Cambridge South new station opening

[dk1]

I was there to be the first passenger at the station! Going to station openings is something I’ve started doing since the Elizabeth line inauguration, and with the exceptions of Inverness Airport, Newsham and Beaulieu Park, I have managed to go to every new station opening in the UK since then.

Whilst I am sure that I was the first passenger to have arrived at the station, having spoken to security, I am not sure if I am the first paying passenger to have bought a ticket at the station, since the TVMs are outside the shutters. The ticket numbers are no indicator since they are pretty much never at one due to staff buying tickets as tests beforehand.

What I am sure of is that I was the first passenger to set foot in the station when the shutters opened, the first to pass through the gateline, and the first to set foot on platforms one, two and three.

Well done you for your dedication. One of my ex-colleagues spent a day there last month giving it a full once over from traincrews perspective and was from what I gather very impressed.

 

[TransportHub]

Has anyone there today got any pics of the station to share? Particularly of this GBR branding that has been talked about so much

 

[Farigiraf]

Particularly of this GBR branding that has been talked about so much

Haven't taken any pictures, but from what I've seen, the 'GBR branding' consists of:
- The station sign
- Rail alphabet 2 signage
- A few ads for GBR

 

[TransportHub]

Haven't taken any pictures, but from what I've seen, the 'GBR branding' consists of:
- The station sign
- Rail alphabet 2 signage
- A few ads for GBR

Thanks, somewhat underwhelming then given all the 'first GBR branded station' hype!

 

[bspahh]

Haven't taken any pictures, but from what I've seen, the 'GBR branding' consists of:
- The station sign
- Rail alphabet 2 signage
- A few ads for GBR

From a Blue Sky search https://bsky.app/search?q=cambridge+south the barriers have GBR branding

There are/were? also tote bags and badges on offer

 

[Farigiraf]

Thanks, somewhat underwhelming then given all the 'first GBR branded station' hype!

Indeed, but I dread to think of what full-GBR branding would consist of - union jacks all over the canopy?
In this case I think the right balance was struck - it's not necessarily in your face, but you certainly won't miss the fact that it's GBR station.

 

[Obar123]

Not sure if it has been thought about, but will Cambridge South be included in the Anglia rangers/rovers?

 

[Segedunum]

Impressive station - what's less impressive is the screens constantly having London services alternating between Platforms 1 and 2 - often contradicting announcements being made and changing while the train is seconds away from arrival.

I assume its track circuit related and needs ironing out but keep that up and there'll be accidents with people running up and over the bridge (and back).

 

[neill]

Since there are questions on branding here is a picture of the type of thing that is being used on the stairs.

More later…

 

[rmHawk765]

Can confirm platform changes are happening with almost every Down train, and the PIS screens on the platform don't show it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jun 2026 ==

The branding is not GA as seen previously.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Jun 2026 ==

The station is rather reminiscent of Abbey Wood.

 

[wagnaga]

There was certainly an issue with the passenger information screens when I was there earlier. Signalling issues meant some services were cancelled, delayed or terminated short. The service being shown on the screen wasn't always the service on the platform. Hopefully this can be ironed out.

 

[Failed Unit]

Looks like in the week they plan have services grouped by the island. Considering they are only 3 minutes apart, people will stand on the bridge and wait for Cambridge bound trains if this happens lots.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Haven't taken any pictures, but from what I've seen, the 'GBR branding' consists of:
- The station sign
- Rail alphabet 2 signage
- A few ads for GBR

And that's absolutely plenty! The RA2 typeface on plain white signage is refreshingly clean, especially compared to the livery!

 

[omnicity4659]

It looks like Rail Alphabet 3 and not 2. Also noted new symbols on wayfinding signage.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

First YouTube video from this morning has been uploaded

 

[Segedunum]

I hadn't realised that such a stupid design had been used. Island platforms for each direction of travel would have improved the customer experience hugely, as well as giving greater operational flexibility (changing platforms would not matter so much). Fewer platforms is also better for ensuring retail unit success, if they are on the platforms. I would have thought that lessons would have been learned from the poor experience at Redhill platform 0 (last minute changes are stressful / an accident waiting to happen; and there are no facilities at all on platform 0 at Redhill.)

I should add RTT showed all the platform numbers in black of the services I witnessed this with, so they were eventually departing from booked platforms.

Order seemed to be:

- Train initially shown leaving from wrong platform
- A few minutes prior, corrects itself
- This is then announced as a platform alteration at the same time as the screens change yet again back to the originally shown wrong one.

The platform layout is what it is but this resulted in me going to the wrong platform, seeing the screens had gone blank and the train was now going from the "right" platform, then getting halfway up the stairs for a second time then having to run back when I realised I was in fact in the right place without needing to change yet again.

