Beaulieu Park Station officially opened on Monday 27th October, marking a major transport milestone for Beaulieu and unlocking further growth across the wider region.

Beaulieu residents can now travel from Beaulieu Park Station to London Liverpool Street in 40 minutes and to Colchester in 25 minutes. 

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

They toured the station and 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.

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

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 the developers of Beaulieu, Countryside (part of Vistry Group) and L&Q.  

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 neighbourhood in the north of the city, which forms the first phase of the new Chelmsford Garden Community.

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

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 now open.

“For over three decades, Countryside and subsequently L&Q have 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.

“Access to the station has also been a key component with Countryside and L&Q providing the new Beaulieu Parkway relief road and bridge which provides vehicular access to the station via the A12 and A130. We have also created a network of lit footpaths and cycleways throughout Beaulieu and the surrounding area to connect residents to the station and a new bus link, giving local people greener and healthier travel options”.

The Rt. Hon. Sir James Cleverly MP, said: This piece of infrastructure is about unlocking the potential in our wonderful county and in this particular bit of Essex. It is not just about moving people around the map - it is about making sure this area has its full potential unlocked”.

Lord Hendy CBE, Rail Minister, said: “With over £140 million of government investment, the opening of Beaulieu Park Station marks a major milestone for economic growth in the East of England, unlocking thousands of new houses, creating over 2,000 jobs and driving prosperity across the region”.

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader at Essex County Council, said: “It is fantastic to see Beaulieu Park Station open. This key piece of infrastructure will improve journey times and connectivity around the county and into the capital. It is a great example of how planning should be done - new developments built with the infrastructure that works for residents, visitors and businesses”.

Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, said: “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.”

Martin Beable, Managing Director at Greater Anglia, said: “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 fleet of new, comfortable, air-conditioned class 720 trains, which also offer plug/USB points and free Wi-Fi – and which have helped us deliver annual punctuality of over 95% on the Great Eastern Main Line in Essex over the last three years.

“The new station will be staffed from the first train 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, and offering easy bus interchange options, extensive cycle parking, and over 700 car parking spaces, we expect the new station to be a very attractive and popular option for travellers from that part of Essex.”

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s Route Director for Anglia said: "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.”