Work has started on a multi-million-pound development of Chelmsford’s Beaulieu railway station which includes three platforms, new tracks, step-free access, accessible toilets, and car parking spaces.

Network Rail has awarded a £37.8m contract to J Murphy & Sons Ltd to begin construction and enabling work for the new station on behalf of partners Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council.

The first of two contracts to build the new railway station at Beaulieu Park, this phase of the work includes set up of site welfare, earthworks, civils, and modifications to track and signalling systems to facilitate the main construction phase of the new facility.

The main construction will be part of a second contract expected to be awarded in the coming months to complete the station and open it to train services.

The new station has been designed to support the wider economic development of the area. The new facility will include three platforms with a central loop line and new tracks to enable stopping services to call at the station while allowing fast trains to pass through unimpeded. 

It will also feature step-free access to all platforms via two lifts; accessible toilets; baby change facilities; waiting area; space for retail/catering; ticket vending machines; pedestrian and cycle routes to the station; 500 spaces for cycle parking and storage; a bus interchange including bus stands for local services; and pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays. 

The station will also have parking for over 700 cars, 5% of which are to be designated blue badge bays, motorcycle spaces and a staff car park.

Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Beaulieu Park is an excellent example of what the railway industry can do when working in partnership with local organisations to improve the railway for the benefit of communities and businesses. 

“This is a great opportunity to show how we can work collaboratively with all our partners to begin to deliver the new station for the Beaulieu community.”

J Murphy & Sons Ltd has started work on the project by finalising the design for Beaulieu Park station and establishing the site compound to undertake the early enabling works.

Al Pattison, operations director at J Murphy & Sons Ltd, said: “We are excited to begin building this new station for the people of Beaulieu. The station has been developed by our teams for the last three years and is now ready for delivery.

“Murphy has previously demonstrated our expertise on the building of Soham Station, which we completed ahead of schedule.”

The main construction phase will start later this year and the new station is currently expected to be completed and open by the end of 2025.  Once open, the station will be managed by Greater Anglia and served by its fleet of new trains with services into London.