans, tables & chairs) which is why it is this way.

 

[Magdalia]

I'm guessing they aren't allowed to use Hobson's Park for anything that may damage the environment (e.g. food vans, tables & chairs) which is why it is this way.

Before Cambridge South was proposed, Hobsons Park went right up to the railway fence, everything on the park side is on land given up from the park, and that had to be kept to a minimum. There is an extension to the park south of Addenbrookes Bridge to compensate for the land lost to the station.

 

[mr_moo]

Magdalia is correct. We called it the "Exchange land", because it was parkland we were creating in exchange for the parkland we built upon. There absolutely was efforts to minimise permanent land take.

Not having a road was also very deliberate - it's not designed as a station that you drive to/from, hence the lack of a car park. It's aimed at serving the Biomedical campus and the local community. For people wishing to drive, there are existing car parks on the campus, or Trumpington park and ride is not far away.

Personally I think it will be lovely coming out of a busy station into a park. so many stations are dull buildings that exit straight onto busy roads etc, this will make a lovely change.

 

[Farigiraf]

Not having a road was also very deliberate - it's not designed as a station that you drive to/from, hence the lack of a car park. It's aimed at serving the Biomedical campus and the local community. For people wishing to drive, there are existing car parks on the campus, or Trumpington park and ride is not far away.

Personally I think it will be lovely coming out of a busy station into a park. so many stations are dull buildings that exit straight onto busy roads etc, this will make a lovely change.

Agreed - it's just really unique/unorthodox. Stations prioritising active travel aren't uncommon on the continent but even these typically have the occasional cafe/supermarket/bike hire centre on the pedestrianised side. These stations aren't typically built immediately adjacent to a nature reserve though, and if you want to serve Addenbrooke's properly, the planners didn't have much of an alternative.
Only in Cambridge

 

[Magdalia]

Agreed - it's just really unique/unorthodox. Stations prioritising active travel aren't uncommon on the continent but even these typically have the occasional cafe/supermarket/bike hire centre on the pedestrianised side. These stations aren't typically built immediately adjacent to a nature reserve though, and if you want to serve Addenbrooke's properly, the planners didn't have much of an alternative.
Only in Cambridge

The final design, with the station having entrances/exits on both sides, one opening directly onto the park, is a triumph of the consultation process.

The original proposals had no entrance/exit on the campus side of the railway, and an access road to the park side entrance/exit, taking out a lot more of the park, following roughly the same route as the temporary road used for construction purposes.

 

[higthomas]

The original proposals had no entrance/exit on the campus side of the railway

Really!? Seems like madness given that's what it's there to serve. Glad the final result is much better.

 

[Jimcam]

For those not familiar with the immediate area: the Trumpington park and ride site is just off junction 11 of the M11. It's linked to Cambridge South station by 1.3 miles of guided busway, with a bus every 10 minutes at peak times. Parking is free, and the "short hop" return fare on the bus is £3.80, in other words cheaper than any local station car park. So it will be interesting to see if drive - park - bus - commute from Cambridge South (to London,for example) becomes an established pattern once people appreciate this possibility.

 

[windjabbers]

For those not familiar with the immediate area: the Trumpington park and ride site is just off junction 11 of the M11. It's linked to Cambridge South station by 1.3 miles of guided busway, with a bus every 10 minutes at peak times. Parking is free, and the "short hop" return fare on the bus is £3.80, in other words cheaper than any local station car park. So it will be interesting to see if drive - park - bus - commute from Cambridge South (to London,for example) becomes an established pattern once people appreciate this possibility.

That's a good point I hadn't thought of that option. Not 100% sure Trumpington P and R has capacity to fulfill that role. Doesn't it get full with people using the PnR service ?

 

[absolutelymilk]

That's a good point I hadn't thought of that option. Not 100% sure Trumpington P and R has capacity to fulfill that role. Doesn't it get full with people using the PnR service ?

Are you saying the car park gets full or the buses (or both)?
EDIT: The satellite photo on Google Maps shows it looking pretty full!

 

[windjabbers]

Are you saying the car park gets full or the buses (or both)?
EDIT: The satellite photo on Google Maps shows it looking pretty full!

That the site gets full, they extended it a couple of years to add extra parking spaces.

 

[wagnaga]

That the site gets full, they extended it a couple of years to add extra parking spaces.

Hasn't there been talk of an additional Park and Ride site on that side if Cambridge?

 

[Farigiraf]

Doesn't it get full with people using the PnR service ?

Regarding the P&R itself - see the below reply.
Regarding the buses themselves - the PR3 buses to the city centre regularly arrive into the city centre full and standing at peaks. Route A's a rather slow route to reach the city centre, so it primarily serves passengers to the Biomedical Campus. As a result it's typically less busy, though I'm sure Cambridge South will increase loadings.

Hasn't there been talk of an additional Park and Ride site on that side if Cambridge?

