The Beaulieu Park Station in Chelmsford that is still under construction is to open as Essex’s first new railway station constructed by J Murphy & Sons Ltd. The first completion year was in 2019, but the construction has faced many challenges, especially in the area of funding. Construction got underway in January of this year and now the everyday common user is going to have to wait to get into the station until December of the year 2026.This timeline is linked with improvements of the railway network to be made by the year 2025.any challenges, most especially in the area of funding.
Location
The new station is to ease traffic densities around Chelmsford Station that is massively occupied by commuters. Located midway between Chelmsford and Hatfield Peverel on the Great Eastern Main Line railway, Beaulieu Park Station will have three platform across, with provision for mobility impaired access by lift, bus stop and car/ bike parking facilities. The station is to facilitate access to both local and express rail services to destinations as Liverpool Street Station in London, Colchester as well as Norwich.
Without doubt, one of the most compelling arguments for the construction of Beaulieu Park Station is the fact that the station is well position to adequately meet the rail transport needs of the vast development planned for the Beaulieu area. From this development thousands of new housing units, schools, business parks and many other facilities are under construction. The station meets regional transport plan and it’s objectives is to bring about the modulation of traffic flow in Chelmsford. At least £218m of the Housing Infrastructure Fund contributed by the UK government is vital to unlock this project and additional about 14 000 sqm of housing space in the region.
Significance
Beaulieu Park Station shall not only improve the rail transport system but also become the significant element for the development of the region’s development plan. As a means for bringing the residents and commuters closer together it will also have an important function in the further spatial and infrastructural planning of the area.
Construction has marked some key development stages main station footbridge is complete, and some elements of the platforms canopies. The upcoming months will also entail work on internal systems, continuation of the fit-out works and improvements to lighting and landscaping, as well as key tasks for developing the station to be ready for passenger operations by December 2025.
During construction travelers may have to endure some inconvenience. Certain train services will operate by buses rather than train between Witham and other mainline stations at selected Saturdays and Sundays up to November 2024. When completed, according to the opinions of transportation specialists, the station will contribute to the supply increase of available transportation means and improve the transport infrastructure of the developing region of Chelmsford.
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Project factsheet
Constructor: The main contactor is J Murphy & Sons Ltd.
Location: Chelmsford
Star date: begun in 2023.
Construction cost: £37.8 million
Completion date: December 2025.
