Cambridge South new station construction progress.

[DynamicSpirit]

It’s discussed way back in the thread. The whole track formation would need to be wider for a longer length, impacting on existing bridges. For passenger access from both sides it would need an extra fourth set of lifts and stairs. Future four tracking south of the station for EWR means the layout will no longer be D/D/U/U but D/U/D/U, ie paired by use.

Sorry for all the questions, but coming back to this, it just struck me: Why will the Cambridge South layout be changed to D/U/D/U? What's the benefit of that? When I first read this post, I had assumed it was to separate the E/W rail trains from the existing trains, but that can't be the reason - since subsequent posts have indicated the existing trains need all four platforms anyway.

 

[William3000]

Sorry for all the questions, but coming back to this, it just struck me: Why will the Cambridge South layout be changed to D/U/D/U? What's the benefit of that? When I first read this post, I had assumed it was to separate the E/W rail trains from the existing trains, but that can't be the reason - since subsequent posts have indicated the existing trains need all four platforms anyway.

I think it’s to avoid the need for grade separation at Shepreth branch junction. I think merging is proposed to take place north of Cambridge (Central), which is more lightly trafficked. It means trains running on EWR/existing Cambridge line to London King’s Cross/St Pancras can use the western pair, and trains running on the West Anglia Mainline to London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport can use the eastern pair. That said, the western pair after EWR would be a lot busier with around 20 trains in both direction, while only around 10-12 are likely to be using the eastern pair. There is a bit more freight on the WAML than the Cambridge line so that may provide flexibility.

 

[Magdalia]

Sorry for all the questions, but coming back to this, it just struck me: Why will the Cambridge South layout be changed to D/U/D/U? What's the benefit of that?

The key feature for understanding this is the south end bay platforms 2 and 3 at Cambridge. These are predominantly used by trains running from and to the Kings Cross line not the Liverpool Street line.

D/U/D/U would allow up trains starting from the bays and going to the Kings Cross line to have no conflicting movements with down trains coming from the Liverpool Street line. With D/D/U/U up trains starting from the bays and going to the Kings Cross line have to cross twice with down trains coming from the Liverpool Street line, both in the station throat and at Shepreth Branch Junction.

 

[sharpener]

The key feature for understanding this is the south end bay platforms 2 and 3 at Cambridge. These are predominantly used by trains running from and to the Kings Cross line not the Liverpool Street line.

D/U/D/U would allow up trains starting from the bays and going to the Kings Cross line to have no conflicting movements with down trains coming from the Liverpool Street line. With D/D/U/U up trains starting from the bays and going to the Kings Cross line have to cross twice with down trains coming from the Liverpool Street line, both in the station throat and at Shepreth Branch Junction.

This advantage would accrue independently of EWR. But as discussed upthread (I reluctantly accept that) there were good reasons to defer the full four tracking until EWR comes to pass, even though it will mean some of the works will have to be done twice.

In fact if/when EWR services are extended beyond Cambridge Central (and they are anyway talking of sending them towards Newmarket to reverse) they won't be able to take full advantage of the improved access from P2/P3, though the through line helps a bit.

 

[absolutelymilk]

Apologies if it's been posted already, but the new station is now visible on Google maps

 

[neill]

Here are some photos taken earlier this week. Things have really been coming along - much of the park has now been landscaped again, and the station roof looks complete. The forecourt can be seen to be layed out.

In noticed since these were taken that some trees have been planted in front of the station entrance.

 

[Jimcam]

Does anyone know what this little wooden structure is for? It's in the field adjacent to the footbridge at Shepreth Branch Junction, on the east side. I'm fairly sure the people installing it were working from Network Rail and Murphy vans, but I can't see any connection or relevance to the railway (or indeed to anything else). Apologies if this is a complete red herring.

 

[neill]

Does anyone know what this little wooden structure is for? It's in the field adjacent to the footbridge at Shepreth Branch Junction, on the east side. I'm fairly sure the people installing it were working from Network Rail and Murphy vans, but I can't see any connection or relevance to the railway (or indeed to anything else). Apologies if this is a complete red herring.

There is a scheduled ancient monument in the field. Maybe it is related to that?

Maybe they are about to take the fencing down and need to mark areas of the field to avoid?

 

[Jimcam]

The "ancient monument", which AFAIK is what appears to be a buried Saxon settlement, only visible by aerial photography, is on the other (west) side of the railway and further north.

 

[Magdalia]

Here are some photos taken earlier this week. Things have really been coming along - much of the park has now been landscaped again, and the station roof looks complete. The forecourt can be seen to be layed out.

Thanks for the pictures.

