> Cambridge is infamously time consuming to get to by train

Why is this?

I know the story about the University insisting that the station be far from the center of town to make it inconvenient for students, and that Peterborough is on the ECML, but I don't see good reasons for Cambridge being hard to get to. There are direct express trains! It's not the North where everyone's trundling around in Pacers.

I suppose it depends on what your definition of express is, what you're used to and so on. I think most people in that part of the country equate express to 125mph trains, that are either direct or 'more or less' direct.. which places like Milton Keynes and Peterborough do have.

I think the reasons are mix of the two above you mention. No ecml which for what can only be described as a decent economic hub is a missed opportunity. Train station a bit of a pain to get to which extends real life journey times, although they are clearly trying to improve that and Cambridge North isn't bad.

it takes the fast 125mph lines on the ECML for 75% of the journey (at 100mph), then on 100mph branch for the rest of the journey

it's also 46 minutes[1], which is essentially the same as the peterborough expresses[2]

[1] https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W78063/2022-0...

[2] https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L77638/2022-0...

> Cambridge is infamously time consuming to get to by train

Says who?

In my experience: Most people who have ever lived around Cambridge or had need to travel to it regularly..

Do you feel it's not?

Commuting to Cambridge by car is problematic.

But since 2020, short distance commute via train has had an upgrade with new 8 carriage trains along the Fen Line, making situations where you don't have a seat less likely.