 

[paulmch]

The PIS system seems to be the same as what's used at other GA-managed stations, so it's not surprising that it's as hopeless as displaying what's actually happening as it is at every other station!

 

[Jimcam]

There was certainly an issue with the passenger information screens when I was there earlier. Signalling issues meant some services were cancelled, delayed or terminated short. The service being shown on the screen wasn't always the service on the platform. Hopefully this can be ironed out.

Yes - I found that at least on platforms 2 and 3 the screens were showing the next but one train to arrive, not the next one.

 

[neill]

I had a good look around this afternoon. It's very impressive on the inside! The staff were kindly allowing visitors through the gateline to have a wander around. Plenty of families, railfans and 'influencers' about.

Here is a selection of photos showing GBR branding, posters, and the station signage. Some locals noticed that Hobson's Park has lost its apostrophe on the internal signage but it's there on the totems outside.

 

[Magdalia]

BBC news website has a report here. A picture shows the GBR barrier line:

Cambridge South railway station officially opens

Passengers can travel to London, Stansted Airport and to international rail services via St Pancras.

www.bbc.co.uk

A multi-million pound railway station that has capacity to welcome 1.8 million passengers annually has opened.

Cambridge South station will serve trains to London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport, and is a short walk away from the city's Biomedical Campus.

 

[RUK]

Here is a selection of photos showing GBR branding, posters, and the station signage. Some local's noticed that Hobson's Park has lost its apostrophe on the internal signage but it's there on the totems outside.

I can’t say I’m a fan of the flag being plastered all over everything, like the water refill point and ticket barriers. Contrasts quite a lot with the plain signage. Oh Lord, hopefully this won’t lead to a situation with Hobson’s Park like with Addenbrooke’s Hospital being called “Addenbrookes”. The map below the totem outside is in the Biomedical Campus style, so presumably will have been checked by someone local.

 

[neill]

And here are an assortment of more general photos of the station, both interior and exterior. They show the interior wood paneling and ceiling, the text based public artwork, and very red balustrade on the bridge stairs. Exterior photos show the platform environments, the emergency escape over bridge, solar panel roofing and forecourt.

 

[sharpener]

I wonder if this will prove less of an issue than we expect. Taking 1100 hour tomorrow at random nine trains run to Cambridge and only two go from platform 4.

It was foreseen as a significant problem right from the early stages, consider this and the following posts from Oct 2020.

@MarkyT and others have proposed various solutions involving flyovers but they would be both expensive and intrusive. EW Rail traffic will only add to the conflicts.

Cambridge station is already one I no longer like to use bc of the distance on foot from P7/8 to the bus stops.

 

[Nodding Cat Ch]

The station is really beautiful, the use of wood is stunning. two entrances.
I got up at 5am to make this video.
Features the ride from Cambridge to Cambridge South. The 6.31 to Kings Cross

Enjoy!

 

[quantinghome]

I wonder if this will prove less of an issue than we expect. Taking 1100 hour tomorrow at random nine trains run to Cambridge and only two go from platform 4.

This feels like one of those 'Railforums problems'. Yes, it's a bit of an issue, but not massive truth be told. The same issue arises at numerous stations all over the railway network for the same reason.

 

[Nodding Cat Ch]

Speedy Fat Boy Pete

 

[RUK]

The wood and solar panel canopies are very nice. The wood surprised me a bit - I didn’t know that it would be used. Why was wood chosen? For environmental and/or weight reasons? Metal rusts, and concrete is now known to be not as long-lasting as first thought, so perhaps wood is coming back into fashion again, since all materials will have to be renewed sooner or later in any case?

 

[mr_moo]

Because we are a bit nuts, and because we felt we wanted to do our own little celebration for the opening, especially given how much I was involved but that I wasnt involved at the end, I present to you the Cambridge South birthday cake!

(No you dont get a video of us singing happy birthday - we did sing it though)

 

[RUK]

Are those biscuits not forming a bay platform, such as at Cambridge North or Cambridge, rather than any of the through platforms at Cambridge South? I suppose for the official opening, you’ll have a Colin the Choo-Choo Caterpillar wrapped in GBR livery, rather than what looks like a kettle!

 

[physics34]

I had a good look around this afternoon. It's very impressive on the inside! The staff were kindly allowing visitors through the gateline to have a wander around. Plenty of families, railfans and 'influencers' about.

Here is a selection of photos showing GBR branding, posters, and the station signage. Some local's noticed that Hobson's Park has lost its apostrophe on the internal signage but it's there on the totems outside.

Certainly looks like a heavier typeface version of RA2.