Big increase in number of people using Cambridge North station

Published on: Friday, 17 January 2020
Last updated: Friday, 17 January 2020

Passenger numbers at Cambridge North grew by 66% last year, figures show.

Almost 813,000 entries and exits were recorded at the station from January to December 2019, meaning almost 8,000 people passed through every week, according to data from the Office of Rail and Road.

Train operator Greater Anglia says that passenger numbers have continued to grow above expectations since the station opened in 2017, demonstrating its importance as a vital point of access to the business park, which was previously only accessed by road, Science Park and St John’s Innovation Centre.

The station has friendly, helpful customer hosts, waiting rooms with plug points, coffee shop and large car park and cycle parking area.

Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said, “We’re delighted that Cambridge North is proving increasingly popular two years after opening and that it is benefitting residents and local businesses alike, opening up new journey opportunities in the north east of Cambridge.”

The three-platform station is served by four Greater Anglia and four Great Northern departures an hour off-peak – London Kings Cross (2), London Liverpool Street (2), Stansted Airport (1), Ely (1), Kings Lynn (1) and Norwich (1).

Since the start of Greater Anglia’s December timetable change, the station is also now on the new direct route from Norwich to Stansted Airport.

The station has 450 parking spaces and 1,000 cycle spaces. The cycle shelter incorporates solar panels that provide up to 10% of the station’s power. Local cycle routes connect with the new station and it is within easy reach of the A14 and A10. Metal cladding on the outside of the building and footbridge incorporates a pattern based on a mathematical theory called the Game of Life by Cambridge mathematician John Conway.

Funded by the Department for Transport and developed by Network Rail in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge North station provides an alternative connection point for commuters in the north east of the city and provides improved access and journey times for passengers.

Cambridge station is still the busiest rail station on Greater Anglia’s network with almost 12 million passengers last year, up 3.9% on the previous year.

Since July last year, Greater Anglia has been replacing all its trains on routes which start and finish at Cambridge station.

Old one, two and three carriage diesel trains have been replaced with brand new state-of-the-art three and four carriage trains with more seats, USB and plug points, free fast wifi, better passenger information screens and improved accessibility, which run on diesel and electricity.

This week, the first of Greater Anglia’s new electric commuter trains, made by Bombardier, arrived for testing on the network, due to enter passenger service in the Spring.