Beaulieu Park Railway Station

Beaulieu Park station opened on the Great Eastern Main Line in October 2025, becoming its first new station in more than a century. Located between Chelmsford and Hatfield Peverel, it provides additional rail access for north-east Chelmsford and the growing Beaulieu Park and Chelmsford Garden Community developments. The scheme was funded by £141 million from the government's Housing Infrastructure Fund and £34 million from local partners and developer contributions.[1]

Project facts

Location: Boreham, north-east of Chelmsford, Essex

Status: Completed — opened 26 October 2025

Operator: GBR Anglia

Project funding: Approximately £175 million

First-year journeys: More than 800,000 (October 2025–October 2026)

Infrastructure delivered

The station has three platforms and a central bidirectional loop line, allowing stopping trains to call while express services pass. There is step-free access throughout, more than 500 cycle spaces, a bus interchange, two car parks with over 700 spaces, and local pedestrian and cycle connections.

Other completed infrastructure includes ticket machines, sheltered waiting areas, accessible facilities and solar panels on the roof to help supply site utilities.

First-year use

GBR Anglia reported on 26 October 2026 that the station had accommodated more than 800,000 passenger journeys in the year since opening. This considerably exceeded the original first-year forecast of between 290,000 and 390,000 journeys, more than twice the higher estimate.

These operator-reported journeys should not be interpreted as 800,000 different travellers, net additional railway trips or a directly established reduction in road congestion. Further reported years will clarify whether use continues to grow as nearby housing is delivered.

Why it matters

The project created new railway access and additional capacity before the full planned housing development in this part of Essex. Its first-year results provide evidence that investment in transport infrastructure has attracted substantially more journeys than the original demand model anticipated.

Map information

The marker represents the railway station. [2]

Timeline

2023
Construction begins on the railway and station project.

October 2025
Office of Rail and Road authorises opening.

26 October 2025
Station opens to passengers.

26 October 2026
Operator reports first-year usage above 800,000 journeys, more than double the upper forecast.

Latest developments

Transport · 26 October 2026

Beaulieu Park station records more than 800,000 journeys in first year

Beaulieu Park railway station near Chelmsford recorded more than 800,000 passenger journeys in its first year, over twice the upper end of its original forecast of 290,000 to 390,000. The station opened on 26 October 2025 as the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in more than a century. Built with three platforms, a central passing loop, step-free access, cycle storage and a bus interchange, it provides a rail connection for growing communities north-east of Chelmsford. Supported by approximately £175 million of government and partner funding, the station was designed to support longer-term development at Chelmsford Garden Community. The operator's figures demonstrate substantial demand for the new station in its first 12 months.

Sources