Beaulieu Park station in Essex has handled more than 800,000 passenger journeys in its first year, more than double the number forecast before it opened, figures released on 26 October 2026 show. The station, north of Chelmsford, opened on 26 October 2025 as the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in over 100 years.

Before opening, the first-year projection was 290,000 to 390,000 journeys. The actual figure of over 800,000 puts the station well ahead of expectations and underlines how quickly the new Chelmsford Garden Community and surrounding housing growth are generating rail demand.

Built for a growing community

The station was built to ease pressure on Chelmsford's central station and to serve 10,000 new homes planned at Chelmsford Garden Community. It has three platforms and a bi-directional central loop line, step-free access throughout, eight ticket machines, 500 free covered cycle spaces and two car parks with space for more than 700 vehicles.

How it was funded

Funding included £141 million from the government's Housing and Infrastructure Fund and £34 million from local partners. Rail industry reporting on the anniversary figures notes the station has beaten its predicted usage by a wide margin, a rare bright spot for a new station opening in its first year. The test now is whether the strong start holds as more homes around the station are completed.