The UK government has given the go-ahead to fund a new railway station in Cambridge, with approximately £200m allocated to the project.
The station is set to have four platforms and be fully accessible, with works projected to be finished for 2025.
Following funding approval, London contractor J Murphy has started initial works at the site located next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, with a main contractor expected to be announced in July.
Funding the new build aligns with broader government ambitions for the UK to become a science superpower by 2030, with the station expected to support growth in the area, including 27,000 jobs and 4,000 new homes by 2031.
Huw Merriman, rail minister, said: “This brand-new station will not only benefit local passengers but deliver a major boost to the entire city, improving connectivity to a world-leading academic hub while unlocking local business and growth opportunities across the region.
“This is just another step in our efforts to create a thriving, well-connected, passenger-focused rail network to support communities for generations to come.”
Once delivered, the station will serve as a link between the biomedical campus and international gateways, such as Stansted Airport and the Eurostar. It is expected that the station will welcome 1.8 million passengers a year.
Katie Frost, route director for Anglia, Network Rail, said: “It’s an exciting time for the railway in Cambridgeshire with a green light to deliver a new station that will serve the vitally important and growing biomedical campus.
“Rail continues to be an environmentally sustainable form of transport and I know the minister’s announcement will be welcomed by the customers and communities we serve across Cambridgeshire and beyond.”
During construction, 300 new jobs are set to be created in the local area.
