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Railway enthusiasts descended upon an Essex town today to witness a slice of history as the inaugural new train station launched on the Eastern main line in a century. Beaulieu Park became the first station to welcome passengers on this stretch of the UK rail network since the distant 1920s. There was palpable excitement as the 7.20am service rolled in from Colchester for this momentous halt. Throngs of spectators applauded and whooped as the locomotive arrived. Rail bosses were particularly chuffed because the £175m station is launching four months ahead of schedule, reports the Mirror . Delighted travellers boarded the service which subsequently departed for London Liverpool St. Andy Cross, 47, remarked: "I just wanted to be part of history. It was a special moment." Scores of passengers gathered on the platform observing the train's arrival. Numerous onlookers captured photographs and footage whilst others broadcast the occasion live. An hour beforehand, many were queuing to buy their tickets. The station forms part of a pioneering eco-friendly development near Chelmsford, Essex. Martin Beable, Greater Anglia's Managing Director, commented: "We have been really looking forward to the opening of Beaulieu Park station, the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in over 100 years. Beaulieu Park station will benefit from a regular and reliable service of up to four trains per hour during peak times and two trains per hour during off peak periods, making rail travel simple and convenient for passengers." Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader at Essex County Council, said: "Essex is pioneering the type of infrastructure-supported growth that's on the national agenda, being bold and ambitious in our commitment to future-proofing the county and putting investment where it's most needed. "The new Beaulieu Park station is testament to this, and the role it will play in transforming travel in this part of Chelmsford and surrounding areas will have a positive impact for years to come. I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work to get the project to this stage. I'm very much looking forward to the station opening." The fresh station will revolutionise transport links north of Chelmsford by alleviating congestion at the current overcrowded Chelmsford railway hub and cutting down on motor vehicle trips into the town centre. This station represents a major boost for the Beaulieu and Channels districts in the city's northern reaches, which constitute the opening stages of the innovative Chelmsford Garden Community. Planning consent has been secured for 4,350 properties as part of the Garden Community development, encompassing 1,989 new dwellings that have already been completed, alongside the Beaulieu Square Neighbourhood Centre offering local retail outlets, community facilities and healthcare provisions. This comes on top of Beaulieu Park School - Essex's inaugural all-through primary and secondary educational establishment. In the coming years, the Garden Community project will also deliver an additional 6,250 homes, a second all-through school campus, up to three primary schools with early years and childcare provision, up to four standalone early-years facilities, over nine hectares of employment space, and walking and cycling routes. The new Beaulieu Park Station will facilitate quicker and more convenient access to job opportunities, thereby stimulating the area's economic growth and attracting further investment. Beable commented: "We expect the new station to be a very attractive and popular option for travellers from that part of Essex." For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
