Station move could halve local rail use, report says

Village residents have described plans to close a train station as "disgraceful", saying it will leave them feeling "isolated" and make life "an absolute misery".

A new station is set to open in Waterbeach in 2028 further north along the track.

The project is being funded by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) alongside Homes England to serve thousands of new homes.

South Cambridgeshire District Council approved up to 4,500 homes as part of the Waterbeach New Town development in 2024 under the condition that no houses would be built until a new station opens.

Dr James Dennison, a resident and parish councillor, said the new location would force people to drive there, calling it a "massive inconvenience" and a "disgrace".

The professor of social and political science produced a report after surveying more than 1,000 residents. It estimated that rail usage could fall by 50% while car use would rise, causing traffic congestion and an increase in emissions.

Dr Dennison, 40, said: "People are very worried and it's pretty heart-breaking stuff.

"This is part of the village and it's people's connection to the outside world. This is a modern village that will only survive with this station – otherwise it declines."

He said homes nearest the new station will not be built until the mid-2030s, on land that is still empty fields, and the current station is closer to those that have been built so far.

Developers had conducted a "careful PR exercise to sell it to the village" with promises of a new cafe at the new station, he added.

"Of course people come to the train station to catch the train, not to have coffee in a field," he said.

"There are stations closer together on this line. We aren't opposed to the new station – what we are saying is just don't close our station."

Chris Boden, chair of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's transport committee, said the impact of a closure would be "properly considered".

Answering a question from Dr Dennison at last week's meeting, he said: "The combined authority will continue to engage with partners as the scheme progresses and will expect decisions relating to the future of the existing railway station to be supported by robust efforts."

The Department for Transport will lead the consultation process on whether to close the existing station.

A spokesperson for the department said that would take place once the new station opened.

They said Network Rail would weigh the costs and benefits of keeping the station open before submitting a closure proposal to the secretary of state for a final decision to be made.

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