A report on the new Cambridge North station by Jenny Payne

Today, 21 May was the opening of the new Cambridge North Railway Station. We decided to check it out.

The station is a 1 2/3 mile straightforward walk or cycle from Milton. Just head over the Jane Coston bridge and follow the road until you come to a newly opened shared use path off Cowley Road. You can’t miss it and it’s nice and wide so hopefully there won’t be too much conflict between cyclists and walkers. Once you get to the station there’s plenty of undercover cycle parking.

We looked at the car park and couldn’t see any ticket machines, so it seems that to park you have to pay using your phone. There are notices but I must admit I didn’t look too closely as I’d never drive there.

I liked the look of the building. The cladding is apparently based on John Horton Conway’s ‘Game of Life’, a cellular automaton or mathematical model which he developed at the University of Cambridge. I must admit I had to google this, but I do like it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Game_of_Life It lets the light in well when inside and isn’t oppressive at all.

We paid £1:90 for an off peak return. To get to the platforms you have to cross over the lines via the bridge. There is a choice of lift or stairs. We had a bike with us but took the stairs. There is a gutter to wheel bikes up but this is a on one side only and too close to the edge to be of much use. Hopefully they’ll improve these.

Facilities are a bit sparse, no tea or coffee machines, no cafe, and no ticket office, which is a shame. Maybe these will come later. There are toilets, but that’s about it.

If you don’t want to go to the station you can use the new route to go straight on through to Fen Road via Moss Bank. It’s easy to find and well sign-posted. I’d recommend doing this as an easier, faster and safer way to get from Milton to South Cambridge or into town.
All in all I think it’s brilliant.

Pro’s – It’s a train station close to us! The station looks good. Cycle parking for up to 1,000 bikes is under cover. It’s created a more friendly route to cycle or walk from Milton to Cambridge.

Con’s – only 3 ticket machines and no option to buy tickets from a human person. No tea/coffee facilities. I hope if enough people use the station this will change