Soham station has seen healthy and consistent passenger usage over its first year since opening to the public, seeing almost 50,000 journeys starting or finishing there, according to Greater Anglia’s figures.
This new station, along the Ipswich to Peterborough line, was conceived to afford the local residents and businesses better connections to the wider surrounding areas, unlocking the potential to major economic growth whilst removing the barriers that lead so transport related social exclusion.
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said:
“We knew that re-connecting Soham to the passenger rail network for the first time in 56 years would be a great occasion.
“We’re pleased that it’s been so well used during its first year and we look forward to see how it continues to grow in the future.”
Officially opening in December 2021, the station has supplied rail travel availability for the first time since the original Soham station was demolished in the mid-1960’s. The new station was funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, seeing operations delivery conducted by Network Rail with the overall costs of the project coming in at £18.6m.
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Cllr Anna Smith, said:
“This is a fantastic start to a growing service which is life-changing for many people in the Soham area.
“The new station points towards the future of greater and greener connectivity for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, at the heart of an active travel and public transport network which will give people the option of leaving the car at home for many commuting or leisure journeys.”
Soham now offers residents the infrastructural benefits of a single 99-metre platform, a waiting shelter, advanced information screens and a public address system. The station car park can host up to 50 vehicles, including four for blue badge holders, with cycle parking and ticket machines being available on the forecourt.
A footbridge connects the station to an existing public footpath – while making it fit for the future by allowing space if a second platform were ever constructed.
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