Cambridge South Station

Cambridge Area Bus Users welcome the progress towards construction of this key transport link. We are, however, concerned about details, particularly interchange with bus services – both conventional and guided – and the planned Cambridge Autonomous Metro, of which the Cambridge South East Transport scheme – a project to link the Biomedical Campus with a new Park & Ride the other side of Babraham village, near the A11, is a precursor.

Our main concern as Cambridge Area Bus Users would be that there will be high-quality sheltered provision for passengers transferring between train and bus (both guided and conventional) as close as practicable to the station entrance.

In addition to high quality provision for bus services, we would wish to see every effort made to minimise conflict between public transport transferees and car, cycle and taxi movements.

To avoid congestion which would impact on the operation of buses around this area, there should be no long-term car parking for passengers (other than Blue-Badge holders). Moreover, the use of private cars, for kiss-and-ride should be carefully regulated to make this mode of transfer rather less attractive than a public transport transfer.

Bus transfer facilities at Cambridge (city) station are appalling.

Bus stops are positioned some considerable distance away from the station entrance along a side street, with different services serving the same popular destinations (in particular Addenbrooke’s, and the city centre) departing from different, stops. Intending passengers need to be physically fit, to walk the considerable distance to the bus stops and be able to sprint between widely-spaced stops in order to catch the next available bus to their destination. They will, of course, also need to have prior knowledge of the bus services. To the best of our knowledge, these deficiencies are a result of decisions taken by the station area developers, not Network Rail, nor Greater Anglia who run the station.

By contrast, Cambridge North Station, which was developed by Network Rail (and is similarly operated by Greater Anglia) has bus connections available a short distance from the station entrance, across a pedestrian plaza.

Many commentators have suggested that Cambridge South Station would be, largely, a destination station, used by patients, visitors and staff of the nearby hospitals and by workers at other establishments on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, in particular AstraZeneca. We, Queen Edith’s Community Forum, and local councillors have, however, pointed out that this station will most likely become the railhead of choice for residents in an area stretching from Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn through to Trumpington and Grantchester.

We were delighted to be contacted by Sophie Moeng, Consultation Manager for Network Rail, who has recently provided an article for the Autumn 2020 issue of Queen Edith’s magazine, which you can read/download here. Sophie’s article is on pp4-6 of the magazine. Sophie has also sent Cambridge Area Bus Users an updated article, which we are pleased to publish, in full, below.

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Cambridge South Infrastructure Enhancements Scheme

By Sophie Moeng
Consultation Manager
Network Rail | 1 Eversholt Street | London | NW1 2DN

On 22 June 2020 Network Rail announced the preferred location of the proposed new railway station south of Cambridge. The chosen location corresponds with the northern option presented to the public earlier this year and follows a review of engineering and design information together with the results of public consultation.

The new station is proposed to be located adjacent to Addenbrooke’s Bridge which carries the spur of the Guided Busway across the railway, and will provide a new transport choice for patients, visitors and employees when travelling to and from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC).

The Scheme has evolved and enhancements to the nearby infrastructure to maintain service reliability have been identified. The infrastructure at Shepreth Branch Junction (where the lines from King’s Cross and Liverpool Street meet) and the southern section of tracks into Cambridge Station will be modified as part of the Scheme. 

The station will also provide direct access to a range of potential routes on the rail network for people in South Cambridgeshire, and better connections across the southern fringe of the city. It is anticipated that the new station would be served by train services already running on the route.

Accessing the station

Many people who responded to the consultation earlier this year did not want vehicles accessing the station from the Hobson’s Park side.  Road access is proposed to be via Francis Crick Avenue with vehicles using the Campus road network. 

Similar to drivers dropping off patients at hospitals, it is anticipated that vehicles coming into the Campus to drop off passengers for the station would not be fined by the route enforcement system which is in place to prevent Francis Crick Avenue being used as a through route. Parking would be restricted to Blue Badge holders, station staff and maintenance vehicles. There will be pick-up and drop-off facilities for passengers and taxis. 

The station and its facilities are expected to be operated by a train operating company who would also manage the parking facility. 

New paths are proposed for pedestrians and cyclists from both sides of the railway, and the signals at the intersection with the Guided Busway and Francis Crick Avenue by the Green and the Gardens will need to be modified. Details of this are being worked through with the CBC estate management team and the County Council. 

Bus interchange will be provided from the existing Guided Busway bus stops at the Circus. We’re engaging with Greater Cambridge Partnership on the Cambridge South East Transport (CSET) scheme on the east side – CSET proposes to provide stops on the segregated public transport lane on Francis Crick Avenue just south of the station access entrance and also modify the intersection to a much larger degree. 

Cycle parking

Space for 1,000 cycles arranged on both sides of the railway is proposed and includes a variety of Sheffield stands, two-tier racks and parking for non-standard cycles. The precise location of the cycle stands will be finalised during detailed design.

At this present time, space for various facilities is being planned which will determine the footprint of the station buildings on each side of the railway. Proposals include a staffed station building with ticket vending machines, automatic ticket barriers, lifts and stairs to the connecting footbridge, a changing places facility, accessible toilets, a retail/catering unit, a waiting area and seating. There will be step-free access with two lifts on each platform covered by canopies.

Station facilities

On the east the station forecourt will accommodate a one-way vehicle route for cars and taxis to drop off and parking for Blue Badge Holders. Pedestrian access is provided towards the junction with Francis Crick Avenue and the Guided Busway and pedestrians from the South use an access path to the south of the station forecourt.

Tracks and platforms

The existing tracks of the West Anglia Main Line will be re-laid to allow an island platform to be installed. A loop on each side of the re-laid tracks will be installed with a single platform on the outer sides. Two platforms will serve northbound services (Down lines) and two will serve southbound services (Up lines) – see diagram.

Next steps

With the preferred location of the station selected, we will hold a second round of consultation this Autumn to seek views on our current designs, the access arrangements and the measures we need to implement to construct the project safely. We intend to submit an application for a Transport and Works Act Order to the Secretary of State for Transport in 2021 to support a funder target of the station opening in 2025.

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