They should start work later this year on the Cambridge South West Travel Hub, which is effectively Trumpington P&R #2, off Junction 11 of the M11. Will have around 1,000 more parking spaces than Trumpington P&R, but most importantly it moves the P&R further out from the city. When it was first built, Trumpington P&R was on the outskirts - now it's surrounded by new housing. For some reason though, they don't plan on closing it after the CSWTH opens - a major mistake in my eyes, as it'd make a great green space.

Notably for Cambridge South, the council have chosen a windy route (orange) to get from the busway entrance to the new P&R, which means that it'll result in a minimum of 4-5 minutes added journey time to the existing route. So CSWTH to Cambridge South will take around 20-25 minutes from exiting car to entering station.
This is likely because the seemingly obvious route (the yellow route in the attached diagram) has had 1 singular building built in the way, presumably nobody thought of keeping passive provision.
Not sure if many people will actually choose to make a journey that goes: Home (in village) - drive to CSWTH P&R - Bus to Cam South - Train to final destination. Quite convoluted and there's zero fares integration - Whittlesford Parkway's more convenient for most trips.

 

[Magdalia]

Really!? Seems like madness given that's what it's there to serve. Glad the final result is much better.

I have had internet disruption today and spent part of the time tidying piles of paper, including finding one of the early consultation documents. There was a pedestrian access on the campus side, but all the vehicle access was on the park side.

Hasn't there been talk of an additional Park and Ride site on that side if Cambridge?

There is also a proposal for a busway to a travel hub near Babraham.

Route A's a rather slow route to reach the city centre, so it primarily serves passengers to the Biomedical Campus. As a result it's typically less busy

There can be a big churn of passengers on the A at the stops on the Biomedical Campus, depending on time of day.

This is likely because the seemingly obvious route (the yellow route in the attached diagram) has had 1 singular building built in the way, presumably nobody thought of keeping passive provision.

Your proposed route is already occupied by a cycleway.

 

[Farigiraf]

There is also a proposal for a busway to a travel hub near Babraham.

Travel hub meaning Park & ride in this context, as it won't really be useful as a 'hub' for those not driving. I agree with the idea for a busway out to a P&R along that axis, but it doesn't link the actual villages along the route to Cambridge South (unless you fancy a 20 min walk from the village) which is counterintuitive - though I appreciate that this was the easiest option and therefore the only option that's likely to get approved in the first place.
Effectively what is being done regarding Cambridge South is that it is being designed with many parking spaces, those parking spaces just happen to be at least a mile out of town with a rapid transit link that'll eventually connect the two - reminds me of the Heathrow Pods connecting the car park and terminals. It's a great idea in my opinion, although it'd be a lot easier if there were good transport links out to the villages in the first place and then you wouldn't need the whole P&R shuffle.

There can be a big churn of passengers on the A at the stops on the Biomedical Campus, depending on time of day.

It is well used, no doubt about that. Just not to the extent that the P&R buses to the city centre are. That may change once the route links the P&R not just to the Biomedical Campus but also a major rail station (it does connect Cambridge Central already, but it takes over 20 mins so few people use it for railheading)

Your proposed route is already occupied by a cycleway.

Which typically go along with busways quite well, no?

 

[Magdalia]

They should start work later this year on the Cambridge South West Travel Hub, which is effectively Trumpington P&R #2, off Junction 11 of the M11. Will have around 1,000 more parking spaces than Trumpington P&R, but most importantly it moves the P&R further out from the city. When it was first built, Trumpington P&R was on the outskirts - now it's surrounded by new housing. For some reason though, they don't plan on closing it after the CSWTH opens - a major mistake in my eyes, as it'd make a great green space.

Notably for Cambridge South, the council have chosen a windy route (orange) to get from the busway entrance to the new P&R, which means that it'll result in a minimum of 4-5 minutes added journey time to the existing route. So CSWTH to Cambridge South will take around 20-25 minutes from exiting car to entering station.
This is likely because the seemingly obvious route (the yellow route in the attached diagram) has had 1 singular building built in the way, presumably nobody thought of keeping passive provision.
Not sure if many people will actually choose to make a journey that goes: Home (in village) - drive to CSWTH P&R - Bus to Cam South - Train to final destination. Quite convoluted and there's zero fares integration - Whittlesford Parkway's more convenient for most trips.

Looking a but deeper into this, the proposed bus route to the new site beyond the M11 was an option in a 2018 consultation, and it seems to use the farm bridge over the M11 cirrently used by the cycleway.

I'm wondering if this is another legacy from Mayor Palmer's Autonomous Metro that the Greater Cambridge Partnership haven't let go of.

I'm also wondering what, if anything, is planned for the land on the east side of the M11, but haven't found anything.

But the key point is that Cambridge South is primarily designed to be a destination station for the Biomedical Campus, not a departure station for South Cambridgeshire villages.