See the progress on Cambridge South as new track laid and old track removed – with timelapse video

Contractors have been working hard over the Christmas and new year period at the site of the new Cambridge South railway station.

Two new tracks were laid prior to Christmas to enable Network Rail to divert services away from the existing main line, providing space to construct platforms for the station beside Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The new track connections were completed at either end of the new loop by Friday (December 29), in time for services to begin running again on Tuesday (January 2).

Machines were employed by the South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA) team to pick up and remove the old track from the site, ready to be taken to Network Rail’s recycling centre.

J Murphy & Sons Ltd is carrying out the main construction work on the two-storey, four platform station under a £93.4million contract awarded in October.

The new station, due to open in 2025, will connect the Biomedical Campus with potential destinations such as central London, London Stansted Airport, Ely and Birmingham, and is expected to form part of the new East West Rail route from Bedford to Cambridge when constructed.

The station will have step free access to all platforms, accessible toilets, cycle parking, a drop off area and access to the station for pedestrians on both sides. It will be managed and served by Greater Anglia, with other existing train operators also expected to call at the new station.

Under its contract, Murphy is providing:

- ticket vending machines
- lifts providing step free access to all platforms
- accessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and space for retail/catering
- access for pedestrians and cyclists from both sides of the railway with capacity for 1,000 cycle parking spaces
- modification to roads and crossings to facilitate access to the station.

Murphy is working integrated delivery partners Alstom and SRSA to update the rail infrastructure, including:

- remodelling of the existing track layout
- installing two additional track loops to accommodate a four-platform station
- enhancements to Shepreth branch junction
- modification to the railway on the southern approach to Cambridge station
- provision for overhead line electrification infrastructure and a substation
- modification of existing signalling equipment
- closure of two private level crossing and provision of alternative access