Cambridge South station, whose opening was postponed, is now set to welcome passengers in late June – and it will make history as the first station to carry full Great British Railways branding, according to the government.

Located next to the city’s Biomedical Campus, recognised as Europe’s largest centre for medical research, the new station will provide direct rail connections to London, Brighton and Stansted Airport. It will also offer as many as nine services per hour into central Cambridge.

The Department for Transport confirmed that trains will begin stopping at Cambridge South on Sunday 28 June, with forecasts suggesting around 1.8 million passengers will use the station each year.

Officials estimate that the neighbouring Biomedical Campus could contribute £18.2bn to the UK economy by 2050. Employment on the campus is expected to rise significantly, potentially doubling to 40,000 workers, supported in part by improved transport links.

As the third railway station serving Cambridge, Cambridge South had originally been scheduled to open in 2025. However, delays occurred, partly due to the collapse of a contractor tasked with completing electrical installations.

Rail minister Peter Hendy said the project, funded with £250m in government investment alongside a modest private contribution, would expand access to employment, housing and leading research facilities across the region. He described the station as a catalyst for further growth at the Biomedical Campus, calling it one of the country’s key economic drivers.

He also noted that, as the first newly opened station to feature Great British Railways branding, it represents a significant step for the rail network and reflects the changes expected under public ownership.

Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake said the new station would greatly enhance transport links for campus employees, visitors and local residents for years ahead.

He added that thousands of workers had contributed to delivering a modern, accessible and environmentally sustainable station designed to match the high standards associated with Europe’s largest biomedical research centre.

The station’s permanent signs will display Great British Railways colours, based on a cost-saving design developed by a small team within the Department for Transport. In addition, the station will feature the newly introduced Railway Clock, which has received professional praise for its design.

In time, Cambridge South is also expected to be served by the East West Rail line connecting to Oxford. However, delays to the initial phase between Milton Keynes and Oxford, along with ongoing uncertainty over parts of the route, mean that direct services between the two university cities are unlikely to begin in 2030 as previously anticipated.

Separately, HS2 Ltd has confirmed the award of contracts to develop the high-speed railway’s control centre and rolling stock depot in Birmingham.

The new facility at Washwood Heath will be delivered under an £856m contract awarded to a joint venture between Taylor Woodrow and Aureos Rail, and is expected to support more than 1,000 jobs.

The contract decision followed assessment by an independent review panel, as both the government and HS2 seek to strengthen oversight of delivery and costs while the project’s overall budget undergoes further review.

Hendy described the development as another important step in advancing HS2, stating that the project would generate thousands of jobs across the West Midlands – from construction roles redeveloping the former industrial site to the skilled workforce who will operate the advanced facility in the decades ahead.