Passengers will begin using the new Cambridge South station from Sunday 28 June 2026, ahead of an official opening ceremony the following day.
The station becomes the first to carry Great British Railways branding, marking a symbolic milestone as the government continues its rail reform and public ownership programme.
Located beside the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the £250 million station is expected to serve around 1.8 million passengers each year and provide direct rail access to one of Europe’s leading science and healthcare hubs.
Services from Cambridge South will include direct links to central Cambridge, London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport, alongside connections to international rail services via St Pancras. Up to 20 trains per hour are expected to call at the station during peak periods, with up to nine trains an hour running into Cambridge city centre.
The Biomedical Campus, home to major NHS, research and life sciences organisations, currently contributes £4.7 billion annually to the UK economy. That figure is projected to rise significantly over the coming decades, with employment on the campus expected to double from 20,000 people by 2050.
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy described the station as both a transport and economic milestone.
“Backed by £250 million government investment, Cambridge South will open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region,” he said.
“As the first new Great British Railways branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver.”
Network Rail Chief Executive Jeremy Westlake said the project would improve access to the Biomedical Campus while strengthening regional and national connectivity.
“We’re excited to welcome passengers to this landmark station from next month,” he said.
“Thousands of people have worked tirelessly on this fantastic project to build a modern, accessible and sustainable station that reflects the excellence of the work being undertaken in Europe’s largest biomedical facility.”
The station has been funded primarily through government investment, alongside contributions from AstraZeneca, the Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
Its opening comes as the government continues preparations for Great British Railways, which is intended to unify the operation of Britain’s railways under a single publicly owned organisation by the end of 2027.
