A new railway station has officially opened in Soham in east Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson officially opened the station as the first trains rolled into the new platform, five months ahead of the original timetable.

The Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, Network Rail's Chairman Sir Peter Hendy, former Mayor James Palmer, local residents, community representatives and businesses were present at a special ceremony to witness the moment that Soham station was formally opened to passenger services, 56 years after the last passenger train called at the town.

The opening of the station marks the completion of a long campaign to bring railway services back to Soham, supporting local investment and creating more sustainable transport choices to travel to regional and national destinations more easily.

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The £18.6 million station, funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, including £1m in Local Growth Deal support, has been constructed over 12 months by Network Rail and its contractor, J Murphy and Sons Ltd close to the site of the old station that closed in 1965. The original completion date was brought forward by five months to help deliver the benefits of a new station sooner for the community.

Unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the station, Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: "Congratulations to everyone involved in this great enterprise. Cooperation and partnership have created a benefit of lasting value for this community and its future generations, opening a door into opportunity.

"We need more green, clean public transport for the public good - and this new station is proof that, together, we can make it happen."

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: "It's taken years of hard work and dedication by colleagues across the rail industry and a range of local partners to reconnect Soham with the railway.

"The entire community has been so supportive throughout the development of this project and I to want to express our gratitude to everyone who has worked so collaboratively with us to make to make this project a reality."