Cambridge North: Cambridge's new station

[MikePJ]

Clearly the trains serving Cambridge and surrounds are totally unable to cope with 3 or 4 bikes for every vestibule. But that's another topic of conversation.

At least the soon-to-arrive class 700s have big doors and vestibules, so the cyclists (myself included) will be happy to see them. Unlike anyone that's expecting somewhere to put their coffee!

 

[ictl]

The door "fault" on the GN 387s has been fixed now (the doors open immediately, no waiting 10-30 seconds anymore).

The ticket machines have also been upgraded -- we can now buy tickets with a different origin station.

 

[ocelocelot]

Does anyone have any usage estimates for Cambridge North since the estimates published in this article, please?
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-north-station--anyone-13128181

Some people have felt the station is strangely empty since it opened officially just under two weeks ago on Monday, May 22.

Some have attributed the apparent emptiness of the station to the lack of road signs telling people how to get to it.

The number of passengers that used Cambridge North in the first week of operation was around 4,200, according to Greater Anglia.

A spokeswoman for Greater Anglia said: "This number is based on data where the start or end station on customers' tickets was Cambridge North....

As I understand it, the ORR usage estimates have a period that runs April-March, published the following winter, so we won't hear about Cambridge North in those figures until the 2017-2018 data is published in about December 2018! Would love to hear earlier than that.

 

[306024]

I estimated about 20 people waiting for the 10.10 to Kings Cross yesterday if that helps. (Probably not).

That article is hardly cutting edge journalism. Amazingly they found more cars at 09.00 than at 07.00, but the survey was done in half term week, so they concluded normal usage could be either higher or lower. Brilliant!

 

[Ianno87]

The 0728 Kings Cross departure usually seems to have about 60-80 people waiting to board most days. Probably the busiest morning peak train.

The 1714 ex-Kings Cross (arriving 1810ish) probably has about 40-50 get off.

Other trains are quiter, but usually a trade of 10-20 people at least on most trains.

 

[jopsuk]

There's a lot of CRC students use the 0814 arrival from Ely & Waterbeach

 

[bspahh]

There's a lot of CRC students use the 0814 arrival from Ely & Waterbeach

https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/abo...th-sees-continued-passenger-growth-six-months says:

Cambridge North sees continued passenger growth six months on

Passenger numbers at the UK’s newest railway station – Cambridge North – are continuing to grow six months after the station was opened, figures have revealed.

Over 75,000 people have used the station since it opened in May, with almost 5,000 people passing through during the week commencing 24 September, the most yet and almost double that of its opening week.

Train operator Greater Anglia says that passenger numbers have continued to grow above expectations since the station opened on 21 May 2017, demonstrating its importance as a vital point of access to the business park, which was previously only accessed by road.

It is anticipated that the station will encourage new businesses to the area in the future as well as aid the expansion of Science Park and St John’s Innovation Centre.

The station has friendly, helpful customer hosts, waiting rooms with plug points and Greater Anglia is working to finalise negotiations for the opening of a coffee shop and retail unit on the main station concourse. This is later than hoped but a cycle-powered coffee-seller is present at the front of station to offer refreshments.

Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said, “We’re delighted that Cambridge North is proving popular beyond our initial expectations and that it is benefitting residents and local businesses alike, opening up new journey opportunities in the north east of Cambridge.”

Four Greater Anglia trains an hour serve the three-platform station, two in each direction - one departure to London, one arrival from London, one Cambridge to Norwich service and one Norwich to Cambridge service.

Four Great Northern trains per hour serve the station, with two trains per hour to London King’s Cross, of which one is a stopping train starting at Cambridge North and one a fast train per hour on the new Ely to London fast service off peak. The service pattern is slightly different in the morning and evening peaks.

In 2019, a new direct Greater Anglia Norwich to Stansted Airport service will be introduced, stopping at Cambridge North, when the company brings in a complete fleet of new trains for all services on every route on its network during 2019-20.

The station also has 450 parking spaces and 1,000 cycle spaces. The cycle shelter incorporates solar panels that provide up to 10% of the station’s power. Local cycle routes connect with the new station and it is within easy reach of the A14 and A10. Metal cladding on the outside of the building and footbridge incorporates a pattern based on a mathematical theory called the Game of Life by Cambridge mathematician John Conway.

Funded by the Department for Transport and developed by Network Rail in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge North station provides an alternative connection point for commuters in the north east of the city and provide improved access and journey times for passengers.

 

[TheDavibob]

They're impressive numbers, compared to the business case. I've always been a bit disheartened by the lack of people there at the times I go, but they're well off commuter times. I'm sure when the service provision is up to scratch (which will require, as far as I'm concerned, the Kings Lynn trains to stop and the development of the Norwich-Stansted through service upon arrival of new stock), passenger numbers will go up further. Once they have half-hourly fasts to Kings Cross I'll definitely start using it as my primary station.

 

[dk1]

The on site 4* hotel has been approved, shopping has a couple of hurdles to sort out but coffee shop should open soon. I've noticed that the car park has been getting busier.

 

[jopsuk]

there's several hundred cyclists regularly using the bike park with what looks like very few abandons

Apparently as well as a costa there's a Co-op going in the station building? The other side of the "station square" may be a while longer whilst Brookgate come up with a plan that isn't daft.

 

[Ianno87]

The on site 4* hotel has been approved, shopping has a couple of hurdles to sort out but coffee shop should open soon. I've noticed that the car park has been getting busier.

