Check before you travel if you’re travelling through Cambridge on 11 or 12 December

Published on: Monday, 22 November 2021
Last updated: Monday, 22 November 2021


Rail passengers are reminded that major engineering works are taking place next month which will affect all train services to and from Cambridge and Cambridge North stations.

On the weekend of 11 and 12 December, a reduced Greater Anglia service will be running between Cambridge and London, with a rail replacement bus service due to run between Cambridge and Cambridge North; Ipswich and Cambridge and for part of the Ipswich to Peterborough route.

Govia Thameslink Railway is finishing a major upgrade to Cambridge train depot, which is affecting all train operators’ services using Cambridge station.

In addition, Network Rail is carrying out track and ballast works on the Ipswich to Cambridge line affecting services between Ipswich, Cambridge and Peterborough.

Greater Anglia will be running two trains per hour between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street; one train an hour between Cambridge North and Norwich; and one train an hour between Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

A rail replacement bus service will connect Cambridge and Cambridge North, with extra staff on hand to guide customers to the right buses.

An hourly rail replacement bus service will operate between Ipswich and Cambridge on Saturday and Sunday. The two-hourly Ipswich to Peterborough service will be run with a rail replacement bus service between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds on Saturday and between Ipswich and Ely on Sunday.

Mike Barry, head of customer service West, said: “We apologise in advance to customers affected by these works, but we will make sure that our passengers’ journeys will go as smoothly as possible.

“We will have extra staff on hand at the station to make sure people where know to go to catch their train or bus.
“I would urge people to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys as we know it’s a busy time of year with people getting ready for Christmas. Consider buying your ticket online or via the app to minimise time at the station, which could be busier than usual.

“Our rail replacement buses are all accessible and we have got plenty booked for the number of customers we anticipate using the service.”

The following other train operators’ services will be running:

• One Thameslink train per hour between London King’s Cross and Cambridge
• One Thameslink train per hour between Brighton and Cambridge via St Pancras International
• One Great Northern train per hour between Cambridge North and King's Lynn
• One CrossCountry train per hour between Ely and Birmingham New Street

Journeys that would normally pass through Cambridge, such as those between Ely and Royston will be operated by rail replacement bus. There will also be a direct rail replacement bus service between Ely and Stansted Airport.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Great Northern and Thameslink, said: “We thank everyone for their patience during this essential work to support improved train services. Keeping Cambridge open and our customers moving over the weekend is important to us and we are working closely with our industry partners, the local traffic authorities and bus operators to make journeys as smooth as possible. Details will be available in online journey planners from late November.”

Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway and CrossCountry tickets will be accepted on all rail replacement services.

Further information about the planned works and revised services is available on the Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway and CrossCountry websites.

The depot at Cambridge station has been expanded to make room for longer trains.