Does anyone know what this little wooden structure is for? It's in the field adjacent to the footbridge at Shepreth Branch Junction, on the east side. I'm fairly sure the people installing it were working from Network Rail and Murphy vans, but I can't see any connection or relevance to the railway (or indeed to anything else).

I was puzzled by this too. During the winter there was access for vehicles from Granhams Road, I think using boards laid on the ground, subsequently removed, hence the rectangular patches of land where the crop has not grown.

The "ancient monument", which AFAIK is what appears to be a buried Saxon settlement, only visible by aerial photography, is on the other (west) side of the railway and further north.

The scheduled monument is on the west side of the line, but it is Iron Age/Roman not Saxon. Maps in the East West Rail consultation technical report section 12.4.6 show the exact location. This is what is said about the ancient monument:

All options would have an impact on the scheduled monument located to the west of the WAML just south of Addenbrooke’s Road. The scheduled monument, including features and remains associated with it, is of national value and is protected by law. Different options would have varying degrees of impact referred to as ‘overlap’ in this report which relates to engineering works within the scheduled monument site including trackwork, rail system assets, drainage and maintenance access. This scheduled monument contains features of settlement patterns likely multi-phased but predominantly from the Iron Age/Romano-British periods. Aerial survey and geophysical survey covering the whole scheduled monument and land to the south carried out for the Cambridge South station development show a complex network of trackways, enclosures and pits, including an area in the centre of the scheduled monument which appears to show the site of a former Roman villa. The geophysical survey shows features concentrated in the centre and to the south of the scheduled monument, some outside of the scheduled monument boundary. Features are still present adjacent to the rail corridor but at a lower concentration within the scheduled monument suggesting this is a less sensitive area. However, even in the area of lesser sensitivity any features or remains are still of national importance. It should be noted that to the south of the scheduled monument features extend closer to the rail line. Given their relationship with the scheduled monument it is likely that any remains or features in this location are likely to be of national importance. Following this geophysical survey, 5 trial trenches were excavated within the scheduled area on the route of the current Cambridge South station haul route. Two trenches revealed the presence of archaeological features associated with scheduled monument. The other three trenches contained nothing of note, supporting the theory that this is an area of lesser sensitivity. It is still the case that excavation related to the construction of the new infrastructure within the scheduled monument has the potential to remove or truncate previously unrecorded archaeological remains of national value. However, given the evidence from the surveys undertaken it is likely that there has already been disturbance or truncation of remains related to the scheduled monument through the construction of the existing railway. However, the further west works move into scheduled monument and land to the south, the more potential there is for significant archaeological features and remains of national value to be removed.

 

[Obar123]

Does anyone know what this little wooden structure is for? It's in the field adjacent to the footbridge at Shepreth Branch Junction, on the east side. I'm fairly sure the people installing it were working from Network Rail and Murphy vans, but I can't see any connection or relevance to the railway (or indeed to anything else). Apologies if this is a complete red herring.

I think it is to mark where a hole has been dug for a hydrology test and to see the water levels. You also see them where new houses are going to be built.

 

[Jimcam]

I think it is to mark where a hole has been dug for a hydrology test and to see the water levels. You also see them where new houses are going to be built.

Thanks for this, and to Magdalia for correcting my careless "Saxon" earlier. So do you think this is related to the current remodelling of Shepreth Branch Junction, or might it be exploratory work on behalf of East West Rail, whose plans show a balancing pond on that side of the junction?

 

[Obar123]

Thanks for this, and to Magdalia for correcting my careless "Saxon" earlier. So do you think this is related to the current remodelling of Shepreth Branch Junction, or might it be exploratory work on behalf of East West Rail, whose plans show a balancing pond on that side of the junction?

It could be either but more likely for the east west to aid their planning application and to help survey the surrounding land.

 

[sharpener]

Here are some photos taken earlier this week. Things have really been coming along - much of the park has now been landscaped again, and the station roof looks complete. The forecourt can be seen to be layed out.

In noticed since these were taken that some trees have been planted in front of the station entrance.

What is the stark concrete tower, is it for the lifts? It seems to clash rather with the flowing lines of the rest of the station roof.

 

[swt_passenger]

What is the stark concrete tower, is it for the lifts? It seems to clash rather with the flowing lines of the rest of the station roof.

Yes, it’s a lift shaft. The P1 and P4 lifts have very similar prefab concrete towers, but they are inside under the curved roofs. I can only assume a small curved roof over the near end of the island platform must have been thought unnecessary.

 

[St. Paddy]

Lots of new (bagged over) signals appeared during the bank holiday weekend closure including up direction signals at the London end of all 4 platforms at Cambridge South. Anyone know how far the bi-directional signalling will extend to?

