Cambridge South station, a new £250 million rail facility designed to serve the 23,000 employees at a nearby biomedical campus, has opened with 1,000 bicycle parking spaces but no dedicated car park. This decision has drawn criticism from local residents who fear it will lead to increased traffic and parking problems in their neighborhoods.
The station features only six spaces for cars for pick-up and drop-off, with three designated for taxis and a £100 fine for exceeding the time limit. Additionally, only five bays are allocated for blue badge holders, drawing complaints from disabled drivers.
Residents living near the station are concerned that drivers unable to park at the station will resort to leaving their vehicles on local streets, exacerbating existing parking issues. Haitao Zheng, an engineer living on Rutherford Road, stated, "There are a lot of cars already using the spaces. When the station opens there will be more cars. We really worry that it [the road] will be over-occupied. Of course they should have built a car park at the station." Hani Bal, a carer residing on Holbrook Road, echoed this sentiment, saying, "We already have lots of people parking on this road, so this will make it worse."
Some residents have described the station's design as "anti-motorist" and a "terrible idea." Margaret Perry, 84, a retired retail worker, expressed her frustration, noting, "Cambridge is chock-a-block and it can come to a standstill. They [the council] are trying to stop people driving their cars. But people my age need to drive their cars... You're not going to get on a bike at my age. This decision [to have no car park] stops us using the train. It's very restrictive."
Network Rail stated that the station's design aligns with the Cambridge Local Plan 2018, emphasizing sustainable transport and encouraging a modal shift. "The new station will be connected to the local cycle network with 1000 spaces for cycles, blue badge bays, and is located next to the guided busway system, providing visitors with more sustainable transport options from the local park and ride facilities or the city centre," a spokeswoman said.
The station is intended to improve connectivity for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which includes NHS research hospitals and life sciences organizations contributing significantly to the UK economy. Peter Denton, Chairman of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, said, "This new rail station will be transformational for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, making it easier to collaborate through better connectivity to London, Manchester, Stansted and beyond."
Despite the concerns raised by some locals, others have welcomed the station's focus on sustainable transport. One cyclist commented, "I think it is a great idea because there will be so many more people who will be able to cut out their car use." Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, noted the re-wilded areas around the station and expressed delight at the absence of a car park, believing it would reduce pollution and noise.
Cambridge has recently seen several contentious transport initiatives, including a cycle street, a Dutch-style roundabout, and a proposed congestion charge zone, contributing to a broader debate about local authorities' approach to greener transportation.
