Cambridge South Railway Station

Cambridge Biomedical Campus Limited has worked with partners on the project to develop an FAQ and answer questions as best as possible.

Where is Cambridge South station?

Cambridge South station is next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, close to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Royal Papworth Hospital, Trumpington and Hobson’s Park.

The station is between Cambridge and Shelford stations, with entrances on both sides of the railway.

Why has Cambridge South station been built?

Cambridge South has been built to improve access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the nearby hospitals, and residential areas in the south of Cambridge.

The station makes it easier for patients, visitors, staff, students, researchers and local residents to travel by rail. It also supports jobs, housing growth and more sustainable travel across Cambridge and the wider region.

Who runs Cambridge South station? 

Cambridge South will be served by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink and CrossCountry. All their timetabled passenger services are due to call at the station.

Which trains stop at Cambridge South?

All services south from Cambridge stop at Cambridge South. All services that pass from the south to Cambridge stop at Cambridge South.

How will Cambridge South connect with local bus services, particularly those that run to/from the Addenbrooke’s bus station to the east of Cambridge Biomedical Campus?

There are bus stops just a few steps from the station forecourt, with the Busway serving the Green and Gardens stop. There are also bus services at the nearby Francis Crick Avenue stop and Puddicombe Way stop and, to the east of campus at the Addenbrookes bus stop. You can download a Campus map which includes bus stops and their routes on this page. There are also the Park and Rides which serve the Campus. Customers should check local bus operator information before travelling.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus representatives are working with the Local Transport Authority and landowners on improving campus bus travel options and on options to develop faster connections to the Addenbrooke’s bus station at the east of the Campus and facilitate smoother connected journeys.

How often do trains run between Cambridge and Cambridge South?

There are frequent services between Cambridge and Cambridge South, with up to nine trains per hour between the two stations at the busiest times.

Customers should check journey planners before travelling for the latest train times.

Does Cambridge South have a ticket office?

No. Cambridge South does not have a ticket office.

Customers are able to buy tickets using ticket vending machines, online, or through train operator apps and websites.

Greater Anglia staff are available at the station to help customers with ticketing queries, travel advice and use of the ticket vending machines.

What facilities does Cambridge South station have?

Cambridge South station has:
• Four platforms with extensive platform awnings providing covered waiting areas
• Two station entrances
• Step-free access to all platforms
• Lifts
• Accessible toilets
• Changing spaces
• Baby change facilities
• Ticket vending machines
• Customer information screens
• Help points

Can I take my bike on the train when travelling to and from Cambridge South Station?

While some train services can accommodate bicycles, space on trains is limited and restrictions may apply depending on the operator and time of day. To help keep journeys comfortable for everyone, customers are encouraged to leave their bicycles at the station using available cycle parking, or to travel with a folding bike where possible. Please check with your train operator before travelling if you plan to bring a bicycle on board.

Is there be a public car park at the station? 

Cambridge South Station was designed to be car-free. There is no car park to serve the station. Part of the purpose of the station is to alleviate severe road congestion by introducing car-free travel choices. Active and public transport connections are therefore the primary means of connectivity. 

Does the CUH patient shuttle bus stop at the station? 

The CUH patient Courtesy Bus – which helps patients and those that may need additional support travel from the station to the hospitals, stops at the station.

Is there a pickup/drop off zone at Cambridge South Station? 

There are six spaces for cars to pick up and drop off station users with bay waiting time limits of 10 minutes enforced by an ANPR and fine system. Three of these bays are exclusively for taxis.

Will there be a taxi rank? 

As above. Three of the bays for pick-up and drop-off are assigned for taxis, which will likely need to be pre-booked as there are no agreements in place for queueing taxis or a taxi rank.

Is there blue badge parking at the station?

Yes, there are five spaces exclusively for blue badge parking at Cambridge South Station.

Can I get to Cambridge South by bus?

Yes. There are bus stops just a few steps from the station forecourt, with the Busway serving the Green and Gardens stop.

There are also bus services at the nearby Francis Crick Avenue stop and Puddicombe Way stop and, to the east of campus at the Addenbrookes bus stop. You can download a Campus map which includes bus stops and their routes on this page. There are also the Park and Rides which serve the Campus. Customers should check local bus operator information before travelling.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus representatives are working with the Local Transport Authority and landowners on improving public transport options

Can I walk to Cambridge South from the Cambridge Biomedical Campus?

Yes. Cambridge South is next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and has pedestrian access from the surrounding area.

How are you going to stop parking, pick up and drop off in nearby neighbourhoods for Cambridge South Station?

With limited spaces for taxi and public drop-offs, blue badge parking and no dedicated car parking at the station, sustainable journeys by foot, cycle and public transport are encouraged.

Most local roads surrounding the Campus are the responsibility of the County Council as the Local Highway Authority responsible for managing any measures to address inappropriate local parking.

Enforcement of parking restrictions on the Glebe Farm and Clay Farm developments is the responsibility of Countryside Properties/Vistry as the developer.

There are six pick-up and drop-off spaces at the station. Communications and guidance about the station encourage use of active travel and public transport, such as the Park and Rides which serve the Campus, should people want to park their cars nearby and get the train. There is no stopping allowed on the campus roads adjacent to the station for drop-off or pick-up. New instructional signage is being installed on main campus artery roads, Francis Crick Avenue and Dame Mary Archer Way, to ensure compliance with the no stopping for drop-off or pick-up rule. Compliance will be enforced by Euro Car Parks and a fines system.

To help monitor, assess and manage potential changes to the patterns of road traffic into and around the campus, campus partners have put in place a range of systems to monitor the volume and movements of traffic across the campus including ANPR and new traffic sensor systems. Traffic enforcement and monitoring will be essential to ensure compliance and maintain safe and efficient traffic flow.

How much cycle parking will there be at the station? 

Cambridge South has cycle parking for around 1000 bicycles. Further details about cycle parking arrangements, including secure cycle storage, can be found on Greater Anglia website.

Is the station accessible?

Yes. Cambridge South has step-free access to all platforms, with lifts available at the station.

Staff are on hand from the first train to the last train each day to support customers who need assistance. Customers who require assistance are advised to contact their train operator before travelling
where possible.

Are there public toilets at the station?

Yes. Toilets, including accessible toilets, baby change facilities, and changing places facilities are available at Cambridge South.

The toilets are located beyond the ticket gates, so customers will need a valid ticket to access them.

How will increased traffic be managed? 

The station is expected to be primarily a destination, rather than a place for travellers to begin their journeys, which should reduce overall car journeys to the site, particularly during peak hours. Those whose journeys originate from Cambridge South will be encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport (including the two Park and Rides which serve Cambridge Biomedical Campus) to travel to/from the station. Cambridge South Station is well connected to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, nearby residential neighbourhoods, and schools by networks of multi-use paths. The Campus is working on a series of initiatives to manage transport to, from and across the Campus as part of the Campus’s Travel Plan.

Will rail replacement buses serve Cambridge South during planned engineering work and unplanned disruption?

When trains are unable to call at Cambridge South, rail replacement buses will not be available at the station due to the site layout and available space.

Passengers should check where the closest rail replacement services are running from, which would likely be Cambridge Central Station.

During unplanned disruption affecting Cambridge South, ticket acceptance will be in place between Cambridge Central station and Cambridge South on the following local bus services:

Stagecoach services:
7, 13 / X13, A

Whippet services:
U1, U2, X2, X3

Passengers should check the latest travel advice before starting their journey and allow extra time to complete their journey. Passengers who require assistance should contact their train operator before travelling where possible, speak to a member of staff where available, or use the station help point.

Read more on the Network Rail website