Cambridge Station from the footbridge 2015-05-19

Until 2011 Cambridge preserved a common arrangement in early stations, with one long through platform handling trains in both directions - the scissors crossover which made this possible can be seen at centre left. The footbridge and a new island platform (just visible on the left) were opened in December 2011. The main station building is the original one from 1845 (designed by Francis Thompson or possibly by Sancton Wood) and originally provided an arcaded loggia over the platform, demolished in 1863 when the nearer section, with the pitched roofs, was built. English Heritage listing: list.historicengland.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1343683 .

Beyond the station is evidence of the frenzy of flat building which has gripped this part of Cambridge in the last few years, some of it for students. In the left background is the Belvedere from 2002-6; behind the oldest part of the station building are new halls of residence for Anglia Ruskin University; on the right Foster's Flour Mills of 1898 are undergoing conversion to flats (the scaffolding surrounding the building is concealed behind netting with an image of its façade).