en.Wedoany.com Reported - Cambridge South station has officially opened to the public, expected to serve approximately 1.8 million passengers annually, aiming to improve local transport connections.

The station offers up to nine trains per hour to Cambridge city centre, with services to London, Birmingham, and Stansted Airport, as well as international rail connections via St Pancras, with up to 20 trains stopping during peak hours.

The station received £250 million in government funding and will provide train services operated by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, and CrossCountry.

The station directly serves the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which currently contributes £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that the newly opened Cambridge South station reduces travel times, improves job opportunities, and brings convenience to the daily lives of thousands. She noted that the £250 million investment has shortened a journey that previously took over an hour by train, bus, and on foot to a direct 45-minute train from London. During peak hours, up to 20 trains take passengers to London, Birmingham, Stansted, and beyond, connecting people to opportunities across the region and the country. She added: "This is Great British Railways in action."

The station is designed to blend with its surroundings and plans to integrate with the existing Hobson's Park nature reserve to protect green spaces, recreational areas, and wildlife habitats. The station's "green roof" features a wildflower meadow environment and a rainwater harvesting system that will store and slowly release rainwater back into the environment and nearby streams. Additionally, the overall design and construction efficiency of the station have reduced carbon emissions by over 22%.

The new station is the first to feature the GBR branding, connects to the local cycling network, provides 1,000 bicycle parking spaces, blue badge parking spaces, and is adjacent to the guided busway system.