Murphy awarded £93.4m contract to build Cambridge South station

Network Rail has awarded the main works contract to build a new Cambridge South station to J Murphy & Sons (Murphy).

The £93.4m contract includes work to begin main construction which will deliver a new two-storey, four platform station on the West Anglia Main adjacent to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The project follows a commitment from government to fund the construction of Cambridge South announced on June 5  this year. 

Together with delivery partners Alstom and South Rail Systems Alliance (SRSA), Murphy will also modify and enhance the rail infrastructure to support the new station. 

This includes remodelling of the existing track layout, installing two additional track loops to accommodate a four-platform station and enhancements to Shepreth branch junction.

The work will also see modification to the railway on the southern approach to Cambridge station, provision for overhead line electrification infrastructure and a substation, modification of existing signalling equipment and closure of two private level crossing and provision of alternative access.

The enabling works are already under way with the establishment of the worksite compound, installation of overhead line masts and the front-walls of the platforms. 

Work will now continue to deliver the station through to completion, currently planned for 2025. 

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “Awarding the delivery contract is a significant milestone for the Cambridge South project which will allow us to complete this exciting new station for Cambridge.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Murphy, as we move into the main work phase and build on the early enabling work that has already been delivered.”

Joe Kennedy, project director for Murphy, said: “We’re very excited to be continuing our work on Cambridge South Station.  

“Murphy has made significant progress over recent months completing the enabling works, commenced installation of all four platforms, station building piling and undertaken all groundworks to facilitate the track being realigned during a blockade in December 2023.

"We have forged a strong working relationship with Network Rail and our other delivery partners, SRSA and Alstom on this major infrastructure project and look forward to completing this station for the people of Cambridge.”