Passenger services via Cambridge station will be disrupted on most weekends during the autumn, as Network Rail carries out major projects to improve the railway infrastructure in the area.
The two main projects are:
- the Cambridge Re-signalling project (C3R), in which Network Rail is working with Alstom in replacing ageing signalling equipment with modern technology in order to improve reliability and reduce maintenance needs. and preparing the area for the introduction of digital signalling. This work is costing £194m. Public consultation on this work took place in 2020. #CambridgeC3R
- building the new Cambridge South station, which will be located adjacent to the Guided Busway, and will connect the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with destinations including London, Stansted Airport, Ely, Birmingham and Europe. The new station will provide access to workplaces relieve road traffic congestion in the local. #CambridgeSouth
Train services will be affected on the following Saturdays and Sundays:
- 16 and 17 September
- 23 and 24 September
- 28 and 29 October
- 4 and 5 November
- 18 and 19 November
- 25 and 26 November
- 3 December
Engineering work will also take place between Ely, Peterborough and Kings Lynn which will affect rail services north of Cambridge on the following Saturdays and Sundays:
- 7 and 8 October
- 14 and 15 October
- 21 and 22 October
While this work is being carried out, engineers will take the opportunity to carry out other work, including track renewals, wheel timber renewals at Manea, drainage, surveys and structures.
Passengers planning to using Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and Cross Country services may use rail replacement bus services instead, but this will add time to their journeys.
Passengers can check their services on the operators' websites:
Katie Frost, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “There is a never a good time to close a busy railway, but to keep our construction teams safe, we have to stop trains running so that these important works can take place.
As well as the construction of Cambridge South station and the huge re-signalling renewal programme, we're using the time on track efficiently to also undertake essential maintenance work and surveys of our infrastructure.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “This improvement work is extremely important to help maintain the safe and reliable running of the railway – we would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while this work is carried out.
“A rail replacement service will run while the work takes place and passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow more time for their journey.”
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said: “Network Rail's major investment in the Cambridge area will mean more reliable train services and fewer delays in the future, and we thank our passengers for their patience while this vital improvement work continues.
“We've arranged replacement buses, but journeys via Cambridge will take considerably longer than normal during these weekends, and you might need to queue, so please plan ahead, allow plenty of extra time and check before you travel.”
It is stretching things a bit to say that Cambridge South will connect Cambridge Biomedical Campus with Europe. The only way that it will connect with Europe is for passengers to catch a train to Stansted then fly from there. Could we have articles that stick to facts and not hyerbole please.
The information regarding Cambridge South, the Biomedical Campus and destinations such as Europe was provided to us from Network Rail