Upgrading the infrastructure on the West Anglia Main Line to support future train services for the new Cambridge South Station has been completed.

The South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), comprising Colas Rail UK, Network Rail, and AECOM, carried out a range of major infrastructure upgrades between Shepreth and Cambridge, including:

• Renewing 5.7km of track between Shepreth and Cambridge and realigning 1.4km of track to serve the new Cambridge South Station.
• Installing eight new switches.
• Upgrading overhead line equipment (OLE) with 110 new foundations to support 79 new OLE structures, and almost 10km of new overhead wiring.
• Installing eight new signals.
• Remodelling the Shepreth branch junction to allow higher train speeds through the junction.
• Upgrading ancillary systems such as communications, telecommunications, and power supplies.

During the work, Colas Rail UK staff and its supply chain clocked up 124,000 site staff hours over 10,000 working shifts. Key milestones were Christmas 2023, when the existing main lines were realigned to enable the construction of the new station platforms, and May and June 2024, when new switches and crossings were installed and modifications made to the overhead lines.

Over Christmas 2024, the railway was closed for almost two weeks to allow the remodelling of Shepreth Branch Junction to allow maximum speed through the junction to be increased from 30mph to 50mph. Two new tracks were also laid through Cambridge South Station to make it a four-track/platform station.

Work to fit out the new station will continue until this autumn, and once the next major part of the re-signalling programme is complete, the new station is planned to open early next year.

“The safe and successful completion of the rail systems by SRSA is a major milestone in the journey to deliver this brand new station for the south of Cambridge, the neighbouring biomedical campus and Trumpington communities. Their commitment and drive to complete this work safely is a testament to their dedication and professionalism and this work has highlighted how well we can work together to improve and upgrade the railway for our customers and our passengers.”

Kevin Sullivan, programme manager for Network Rail