Waterbeach railway station

Waterbeach National Rail
The northbound platform at Waterbeach
Location
Place Waterbeach
Local authority South Cambridgeshire
Grid reference TL500650
Operations
Station code WBC
Managed by Great Northern
Owned by Network Rail
Number of platforms 2
DfT category F2
Live arrivals/departures, station information and onward connections
from National Rail Enquiries
Annual rail passenger usage*
2012/13 Increase 0.336 million
2013/14 Increase 0.345 million
2014/15 Increase 0.381 million
2015/16 Increase 0.421 million
2016/17 Increase 0.440 million
History
Original company Eastern Counties Railway
Pre-grouping Great Eastern Railway
Post-grouping London and North Eastern Railway
30 July 1845 Opened[1]
National Rail – UK railway stations
* Annual estimated passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Waterbeach from Office of Rail and Road statistics. Methodology may vary year on year.
UK Railways portal

Waterbeach railway station is on the Fen line in the east of England, serving the village of Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. It is 61 miles 1 chain (98.2 km) measured from London Liverpool Street and 63 miles 29 chains (102.0 km) from London King's Cross; it is situated between Cambridge North and Ely stations. Its three-letter station code is WBC.

The station and most trains calling are operated by Great Northern, with limited peak services being operated by Greater Anglia.

Waterbeach station is unstaffed, and has only basic waiting shelters on each of the two platforms. All the station buildings have been demolished. The platforms are staggered on each side of a half barrier level crossing. Until electrification and the automation of the crossing, the platforms were located opposite each other.

History

The northbound platform in 2004

Before electrification, British Rail services often did not stop at Waterbeach, or if they did stops would be unofficial. However, since electrification virtually all King's Lynn/Ely - Cambridge/London services have stopped there (the present timetable shows only three Monday - Friday in both directions not stopping there) passenger numbers surged, with people all across the area north of Cambridge in South Cambridgeshire using it as their primary station. As a result, passenger numbers are nearly as high as Downham Market, and the station sees a lot of parking problems [2].

Future Plans

Plans to develop a New Town of 8,000 to 9,000 homes on the former Waterbeach Barracks site have been outlined by South Cambridgeshire District Council. As part of the proposal, there are plans to relocate the station to a new site and extend the platforms to accommodate 12 car trains.[3]

Services

Waterbeach is served by two train operating companies, Great Northern and Greater Anglia, and therefore has service to different London terminals.

Great Northern

Great Northern serves Waterbeach on its "Cambridge Cruiser" services inbound to London King's Cross and outbound to King's Lynn. Services are usually operated by Class 365 or, on occasion, Class 317 electric multiple units. These are to be replaced by Class 387s from May 2017.[4][5]

Inbound trains call at Cambridge and then run non-stop to King's Cross.[6] During off-peak hours there is service every hour with supplementary trains every 30 minutes during peak hours, taking 58 minutes to arrive at King's Cross at an average of 65.4 mph (105.3 km/h).[6]

Outbound trains to King's Lynn operate every hour during off-peak times with trains every 30 minutes during peak hours.[6] Trains call at all stations and take 42 minutes to arrive at King's Lynn, operating at an average of 51.3 mph (82.6 km/h).[6]

Greater Anglia

Greater Anglia also provides peak services with trains running to Liverpool Street station in London and north to Ely and King's Lynn. These are operated by Class 379s.[7]

Preceding station National Rail Following station
Cambridge North   Great Northern
Fen Line		   Ely
  Greater Anglia
Fen Line
Limited Services		  

References

  1. ↑ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 242. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
  2. ↑ http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/new-tactics-tackle-bad-parking-12629925
  3. ↑ http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WCHDISPLAYMEDIA.showImage?theSeqNo=685240&theApnkey=1145948&theModule=1
  4. ↑ New air-conditioned trains coming to Great Northern next month Welwyn Hatfield Times 26 September 2016
  5. ↑ First Class 387/1 enters service on Great Northern Rail Technology Magazine 13 October 2016
  6. 1 2 3 4 Great Northern route timetable First Capital Connect Retrieved 2009-06-01
  7. ↑ Vehicle Change Notice Network Rail 14 April 2010

Coordinates: 52°15′43″N 0°11′49″E / 52.262°N 0.197°E / 52.262; 0.197

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