Kemi Badenoch, MP for North West Essex, officially opened Beaulieu Park Station near Chelmsford on Monday, marking the completion of the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in over 100 years.
Mrs Badenoch joined councillors, project partners and local residents to celebrate the start of passenger services from the station, which will transform local transport links and support growth across Essex and the wider eastern region.
Mrs Badenoch has visited the site multiple times over recent years to see the progress of construction and meet those delivering the project. She praised the collaboration between Essex County Council, Network Rail, Homes England and local MPs that made the station possible.
Delivered ahead of schedule and within its £175 million budget, Beaulieu Park Station features three platforms, over 700 parking spaces, and new walking, cycling and bus routes to encourage sustainable travel. Operated by Greater Anglia, the station will ease congestion at Chelmsford’s main station and enable faster, more reliable journeys between Essex, London and Norwich.
Commenting, Mrs Badenoch said:
“I’m delighted to be here to mark the official opening of Beaulieu Park Station. People in Chelmsford and across the region have waited over forty years for this moment, and it’s fantastic to see the first trains now running from this brand-new station.
“This project was delivered ahead of time and within budget thanks to the teamwork between the former Conservative Government, Essex County Council and local partners. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when local and national leadership work hand in hand for the good of our communities.”
Commenting, Cllr Louise McKinlay, Conservative Mayoral Candidate for Greater Essex, said:
“The new station will transform travel in this part of Chelmsford, across Essex and into London. It will have a positive impact for years to come, future-proofing the county’s transport infrastructure and making a real difference to the daily lives of residents and commuters.
“It’s fantastic to see all this hard work come to fruition.”
