Full train service expected for new Cambridge South station when it opens

When Cambridge South station opens in early 2026, all passing services – which are operated by Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, and CrossCountry – are expected to call at the new station from day one.

Ahead of the East Coast Main Line timetable change planned for December 2025, service levels for the new station have been confirmed.

The service provision is expected to be similar to current service levels at Cambridge station, offering regional and national connectivity for passengers using the new station.

Services will include:

Up to nine trains per hour between Cambridge South and Cambridge:

• Half-hourly Great Northern fast trains to/from London King’s Cross (hourly on Sundays);
• Half hourly Great Northern semi-fast Monday to Friday peak service to / from London King’s Cross;
• Hourly off-peak and weekend Great Northern stopping service to / from London King’s Cross;
• Half-hourly semi-fast Thameslink service to/from Brighton (hourly on Sundays);
• Up to two trains per hour to/from Stansted Airport (provided by Greater Anglia and CrossCountry);
• Two Greater Anglia trains per hour to/from London Liverpool Street (four trains per hour at weekday peak times).

From three to five trains per hour to/from Ely:

• Hourly Great Northern trains to and from King’s Lynn (half-hourly during most of the morning and mid-afternoon Monday to Saturday);
• CrossCountry trains to/from Peterborough, Leicester and Birmingham New Street running hourly;
• Greater Anglia will provide an hourly service to/from Norwich, operating only during off-peak times.

The station is forecast to serve around 1.8 million passengers annually and will improve connections across the East of England and to key destinations nationwide.

Cambridge South will give passengers direct access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, alongside seamless journeys to major hubs including London, Birmingham, Stansted Airport, Gatwick Airport, and international rail services via St Pancras.

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “Cambridge South will be an amazing new station for passengers travelling to and from the adjacent biomedical campus.

“With up to nine trains per hour from Cambridge, the campus will become very well connected to major destinations across the country as well as to airports and European destinations via the Eurostar, helping this vitally important medical research hub to grow and help secure the UK’s ambition to become the centre of medical excellence.”