The new station with wildflowers and no car park

A new railway station with solar panels and wildflowers on the roof and no car park has been hailed as an example of sustainable transport.

Cambridge South station, on Francis Crick Avenue, at the city's Biomedical Campus, is expected to be completed by early 2026.

Designer and architect Jan Kroes said the site, which sits next to a nature reserve, would "fit in within the green belt".

Network Rail said the site would be next to a guided busway system and connect with local cycleways and footpaths.

The new facility contrasts with Cambridge mainline station, which has nearly 400 spaces in its car park.

Instead, Cambridge South, in Trumpington, will have 1,000 cycle spaces as part of a local transport strategy to get more people cycling, walking or taking public transport.

The station is being built next to Hobson's Park, which the planning inspector has previously said would have a "significant adverse effect" on the recreational area and nature reserve.

Olaf Hauk, a Liberal Democrat city councillor in Trumpington, said: "Of course it has had a detrimental impact.

"It's taken some space out of Hobson's Park, which is obviously a great nature reserve.

"I think it is as ecologically beneficial as it can be, but I think the biggest advantage, of course, is that it will get people off the road."

Stephen Deaville, senior communications manager for Network Rail Anglia, said: "We really wanted to make Cambridge South station a sustainable transport option for passengers."

He said the station would "open up railway" for Trumpington residents, as well as visitors and workers at the Biomedical Campus.

The railway system would connect with Stansted Airport, London, the Eurostar and Birmingham, he said.

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