 

[zwk500]

Lots of new (bagged over) signals appeared during the bank holiday weekend closure including up direction signals at the London end of all 4 platforms at Cambridge South. Anyone know how far the bi-directional signalling will extend to?

According to the image on https://signalmaps.co.uk/#cambridge:1061, Shepreth Branch to Cambridge South will be Bi-Di, Cambridge South to Cambridge (main) will not. The layout appears to be setup to facilitate turning back trains towards London in the event Cambridge (main) is shut. Going from the layout linked to, trains from Stansted would be able to reverse in any platform but trains from Hitchin would only be able to reverse in the two normally northbound platforms. Neither route approaching Shepreth Branch Junction is Bi-Di.

Plans could have changed since Signalmaps drew their image, of course.

EDIT: corrected as per post below

 

[Netwrox]

Lots of new (bagged over) signals appeared during the bank holiday weekend closure including up direction signals at the London end of all 4 platforms at Cambridge South. Anyone know how far the bi-directional signalling will extend to?

Also a new (bagged) one has appeared on the up line to Liverpool Street. Just before the blue footbridge approaching Garnham's road level crossing. Wasn't sure if it was from the BH weekend, but never noticed it before.

 

[St. Paddy]

Also a new (bagged) one has appeared on the up line to Liverpool Street. Just before the blue footbridge approaching Garnham's road level crossing. Wasn't sure if it was from the BH weekend, but never noticed it before.

Also new over the weekend. There’s one on the bend towards Foxton too

 

[ac6000cw]

The layout appears to be setup to facilitate turning back trains towards London in the event Cambridge (main) is shut.

Correct.

Going from the layout linked to, trains from Stansted would be able to reverse in any platform

They can't - there's no route from the 'northbound' platforms (3 & 4) to the southbound line towards Stansted. So basically trains from the Stansted direction can reverse in the 'southbound' platforms (1 & 2) and those from the Hitchin direction in the 'northbound' platforms.

 

[zwk500]

Correct.


They can't - there's no route from the 'northbound' platforms (3 & 4) to the southbound line towards Stansted. So basically trains from the Stansted direction can reverse in the 'southbound' platforms (1 & 2) and those from the Hitchin direction in the 'northbound' platforms.

Thanks for the correction! I'd missed the lack of that crossover.

 

[Magdalia]

According to the image on https://signalmaps.co.uk/#cambridge:1061, Shepreth Branch to Cambridge South will be Bi-Di, Cambridge South to Cambridge (main) will not. The layout appears to be setup to facilitate turning back trains towards London in the event Cambridge (main) is shut.

This could be particularly useful for the Long Road bridge replacement, hopefully coming as part of East West Rail.

 

[Class 170101]

This could be particularly useful for the Long Road bridge replacement, hopefully coming as part of East West Rail.

I think it might be too close electrically. In any event is there actually anywhere to run a rail replacement operation at Cambridge South? I thought the drawings suggested otherwise.

 

[neill]

In any event is there actually anywhere to run a rail replacement operation at Cambridge South? I thought the drawings suggested otherwise

I think opportunity at the station itself is limited. Eyeballing the forecourt it doesn’t look like you would be able to turn around a bus in there.

However there is a set of large bus stops on the green between the Astra Zeneca headquarters and Papworth Hospital. If RRBs could route through there then that could be a realistic option.

 

[Magdalia]

I think it might be too close electrically.

You may be right!

In any event is there actually anywhere to run a rail replacement operation at Cambridge South? I thought the drawings suggested otherwise.

I think opportunity at the station itself is limited. Eyeballing the forecourt it doesn’t look like you would be able to turn around a bus in there.

However there is a set of large bus stops on the green between the Astra Zeneca headquarters and Papworth Hospital. If RRBs could route through there then that could be a realistic option.

Buses won't be allowed into the station forecourt. But remember that in Cambridge things do change. Much will depend on what happens with the Cambridge South East busway: the plans for this include new stops in Francis Crick Avenue. These might be available before any closures are needed for Long Road.

Ideally rail replacement buses would use the busway, but the difficulty there will be finding spare vehicles.

 

[Trainbike46]

I think it might be too close electrically. In any event is there actually anywhere to run a rail replacement operation at Cambridge South? I thought the drawings suggested otherwise.

You could arrange ticket acceptance on the busway buses between Cambridge South and Cambridge station, and potentially arrange for those buses to be more frequent. If the closed section is Cambridge station, and potentially north of there, that is the key section anyway.

 

[Netwrox]

I guess they must have a plan for bussing on large numbers of people to the main station. Otherwise, why bother with the turnback layout? Emergencies only?

