Work behind the scenes is taking place on a new railway station on a crucial UK line. It would be its first in more than 100 years.
Network Rail is working with Essex County Council on plans for Beaulieu Park Station. It is expected to cost £160million.
It would be situated on the Great Eastern Main Line, which hasn’t had a new station in around a century – and is part of a £252million wider regeneration of the Beaulieu Park estate in Chelmsford.
Officials say the area will also see new road infrastructure and up to 14,000 homes.
Outside will be a bus interchange including bus stands for local services, and a pick up and drop off area with dedicated taxi bays.
Moreover, parking for more than 700 cars will be available. Five per cent of these are to be designated Blue Badge bays, and motorcycle spaces, as well as dedicated parking for station staff, emergency services, and a dedicated space for service access.
The station will provide additional access to the railway with regular connections to London. It will only take 40 minutes to get to London Liverpool Street Station, for example.
In addition, there will be other destinations in the east of England.
The station 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.
There will be step free access to all platforms via two lifts, and sccessible toilets, baby change facilities, waiting area and a space for retail and catering.
It will have ticketing facilities, with ticket vending machines and a gate line, and there will be pedestrian and cycle access routes to the station.
Also, 500 spaces will be available for cycle parking and storage.
The project has a targeted opening date of by the end of 2025.
Network Rail says the new station will ‘help to relieve pressure’ for the busy, Chelmsford station, where there is said to be ‘standing room only’ due to its high usage.
Bosses say the work will also help reduce car journeys into the city, tackling congestion on local roads and reducing pollution.