I do wonder if some car users have been using up existing parking season tickets at other stations before transferring to Cambridge North.

 

[AE]

I've used the new station since the week that it opened, mainly to travel to London and back, and passenger numbers are definitely ramping up. For example, on a Friday evening the 17:39 had about 10 to 15 boarding in the first few weeks. Now it's more like 40 to 50. Likewise for the 18:08 service.
And there's usually a good number on the opposite platform waiting for the trains to Ely too.

Returning to the station at odd hours of the night I've always found myself with at least 15 to 20 other passengers unless I end up on the Cambridge to Norwich service where there may only be 3 or 4 passengers.

 

[bspahh]

The Cambridge News https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-north-station-train-railway-14701453 says

Cambridge North welcomed 320,000 people during its first year - an average of 6,000 people a week.
It's quite a remarkable figure considering a large portion of the development to go alongside it has not been completed yet.

The figures have impressed Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner, who said: "I am very pleased that over 300,000 passengers have passed through the barriers in the year since it opened. With the weekly averages increasing, at a time when national rail usage is falling, that says to me that the station is on the right track and I expect more and more people will use it, particularly as the area around the station is developed."

 

[dk1]

The Cambridge News https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-north-station-train-railway-14701453 says

GN have doubled the off peak frequency from this week. Now watch it boom.

 

[Royston Vasey]

GN have doubled the off peak frequency from this week. Now watch it boom.

Plans submitted this week for 7,600 new homes on the adjacent Anglian Water land too

 

[dk1]

Plans submitted this week for 7,600 new homes on the adjacent Anglian Water land too

Yes I saw that mate. Costa coming too. It's all happening & proving what an excellent catalyst it was for growth.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes I saw that mate. Costa coming too. It's all happening & proving what an excellent catalyst it was for growth.

The houses were part of the deal for the station; it wouldn’t have happened if the houses weren’t already in the bag.

 

[dk1]

The houses were part of the deal for the station; it wouldn’t have happened if the houses weren’t already in the bag.

No but it helped. All good news.

 

[bspahh]

GN have doubled the off peak frequency from this week. Now watch it boom.

And Greater Anglia have introduced cheaper tickets from Ely. Their peak Ely-Cambridge North fare is £4.90 compared to £7.10 on any train, with departures at 6.31, 6.50, 7.30, 7.33, 8.00 and 8.33. From the 9.33 onwards, an off peak ticket is £2.30 instead of £4.60 from any operator, but the Greater Anglia service is only hourly.

I wonder how long it will be before there are more ticket inspections on the Great Northern trains if the government has taken on the revenue risk.

 

[TheDavibob]

GN have doubled the off peak frequency from this week. Now watch it boom.

Yup, it's instantly enough to make it my main London-bound station now (the bike parking ease and general openness make up for the wait in Cambridge). Lovely regular North-Central service pattern too (not as great the other way). I will certainly use it more.

 

[bspahh]

The on site 4* hotel has been approved, shopping has a couple of hurdles to sort out but coffee shop should open soon. I've noticed that the car park has been getting busier.

The Costa Coffee has now opened

 

[dk1]

The Costa Coffee has now opened

Yes I noticed that the other day. Most welcome it is too.

 

[gingerheid]

Unfortunately the Co-Op have pulled out opening a shop

The station really is getting quite busy in the morning; three ticket machines isn't enough

 

[dk1]

Unfortunately the Co-Op have pulled out opening a shop

The station really is getting quite busy in the morning; three ticket machines isn't enough

Was told that M&S will take it instead

 

[gingerheid]

Hmm. Well if they or Waitrose do take it I'll be delighted. And surprised!

 

[edwin_m]

Hmm. Well if they or Waitrose do take it I'll be delighted. And surprised!

Waitrose is closing their shop just outside Manchester Piccadilly and their show just outside Birmingham Snow Hill, so I think they may have lost interest in stations. The Co-op is taking both of them over.

 

[bspahh]

The Cambridge News https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-north-station-train-railway-14701453 says

In the official usage statistics from http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates
488,878 people entered, exited or changed trains at Cambridge North from when it opened on May 21st 2017 to March 31st 2018

 

[camflyer]

In the official usage statistics from http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates
488,878 people entered, exited or changed trains at Cambridge North from when it opened on May 21st 2017 to March 31st 2018

Quite an impressive figure considering the lack of development in the immediate area. It's already busier than Waterbeach or Newmarket (both of which were down slightly) and not far behind Whittlesford

 

[dk1]

Quite an impressive figure considering the lack of development in the immediate area. It's already busier than Waterbeach or Newmarket (both of which were down slightly) and not far behind Whittlesford

And although growth has slowed at Cambridge after an impressive few years, the North hasn't detracted custom away.

The big turning point has been the upping of calls by GN services to/from Kings Cross. Expect an even larger growth next year. Costa has arrived with M&S supposing to be next & then the housing & hotel developments you speak of.

 

[jon0844]

And although growth has slowed at Cambridge after an impressive few years, the North hasn't detracted custom away.

The big turning point has been the upping of calls by GN services to/from Kings Cross. Expect an even larger growth next year. Costa has arrived with M&S supposing to be next & then the housing & hotel developments you speak of.

It's a nice station, so it would be silly for people not to build near it.. just as happened near all the new underground stations that were built on the outskirts of London so many years ago.