please empty your brain below
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I live on the other side of Chelmsford and, not being a car driver, set out at 0530 to walk to the new station in time for the first service. I expected a few weirdos and a dog to be my company for the occasion; instead there must have been 100 other people by the time I arrived at 0700. Absolute scenes. YouTubers everywhere about creating their content. Still, the coffee and cupcakes laid on by Greater Anglia were very nice and the first train was on time. Can't ask for more than that.
THC | 27.10.25 - 7:07 a.m. | #
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Presumably the name will fall victim to the age-old conundrum with the word Beaalieu - is "bow - lu" or "bew - lee"?
Rob Gullen | 27.10.25 - 7:47 a.m. | #
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This new station is quite a contrast with its near namesake, Beaulieu Road. The New Forest station is a small, simple halt that's barely used.
I trust that people don't mistake the two, when buying a ticket !
Petras409 | 27.10.25 - 8:14 a.m. | #
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Trains will be late occasionally, but Greater Anglia does have a good punctuality record, which somehow it is hoped will spread to other areas now that they are nationalised.
Non stop trains could have overtaken just using the through track which you have pictured. But the third platform face is sure to come in handy for other things, and probably added quite a small sum to the cost.
Malcolm of Kent | 27.10.25 - 8:19 a.m. | #
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From what I have seen of it, the housing estate at Beaulieu is not nearly as fascinating as the one at New Hall in Harlow [no relation]
felix | 27.10.25 - 8:39 a.m. | #
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Operating an overspill car park sounds like a challenging business model. I assume it's less convenient than the main one so will only get used at all after the main one has filled up, rather than always being chosen by a proportion of the arriving drivers.
Andrew S | 27.10.25 - 10:06 a.m. | #
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That belvedere is surprising. I don't recall ever seeing a folly in new housing. It's over 25 years old, maybe they cared more back then.
toby | 27.10.25 - 10:37 a.m. | #
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Interesting how there's no Rail Alphabet 2 on the station signage, considering the push to roll it out elsewhere and that Greater Anglia is now nationalised.
Alex | 27.10.25 - 10:38 a.m. | #
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I wonder whether the "Belvedere" is a quotation of the slimmer, Grade II listed, conduit now residing in Tower Gardens in Chelmsford after several earlier moves in the town/city?
felix | 27.10.25 - 11:17 a.m. | #
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It doesn't appear to have the new "improved" railway clock, or is it just not in the pictures?
Also, with all the stuff about going green, how come public bodies still build massive car parks where the parking bays aren't covered with solar panels, handily keeping cars cool in the sun and passengers dry in the rain.
ap | 27.10.25 - 11:37 a.m. | #
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If the streets are all named after the 'fallen soldiers of WW1' then how many would be female.
dg writes: answer's in the post.
Still Anon | 27.10.25 - 3:50 p.m. | #
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It's the same name as one of my favorite wineries, back when I used to drink wine, Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa.
Beautiful Place
Miles Archer | 27.10.25 - 7:20 p.m. | #
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I should probably just have wandered round the station laughing at the funny name, pointing at things and making a shonky three minute video.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 27.10.25 - 9:54 p.m. | #
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The track layout is that the fast lines are the outside ones (100mph) and the centre line is the reversing or overtaking line. The design, made before COVID, was to accommodate the handful of Chelmsford morning peak stating services which blocked the down platform whilst they reversed. COVID and GA’s new higher capacity trains put paid for the need for these extra trains, though if demand grows enough again they could return starting from Beaulieu Park.
Mark Norrington | 28.10.25 - 9:07 a.m. | #
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If shonky videos by DG are anything like as good as his blog, I might consider watching it!
Mike Roberts | 28.10.25 - 9:09 a.m. | #
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I was slightly perturbed a few weeks ago when Greater Anglia issued their latest monthly map of engineering works, which for the first time included Beaulieu Park: they had placed it SOUTH of Chelmsford, halfway to Ingatestone. Didn't inspire the traveller with great confidence.
On another note, I'm with you on the 'bus to Billericay' front. (In fact, I've probably been literally with you on it - I've been the miserable bloke next to you, fumbling with his seatbelt and then gazing vacantly into space for half an hour.)
Marshwerg | 28.10.25 - 6:20 p.m. | #
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