Beaulieu Park station opens its doors to passengers

Beaulieu Park station has officially opened ahead of its construction schedule, marking a major transport milestone for Chelmsford.

The railway station is the first on the Great Eastern Main Line in more than a century.

Located on the doorstep of what will become a community of 10,000 new homes, passengers can now travel from North East Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street in 40 minutes and to the city centre in 4 minutes.

Plaque unveiled to commemorate opening

The new station was officially opened by Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy CBE and the Rt. Hon. Sir James Cleverly MP. They unveiled a plaque commemorating the station opening in the 200th year of rail in the UK.

The plaque commemorates the 200th anniversary of the modern railway

Visitors saw the new bus interchange, cycling facilities and a central loop platform, which allows fast trains to pass while other services stop at the station.

Guests arriving at the new station for the formal opening event were greeted by The Chelmsford Silver Band playing Ticket to Ride by The Beatles.

A new transport hub for North East Chelmsford

Operated by Greater Anglia, Beaulieu Park Station will ease pressure on Chelmsford’s existing station and reduce car journeys into the city centre.

Residents can access the station with extended bus connections, new and improved walking and cycling routes and over 700 parking spaces across two car parks.

The landmark infrastructure project began after £175 million of funding was secured by partners including Homes England, Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and housing developers Countryside (part of Vistry Group) and L&Q.

Beaulieu Park is a transport hub with a bus interchange, taxi rank, parking and cycle storage

Project delivered ahead of construction schedule

Network Rail’s principal contractor Murphy began construction in March 2023 with completion expected in 2026, however good progress meant the station was able to open early.

The station is a significant addition to the Beaulieu and Channels neighbourhoods in the north of the city, which form the first phase of the new Chelmsford Garden Community.

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"Today marks the first time a new station has opened on the Great Eastern mainline in over a century. And to do this in the 200th anniversary of the railway shows how relevant it still is to the millions of passengers who use it each year.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication by our partners at Essex and Chelmsford working with the rail industry and our delivery contractor, Murphy, to open this new station. And it shows how public and private sector can work together to create the transport infrastructure necessary to serve a new community.

“I’m so grateful for the patience our customers have shown us while we’ve been busy delivering this fantastic new transport hub, so thank you to everyone that has been with us on this journey to build and open Beaulieu Park station.”

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia

Vital infrastructure for Chelmsford Garden Community

The garden community will eventually comprise 10,600 new homes. 4,350 homes already have planning permission, including over 3,000 which have been built. A further 6,250 homes will be delivered over the coming years pending final planning approval.

Beaulieu Park Station will provide easier and quicker access to jobs, helping the economic development of the area and encouraging further investment.

A new road – Beaulieu Parkway – opened two years ago and helps bring passengers to the new train station from the nearby A12.

Planned housing growth will be further supported by much-needed infrastructure such as shops, community services, health services, schools and transport links.

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“It is vital that new housing development is supported by new facilities such as transport, schools and open spaces.

"So, it is great to see this new transport interchange, which can be reached by foot and cycle as well as bus, car and taxi. As the Chelmsford Garden Community progresses, we need to see more of this kind of infrastructure.”

Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council

The station is a travel travel hub offering sustainable choices for the local community. So, if you haven't yet visited Beaulieu Park and would like to find out more, try our guide to services: Your guide to Beaulieu Park station | City Life.