Published on: Monday, 25 March 2019
Last updated: Monday, 25 March 2019
Passenger numbers at one of the UK’s newest railway stations – Cambridge North – continued to grow last year, with almost half a million passenger journeys in 2018, figures show.
Over 488,000 entries and exits were recorded at the station from January to December 2018, meaning almost 5,000 people passed through every week.
Train operator Greater Anglia says that passenger numbers have continued to grow above expectations since the station opened on 21 May 2017, demonstrating its importance as a vital point of access to the business park, which was previously only accessed by road.
It is anticipated that the station, developed and promoted by Cambridgeshire County Council and built by Network Rail, will encourage new businesses to the area in the future as well as aid the expansion of Science Park and St John’s Innovation Centre.
The station has friendly, helpful customer hosts, waiting rooms with plug points, a 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 popular beyond our initial expectations and that it is benefitting residents and local businesses alike, opening up new journey opportunities in the north east of Cambridge.”
Cllr Ian Bates, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Chairman of the Economy and Environment Committee, said: “This is a great achievement and proves the business case we originally put forward almost 20 years ago for Cambridge North Station.
“These figures show the station is helping to ease congestion by providing an alternative option for people traveling to the area and we look forward to seeing even more services provided in the future.
Four Greater Anglia trains an hour serve the three-platform station, two in each direction - one departure to London, one arrival from London, one Cambridge to Norwich service and one Norwich to Cambridge service.
Four Great Northern trains per hour serve the station, with two trains per hour to London King’s Cross, of which one is a stopping train starting at Cambridge North and one a fast train per hour on theEly to London fast service off peak. The service pattern is slightly different in the morning and evening peaks.
The station also 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 provide improved access and journey times for passengers.