Beaulieu Park Station is set to open its doors to passengers this autumn, marking a major milestone for the Beaulieu development and the wider Chelmsford area.
Originally scheduled for completion in 2026, the station’s construction has progressed ahead of schedule thanks to coordinated efforts by Network Rail and contractor Murphy, with significant work completed over the festive period and during weekend line closures.
The station will be operated by Greater Anglia and offer direct travel to London Liverpool Street in just 40 minutes. It will feature three platforms, two car parks, a public transport interchange, taxi rank, drop-off areas, cycling facilities and new track for passing trains. Services will run up to four times per hour during peak periods and twice per hour off-peak, using Greater Anglia’s new fleet of class 720 trains. The station will be staffed from the first to the last train, seven days a week, with staff available to assist passengers and support ticketing and accessibility needs.
Located next to the Beaulieu development and accessible via the Beaulieu Parkway relief road, the station will ease pressure on Chelmsford’s existing station and reduce car journeys into the city centre.
The station is being funded by £175 million, including contributions from the Government’s Housing and Infrastructure Fund, the South-East Local Enterprise Partnership and the developers of Beaulieu, Countryside (now part of Vistry Group) and L&Q.
On 18th July, councillors and developers gathered for a tour of the site, now entering its final stages. They walked through the new terminal and discussed the remarkable progress made.
Representing the developers of Beaulieu, Countryside (part of Vistry Group) and L&Q, Martin Leach, Manging Director of Vistry Strategic Land & Major Projects said: “Delivering the infrastructure required to create thriving long-term communities plays a crucial part in our approach to placemaking and we are enormously proud to see Beaulieu Park Station nearing completion.
“For over a decade, Countryside and L&Q has been working in partnership with Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and Network Rail to deliver this critical piece of infrastructure as part of our Beaulieu development. Its arrival will have a transformative impact on the residents of Beaulieu and beyond, providing easy and quick access into London and easing congestion in and around Chelmsford town centre.
“We have created a network of footpaths and cycleways throughout Beaulieu to connect residents to the station, and we are also providing a new bus link giving local people greener and healthier choices in how they travel. For those travelling to the station by car the new Beaulieu Parkway relief road and bridge provides access to the station from the A12 and A130.”
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader at Essex County Council, said: "Essex is pioneering the type of infrastructure-supported growth that's on the national agenda, being bold and ambitious in our commitment to future-proofing the county and putting investment where it's most needed.
"The new Beaulieu Park station is testament to this, and the role it will play in transforming travel in this part of Chelmsford and surrounding areas will have a positive impact for years to come.
"The progress being made to build the station is remarkable and I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work to get the project to this stage. I'm very much looking forward to the station opening later this year."
Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, said: “Chelmsford residents have been looking forward to this moment for years and it’s fantastic to see Beaulieu Park Station almost finished. It’s vital to have infrastructure to go with the new homes we need, and the new station is likely to be the biggest and most transformative piece of infrastructure Chelmsford will see this century.
"We are proud to have been part of this project: we made land available for the station, guided it through the planning process and will be managing the public spaces including the taxi rank and bus stand when it opens. This has been a labour of love for many and the product of long and successful partnerships; we’re grateful to everyone who has given their time and talent to create Beaulieu Park Station.”
Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, said: “We are really looking forward to the opening of Beaulieu Park station, the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in over 100 years.
“Beaulieu Park station will benefit from a regular and reliable service of up to four trains per hour during peak times and two trains per hour during off peak periods, making rail travel simple and convenient for passengers. Services will be operated by our new fleet of class 720 trains, which have helped us deliver annual punctuality of over 96% on the Great Eastern Main Line in Essex over the last three years.
“The new station will be staffed from the first to the last train, seven days a week. Staff will be on hand at all times to answer questions, help passengers buy tickets, and support customers requiring assistance. Located right next to the Beaulieu housing development and the A12, we expect the new station to be a very attractive and popular option for travellers from that part of Essex.”
