Soham Station
Soham, Cambridgeshire, UK · 2020–2021 (opened December 2021) · £18.6m
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchReopening a station after a long closure (since 1966) to support local growth and connectivity. - Use of innovative platform systems (Expanded Polystyrene - EPS) by MegaTech Projects Ltd. - Highlights the importance of local authority and government funding for reinstating rail links.
Key engineering challenges
Constructing a new station on an operational railway line, requiring careful planning to minimise disruption. - Integrating modern station facilities with existing railway infrastructure. - Logistical challenges of building a new station in a relatively short timeframe.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Network Rail, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
- Lead contractor
- VolkerFitzpatrick, MegaTech Projects Ltd (platform system)
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Single 99-meter platform; waiting shelters, lighting, CCTV, public address system, help points, ticket machines, accessible ramp, car park, cycle parking.
- Disciplines
- civil; structural; architectural; electrical; project management
- Standards & frameworks
- Network Rail standards
Sources: Network Rail Media Centre (Aug 2020, https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/soham-station-contract-awarded); Rail Engineer (Jun 2020, https://www.railengineer.co.uk/approval-given-to-start-work-at-soham-station/); MegaTech Projects Ltd (undated, https://www.megatechprojects.co.uk/news/megatech-awarded-contract-for-historic-new-soham-station/); BusAndTrainUser (Dec 2021, https://busandtrainuser.com/2021/12/14/is-this-britains-most-expensive-station-platform/)