Known as Whittlesea on train timetables, the station has struggled with short platforms, limited services, and aging facilities. Residents have long felt that their town was being overlooked compared with investment at stations like March and Manea.
But as the transformation proposals for Whittlesey hit a stumbling block over a new survey (it has been deemed inappropriate and a new one is under way) optimism is rife since the election of Paul Bristow as Mayor.
“Whittlesey, the town I grew up in,” he recently posted to social media.
“My dad was a Whittlesey town councillor and enhancing the station was something he was passionate about,” he said.
“Here is our £3 million opportunity to realise this. But we need your help – and your views. Please make your voice heard and tell us what you think needs to happen at the station”.
The enhancements will form part of an ongoing railway station masterplan delivering improvements to Whittlesea, March and Manea stations that was kicked off by former Mayor James Palmer with a total funding package of £9.5million from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Whilst Whittlesey has used some of its allocation a sizeable chunk has been left in abeyance but Fenland District Council is hopeful of changing that.
Two years ago, Whittlesey councillor and Fenland Council leader Cllr Chris Boden said: “It is a chicken and egg situation to some extent. The poor facilities and, for that matter the short and disjointed platforms at the station, discourage people from using the station.
“Therefore, additional trains aren’t put on and because there are so few trains and the service is so infrequent people don’t tend to use the station and it’s important that that cycle is broken.”
He added: “It’s not that we lack trains passing through the station, but the problem is too many passenger trains do exactly that. They pass through and they don’t stop so that will be a big battle ahead.”
He was speaking during a Cabinet meeting debating progress on the council’s ongoing railway station masterplans project, delivering improvements to Whittlesea, March and Manea stations with a total funding package of £9.5million from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Fenland Stations Regeneration Project: A £9.5 Million Lifeline
The Fenland Stations Regeneration Project, led by Fenland District Council with funding from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), sourced funding the original £9.5 million package, phased between 2017 and 2019; it has already delivered essential “quick wins”:
- New waiting shelters at Whittlesea and Manea by April 2020
- Solar-powered footpath lighting at Whittlesea (2018–2020), providing safe, energy-efficient access
- Second ticket machine installed to improve service
- Bicycle parking added to all three stations
- Refurbished facilities and new car park at March
- New car park and waiting shelter at Manea, opened with a mayor-led event in January 2024
“These upgrades are tangible improvements in passenger experience,” said then Mayor James Palmer in 2020. “They show investment is taking effect and respond directly to what local passengers have been asking for.”
Why Whittlesea is still behind
Despite early gains, Whittlesea has lagged in major infrastructure upgrades. While March received full-scale redevelopment and Manea saw new car parking and shelters, Whittlesea’s platform lengthening and pedestrian footbridge remain in planning.
The current £3 million CPCA allocation for 2024–2027 aims to change that. Planned upgrades include:
- Pedestrian footbridge to replace reliance on the level crossing
- Platform extensions for longer trains
- Improved car parking and public areas
SurveyMonkey glitch forces consultation reset
A public consultation launched on January 5, 2026, inviting residents’ views on the future of Whittlesea Station, hit a snag. Conducted via SurveyMonkey, the survey suffered technical glitches that meant over 100 responses may not have been correctly recorded.
Former councillor Elisabeth Sennitt-Clough raised concerns, pointing out: “SurveyMonkey is not designed for statutory consultations. It doesn’t provide robust audit trails or ensure evidential-grade data verification. It also raises accessibility and compliance concerns, being a non-UK platform.”
Fenland District Council responded by extending the consultation to March 1, 2026, allowing residents to resubmit feedback.
Cllr Gary Christy, chair of the Railway Station Masterplans project board, said:
“We thank everyone who has shared their views. The extension gives more people a chance to respond and ensures all feedback is properly recorded.”
So far, more than 200 responses have been received, with the council encouraging participation both online and via printed forms. In-person engagement events, such as the one at Whittlesey’s Buttercross, have also been held.
“This consultation is vital,” Cllr Christy added. “It will directly inform how we implement the next phase of upgrades.”
Why this matters: breaking the chicken-and-egg cycle
Whittlesea’s station has faced a paradox: low passenger numbers reduce the case for more services, while inadequate facilities discourage passengers. Improvements like longer platforms and a pedestrian footbridge aim to reverse that trend, encouraging trains to stop more frequently and increasing ridership.
“Better facilities will help ensure trains stop here, not just pass through,” says Cllr Boden. “It’s a battle we’ve been fighting for some time, and these proposals bring us closer to winning it.”
Looking ahead: what Whittlesey can expect
Once completed, Whittlesea’s upgrades will include:
- Platform extensions for longer trains
- Pedestrian footbridge for safe access across tracks
- Expanded parking, bike racks, and public areas
- Modern ticketing facilities with 24/7 live help
Local leaders hope these changes will revitalise Whittlesey Station, improve safety and accessibility, and make train travel a practical option for residents commuting to Peterborough, Cambridge, or beyond.
How to have your say
The consultation runs until March 1, 2026. Residents and commuters can participate by:
- Completing the online survey at www.fenland.gov.uk/WhittleseaConsultation
- Requesting printed copies via transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk or calling 01354 622445
- Attending in-person engagement events
Cllr Gary Christy urged: “Your input matters. By taking part, you help shape the future of Whittlesea Station and ensure it meets the needs of local residents and passengers for years to come.”
