Ahead of its opening on the 26th October, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised Beaulieu Park railway station.
The station has been developed by Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council, with Network Rail delivering the project thanks to funding from the government and local partners.
This is the first new station to open on the Great Eastern Main Line in over a century and will be operated by Greater Anglia.
Beaulieu Park features three platforms alongside a central loop allowing fast trains to pass through. It also has step-free access, a connecting bus interchange, 700 car parking spaces and space for 500 bicycles.
The authorisation from ORR highlights the standards that the station meets.
“This is an important step for improving rail connectivity in and around Chelmsford, and indeed for the whole of the Great Eastern Main Line. We look forward to seeing the new station open for passengers soon.
“We’re pleased to have played our part in getting Beaulieu Park ready to open. Our team worked closely with Network Rail and local partners to support them through the authorisation process, just as we do for new trains and infrastructure across the country.”
Steve Fletcher, Deputy Director, Engineering and Asset Management at ORR
Responses
Some say that it should have been called North Chelmsford or Boreham Parkway. But still I be looking forward to seeing the new Beaulieu Park station to open next Sunday.
From many years experience at the adjacent Chelmsford station, this station car park will rapidly become over full, with expansion needed. It will now be easier for Commuters to drive to this station to get a train seat, ahead of the train arrival at Chelmsford with no seats.