The brand-new Beaulieu Park Station opens this weekend in the city’s north, the first addition to the Great Eastern Main Line for more than a century. Years of lobbying and construction have led to daily services including London trains, with planners banking on it to ease crush-hour pressure at Chelmsford’s central station.
What opens and when
Beaulieu Park Station’s launch on Sunday crowns a decades-long plan to bring a rail stop to the fast-growing neighbourhood. Trains will run to and from London Liverpool Street and a string of regional hubs, offering up to four services per hour in the peak and two per hour off‑peak.
18 direct destinations, up to 4 trains an hour at busy times, and daily London links from the north of Chelmsford.
The intent is clear: give residents of Beaulieu, Channels and Springfield a quicker gateway to the network, reduce car trips into the centre, and spread demand more evenly across the line.
Fares you asked about
Headline prices for launch day will matter to commuters and casual travellers alike. The figures below give a sense of what to expect if you’re planning a regular commute or a quick hop into town.
| Journey or ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day return to London Liverpool Street (peak) | £42.60 | Direct trains to London; peak services up to 4 per hour |
| Day return to London Liverpool Street (off‑peak) | £28.20 | Cheaper outside rush hours |
| Day return to Chelmsford Central (off‑peak) | £4.00 | Journey time around 4 minutes |
| Day return to Chelmsford Central (peak) | £5.00 | Short, frequent shuttle option |
| Seven‑day season ticket from Beaulieu Park | £134.60 | Listed price at opening |
Railcards can cut many of these fares by a third off‑peak. Families and friends should check GroupSave on eligible services. Off‑peak times vary by day, so check your train before travelling to avoid paying rush‑hour rates by accident.
Getting to the station
Driving and parking
The new A131 Beaulieu Parkway Bridge connects the site to Essex Regiment Way and the Boreham Interchange. Two car parks sit on opposite sides of the station footprint, giving drivers a choice based on distance and price.
Car Park A sits next to the station building. It takes nearly 300 cars, with 38 Blue Badge bays, four EV chargers and 75 motorbike spaces. It’s managed by Chelmsford City Council, with an attendant during station opening hours. Pay by MiPermit app or card at pay‑and‑display machines. Blue Badge parking is free without pre‑registration; just display your badge.
| Car Park A charge | Price | Time band |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | £3.50 | Mon–Sun from 5am |
| Up to 2 hours | £4.50 | Mon–Sun from 5am |
| Up to 3 hours | £5.50 | Mon–Sun from 5am |
| Day rate | £11.50 | Until 5am next day |
| Weekend day | £5.00 | Sat–Sun from 5am to midnight |
| Evening | £2.50 | 5pm to 5am |
Car Park B is run by NCP on behalf of Greater Anglia. It’s on the eastern side, roughly 370 metres from the station via a tarmac footpath with bollard lighting. Around 400 spaces are available, plus six EV chargers.
Parking starts at £3.50 for an hour next to the station, with Blue Badge bays free and EV charging on both sides.
Drop‑off, taxis and ride‑hailing
A dedicated drop‑off and pick‑up lane sits outside the station doors. It’s free for 10 minutes, with no return within 20 minutes. A staffed taxi rank is located just beyond the entrance; pre‑booked cabs can use the same pick‑up point.
Buses that now stop at the station
Several First Bus routes have been extended to serve Beaulieu Park Station, connecting Springfield, North Springfield, the city centre and Maldon. Early starts and regular headways are designed to feed peak trains.
- C8 Beaulieu Park–Springfield: from 6.35am, up to 2 buses per hour Mon–Fri; 2 per hour Sat; hourly Sun.
- C9 Beaulieu Park–Chelmsford city centre: from 5.40am, up to 3 per hour in peak Mon–Fri; 2 per hour Sat; hourly Sun.
- 73/73A/73B Maldon–Chelmsford: up to 6 buses a day Mon–Sat, with school‑day variations.
- C11 Beaulieu Park–North Springfield–Chelmsford city centre: from 5.50am, up to 2 per hour Mon–Fri; 2 per hour Sat; hourly Sun.
On foot and by bike
Fresh resin‑bound and tarmacked paths link the station to established routes across Channels, Springfield, Beaulieu and Chelmer Village, including circuits around Great Park and Beaulieu Park Recreation Ground. The site sits roughly 1.5 miles from Beaulieu Square, 1.3 miles from Sainsbury’s in Springfield and 2.3 miles from ASDA in Chelmer Village.
More walking and cycling links are planned on the far side of Generals Lane, tied to the next phase of housing. A separate bridge over the A12 and the railway that would have linked Boreham to the station was part of the A12 widening project, which was cancelled in July. Chelmsford City Council and Essex County Council are now scoping alternatives.
Cycle storage for over 500 bikes is installed on the west side near the bus interchange and next to Car Park A. Options include free and paid facilities under CCTV.
Why this matters to you
For north‑side residents, the station cuts the need to drive or bus across town for a train. For central commuters, it promises less pressure on busy platforms and car parks. If you work in London a few days a week, the new stop shifts your choices: a 4‑minute hop to the city centre for connections, or a direct train straight to Liverpool Street.
Local spending patterns could shift too. A £4 off‑peak return into central Chelmsford makes short trips feasible without the car, while weekend parking at £5 near the platforms encourages park‑and‑ride behaviour for shopping or sport. Combined with early bus starts and frequent peaks, the network effect grows.
Smart ticket tips
- Travel off‑peak when you can. The London day return drops from £42.60 to £28.20 outside rush hours.
- Use Railcards where eligible. Many give a third off off‑peak fares and pay for themselves quickly.
- Check GroupSave for 3–9 adults travelling together on eligible off‑peak services.
- Weigh up weekly pricing. The seven‑day season from Beaulieu Park is listed at £134.60.
- Combine bike and rail. Secure cycle storage can cancel out daily parking charges.
Accessibility and safety notes
Blue Badge holders can park free in Car Park A, with 38 bays available near the building. Lighting on the 370‑metre approach to Car Park B and CCTV coverage of bike storage improve visibility after dark. The 10‑minute free drop‑off offers a low‑cost hand‑off for passengers with luggage or mobility needs.
Short trip, small spend: a four‑minute ride to Chelmsford Central costs £4 off‑peak or £5 at peak times.
What to watch in the first weeks
Timetables often bed in after launch. Peak trains, bus headways and parking demand will tell their own story in the first fortnight, so check live information before you set out. Weekend engineering work on the main line can shift stopping patterns and journey times; planning ahead avoids surprises.
If you’re weighing up driving versus rail for London days, try a simple cost comparison including fuel, parking, and ticket type. Factor the evening car park rate of £2.50 after 5pm if you return late. For local journeys, the bus links may be the cheapest first‑mile option, especially during weekday peaks when services run up to every 20 minutes.
Finally a station for the north side! 18 direct destinations and up to 4 trains an hour at peak—cant wait to ditch the drive into town. Do the platforms get real-time info screens from day one? Also, thx for confirming the £28.20 off‑peak to London; that makes hybrid working a bit more sane.
700 bays but only 4 EV chargers in A and 6 in B… any plan to scale that? Feels a tad 2018. Also, £11.50 day rate vs £5 weekends is a big swing—watch the weekday overflow into nearby streets?