Junction remodelled and new station progress made in 12-day Cambridge blockade

A 12-day closure of lines in the Cambridge area led to large steps forward being taken in the construction of Cambridge South station, as well as the remodelling of a junction and the first phases of a resignalling project being completed.

During the engineering possession from Christmas Day-January 5, engineers managed to carry out surfacing work on the island platform of the new four-platform station and install the secondary footbridge at its southern end.

Work on station structures, which included fitting out the main building, lift shafts and roof work on the building on the western side of the station, also continued.

The Up Main and Up Loop lines through Cambridge South have been connected, and all four lines through the station have been reconfigured into their final alignments.

The new station is set to open this year, run by Greater Anglia.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We’re working together as a rail industry to plan when passenger services can start to call at Cambridge South. We expect to be able make further announcements soon about when passengers can start to use this exciting new station for Cambridge”.

The neighbouring Shepreth junction, where the line to King’s Cross diverts from the West Anglia Main Line, has also been remodelled. The overhead line equipment has also been realigned to follow the rails and eight new signals, two banner repeaters, eight signal post phones, eight automatic warning system magnets, four train protection and warning system grids, adjustment of 19 track circuits, eight new signs and two location cases have also been installed.

The remodelled junction will allow the line speed to be increased from 30mph to 50mph once the second stage of the Cambridge resignalling project has been completed.

During the 12-day closure, stage one was completed, which included a new workstation at Cambridge Signal Box to a new remote control system that covers Cambridge North to Ely and replaces a 40-year-old panel.

A new smartlock to replace the Ely Solid State Interlocking technology was also commissioned, as was a new signal in the Ely area, while control of the Chesterton Route Relay Interlocking was transferred to Alstom’s new remote signalling system.

At nearby Foxton, 600 metres of track was renewed, along with the level crossing where the line crosses the A10.