Everything you need to know ahead of Cambridge South opening this weekend

The new station is expected to service around 1.8 million passengers a year

A new train station opens in Cambridge this weekend, after facing delays. Cambridge South station will welcome its first passengers on Sunday, June 28.

The opening comes after much delay, with the date being pushed back twice. The first delay was in February last year, after a sub-contractor went into administration and this led to a second delay.

Cambridge South will be the first station under the Great British Railways, a new public sector body that will overlook Britain’s railways. Emily Heria, senior sponsor on behalf of GBR Anglia, spoke earlier this week about the station opening.

She said: “We are all so excited to open the new station on Sunday, June 28 and can’t wait to welcome our first customers and see their reaction to their new railway station. We hope they will be as proud of their new station as we are to have built it.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “The newly opened Cambridge South station cuts journey times, improves access to jobs, and makes everyday life that little bit easier for thousands of people.

“This £250 million investment means a journey that once took over an hour – involving a train, a bus, and a walk – is now a single 45-minute direct train from London. That’s a real, tangible difference in people’s lives.“With up to 20 services in peak hours connecting passengers to London, Birmingham, Stansted, and beyond, Cambridge South will connect people with opportunities across the region and the wider country. This is Great British Railways in action.”

Ahead of its Sunday opening, here is all you need to know about Cambridge South station.

Where will the station be?

The new station will be situated next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

What trains will run through the station?

Once it’s open, the station will welcome up to nine trains per hour. These will run from Cambridge, with direct services to London King’s Cross, London Liverpool Street, Birmingham New Street, Brighton, Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport.

The services will be run by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and Cross Country, and up to 20 services an hour will call at the station during peak times. Passengers will also be able to make use of a 45 minute direct train to and from London.

What will the station feature?

The station will feature a green roof with solar panels, and a rainwater collection system with a wildflower environment.

It’ll also be connected to the local cycle network, and will have 1000 spaces for cycle parking, as well as blue badge bays. It’s right next to the guided busway system, giving passengers more sustainable travel options around the city.

How much has the station cost?

The station has been mainly funded by a £250 million Government investment. There was also a combined £5 million in contributions from AstraZeneca, Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, and the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership.

It’s estimated to serve 1.8 million passengers a year.