Beaulieu Park opens as first new Great Eastern Main Line station in more than 100 years

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has given official authorisation for the opening of Beaulieu Park railway station, which will serve both the Beaulieu and Channels areas to the north-east of Chelmsford, marking the first new station constructed along the Great Eastern Main Line for more than 100 years.

image: ORR

Developed by Essex County Council & Chelmsford City Council and delivered by Network Rail, funding for the station was provided by government alongside Countryside (Vistry Group) and L&Q as site developers and investors. South East Local Enterprise Partnership provided funding support via the Housing & Infrastructure Fund.

Engineering design was by Arcadis, with architecture and landscaping by Fereday Pollard in collaboration with WSP. J Murphy & Sons was the principal building contractor.

Train operating company Greater Anglia will run the station, providing services including trips to London Liverpool Street in 40 minutes.

The step-free access station has three platforms and features a central loop that allows services to call whilst fast trains pass through. The station also offers 500 cycle spaces, 700+ car parking spaces and a bus interchange.

Steve Fletcher, Deputy Director, Engineering and Asset Management at ORR, said, “This is an important step for improving rail connectivity in and around Chelmsford, and indeed for the whole of the Great Eastern Main Line. We look forward to seeing the new station open for passengers soon.”