 

[Trainbike46]

I guess they must have a plan for bussing on large numbers of people to the main station. Otherwise, why bother with the turnback layout? Emergencies only?

I would imagine the busway makes the most sense to get people by bus from Cambridge South to Cambridge Main - you could agree with the local bus operators to arrange this.

That is probably also the most sensible way to get people to Cambridge North station, if the reason for the closure is works at the Cambridge main station.

 

[Edvid]

NR presser on the latest milestone:

Rail infrastructure upgrades complete for Cambridge South station

The South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA) has successfully completed the required infrastructure upgrades on the West Anglia main line to support the future rail services for Cambridge South station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Appointed in September 2023, SRSA (comprised of Colas Rail UK, Network Rail and AECOM) has delivered a range of major infrastructure upgrades between Shepreth and Cambridge as part of a multidisciplinary programme working alongside station contractor, Murphy and signalling partner, Alstom. These include:

• Renewal of 5.7km of track between Shepreth and Cambridge and realignment of 1.4km of track to serve the new four-platform station.
• Installation of eight new switches which allow trains to switch from one track to another.
• Upgrades of the overhead line electrification (OLE) consisting of 110 new foundations to support 79 new OLE structures, and almost 10km of new overhead wiring.
• Installation of eight new signals.
• Remodelling of Shepreth branch junction to unlock higher train speeds through the junction.
• Upgrades to ancillary systems such as communications, telecoms and power supplies.

All of this work has been safely delivered by Colas Rail UK staff and its supply chain with 124,000 site staff hours completed over 10,000 working shifts with no major accidents or incidents.

The key milestones for the project including the 2023 Christmas blockade when the existing main lines were diverted onto two new alignments to facilitate the construction of the station platforms.

Key weekend dates in May and June 2024 saw SRSA install new switches and crossings which allow trains to change between tracks, while modifications were made to the overhead lines to maintain power supplies to train services along the new track alignment.

Christmas 2024 saw SRSA undertake a successful remodelling of Shepreth branch junction while the railway was closed for almost two weeks. The modified junction has been made longer, reducing the curve radius which makes it more efficient for train services to navigate the junction at increased speeds.

This will enable train services to travel through the junction at the line speed of 50mph (instead of 30mph) once the signalling upgrades have been completed anticipated for the end of 2025.

The Christmas 2024 work also included the connections of two new tracks onto their final alignments through the station, making Cambridge South a four track/platform station.

As part of its social value contribution to the local community, SRSA has joined forces with with the local authority's environmental team to undertake volunteering days. This included managing local vegetation, removing litter and installing new fencing for a local nature reserve, to positively contribute to the community.

Kevin Sullivan, programme manager for Network Rail said: "The safe and successful completion of the rail systems by SRSA is a major milestone in the journey to deliver this brand new station for the south of Cambridge, the neighbouring biomedical campus and Trumpington communities.

"Their commitment and drive to complete this work safely is a testament to their dedication and professionalism and this work has highlighted how well we can work together to improve and upgrade the railway for our customers and our passengers."

Richard Flanagan, project director for SRSA and Colas Rail UK Enhancements said: “The completion of our works over the Christmas 2024 blockade brings a close to the track systems works we have undertaken over the last 18 months at Cambridge South.

I am delighted with the progress we made at each key stage of the project. Safely delivering our full scope whilst meeting our programme milestones. Safety is our number one priority, to support our safety culture as a team we embrace new innovative technology, Geofencing and tagging supplements enhances our safety systems by adding an additional layer of protection. Its simplicity and ease of use has enabled Colas Rail UK and the SRSA to engage with the workforce and roll out seamlessly.”

Station contractor, Murphy will continue to complete the fit out of the new station facility until the autumn 2025. Network Rail, working in partnership with Alstom, are continuing to plan the next major stage for the signalling renewal programme which once complete, will unlock the opportunity to open the new station early in 2026.

Notes to Editors​

• Cambridge South station, a new railway station for Cambridge, will support the vitally important biomedical campus and serve a growing community of science and health care specialists, employees and hospital visitors. #CambridgeSouth
• SRSA was awarded a £40 million contract in September 2023 to deliver the rail system upgrades for the new station including the remodelling of Shepreth branch junction.
• SRSA is comprised of Colas Rail, Network Rail and AECOM, an alliance created to deliver a portfolio of works across the southern region of the UK over a 10-year period.

 

[swt_passenger]

From above link:

”This will enable train services to travel through the junction at the line speed of 50mph (instead of 30mph) once the signalling upgrades have been completed anticipated for the end of 2025.”

…so despite the headline it’s not actually complete yet, but might be at the end of the year?