A new Station planned for Cambridge Science Park has been given the go-ahead by the Department for Transport. L-rNorth east cambs MP Steve Barclay, Rail Minister, the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, CCC leader Nick Clarke and Cambridge MP Julian Huppert.

A NEW rail station likely to attract 3,000 passengers a day was approved today for Cambridge Science Park and will boost growth in East Cambs and Fenland, says MP Steve Barclay.

Mr Barclay, the MP for NE Cambs, said he was delighted the campaign to secure a new rail station had been successful.

“This is welcome news and comes after a sustained campaign over many months,” he said of the new station that should open by 2015.

He said the Cambridge Science Park station at Chesterton will provide more frequent and reliable links to other parts of the county.

The station will have three platforms and there will be three northbound trains each hour to Ely, King’s Lynn and Norwich. It is likely trains on the Birmingham New Street line, which currently stops at March, will also depart from there.

Mr Barclay believes the station will also improve access for his NE Cambs constituents to the 4,500 skilled jobs already based at the science park and which could grow as a result of today’s news.

He said the campaign to bring a new rail station to Cambridgeshire had won the support of Cambridge MP Julian Huppert and the county council and a visit last year by Rail Minister Theresa Villers had played an important part.

It is likely rail operators will foot the £26 million construction costs although the initial costs will be fronted by Cambridgeshire County Council.

County council leader Nick Clarke said the new station “will deliver a key transport link in the north of Cambridge and what’s more this investment is likely to repay itself over the next 5-10 years. This makes complete sense.”