TWAO for Cambridge South station approved

[whole diary]

[stuving]

Cambridge North has now been open for a few years - long enough to become squalid, no doubt. Since then I've seen occasional reports of the arguments about the siting and design of another new Cambridge station, which might be called Addenbrook's Halt. But presumably Graham didn't have much of a customer base for training in the biomedical research community, so it didn't feature here. 

Anyway, the TWAO^▸ (Transport and Works Act Order ) for Cambridge South has just been signed off, leaving an inspector's report for the benefit of any insomniacs who have run out of sheep. And, more helpfully, Network Rail offered some explanation of what they asked for permission to do.

Our Plans

Visualisation of Cambridge South station from the eastIndicative visualisation of Cambridge South station from the east

Our plans would involve the construction and operation of a new two storey, four platform station on the West Anglia Main adjacent to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which could include:

    a ticket office
    ticket vending machines
    lifts providing step free access to all platforms
    accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
    access for pedestrians and cyclists from both sides of the railway with capacity for a 1000 cycle parking spaces
    modification to roads and crossings to facilitate access to the station

We also plan to modify and enhance the rail infrastructure to support the new station which could include:

    remodelling of the existing track layout
    installing two additional track loops to accommodate a four-platform station
    enhancements to Shepreth branch junction
    modification to the railway on the southern approach to Cambridge station
    provision for overhead line electrification infrastructure and a substation 
    modification of existing signalling equipment
    closure of two private level crossing and provision of alternative access

Subject to gaining the necessary consents, work could start on the station in 2022 with a funder target of station opening in 2025. A funding statement is included in the TWAO application with a projected investment package of £183.6m to deliver the new station and the associated infrastructure changes.