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Location notes
A Cambridgeshire signal box and level crossing,
Deep in the Fens, between Peterborough and Cambridge, March South Junction is situated on the busy connecting line between Ely and Peterborough. The signal box and level crossing are situated on Creek Road.
Deep in the Fens, between Peterborough and Cambridge, March South Junction is situated on the busy connecting line between Ely and Peterborough. The signal box and level crossing are situated on Creek Road.
Railway type and traffic
All regular passenger trains are DMUs, local services between Peterborough and Ipswich are run by Anglia Railways using Class 150 and 153 units. Longer distance services are operated by Central Trains using 156, 158 and 170 DMU classes, running services between Birmingham and Stansted, and Norwich and Liverpool.
March sees a considerable amount of freight traffic. A high proportion of these are DB Schenker aggregate trains. Stone from La Farge at Mountsorrel is transported to Norwich Trowse, Kennett, Barham, Broxbourne and Chesterton Jnc. Limestone trains run to Bury St Edmunds and Brandon for use by the local sugar factories. Bulk sand trains run from Middleton Towers (Kings Lynn), and from Bardon Concrete at Croft (Leicester) to Bishops Stortford. DB Schenker also have two trains running in and out of Felixstowe, intermodal traffic to Wakefield and Cargowaggons to Healey Mills.
The Freightliner traffic is mainly intermodal trains from Wilton and Leeds to Felixstowe, although Heavy Haul now run services to Chesterton Junction near Cambridge.
GBRf have two daily intermodal trains to Felixstowe from Hams Hall and Selby, as well as handling a good number of engineering and construction trains connected with the rebuilding of Whitemoor Yard.
March sees a considerable amount of freight traffic. A high proportion of these are DB Schenker aggregate trains. Stone from La Farge at Mountsorrel is transported to Norwich Trowse, Kennett, Barham, Broxbourne and Chesterton Jnc. Limestone trains run to Bury St Edmunds and Brandon for use by the local sugar factories. Bulk sand trains run from Middleton Towers (Kings Lynn), and from Bardon Concrete at Croft (Leicester) to Bishops Stortford. DB Schenker also have two trains running in and out of Felixstowe, intermodal traffic to Wakefield and Cargowaggons to Healey Mills.
The Freightliner traffic is mainly intermodal trains from Wilton and Leeds to Felixstowe, although Heavy Haul now run services to Chesterton Junction near Cambridge.
GBRf have two daily intermodal trains to Felixstowe from Hams Hall and Selby, as well as handling a good number of engineering and construction trains connected with the rebuilding of Whitemoor Yard.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link March South Junction
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
The South Junction signal box and level crossing are situated on Creek Road, which leads out from the town centre to houses and not a lot else. The level crossing is at the southern end of the yard with a number of semaphore signals to add interest to photographs. There are no pavements, just grassy verges. If standing in the lane opposite the signal box, keep an eye out as lorries use this route.
WARNING: At the time of writing, the level crossing had no audible warning, be careful where you stand and keep your eye on the crossing lights to avoid barriers landing on your head.
WARNING: At the time of writing, the level crossing had no audible warning, be careful where you stand and keep your eye on the crossing lights to avoid barriers landing on your head.
Road directions
From Ely:
Take the A142 to Chatteris, and follow the A141 (signposted March) until reaching the southern end of the town. The B1101 will take you into the town centre. Follow the road over the river to where the lanes divide on approach to the traffic light controlled junction with the B1099, with the town bandstand as the centrepiece. Turn right at this junction, and you want the next right turning, Creek Road, which is awkwardly situated on a sharp left. You will find the level crossing and South Jnc signalbox about half a mile away.
From the A47 Guyhirn roundabout:
Take the A141 (signposted March) for about 5 miles before the road crosses over the March - Peterborough line on a concrete bridge. Take the B1099 off the roundabout immediately over the bridge, follow this to the town centre and junction with the B1101 at a traffic light controlled junction with the town bandstand as the centrepiece. Go straight at this junction, and you want the next right turning, Creek Road, which is awkwardly situated on a sharp left. You will find the level crossing and South Junction signal box about half a mile away.
From the railway station
Turn left out of the station approach and over the level crossing. At the double roundabout, turn right into Estover Road; follow this until reaching an angled junction with Creek Road, turn right (careful as sighting isn’t great) and follow this to find the signalbox and level crossing.
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March South Junction map co-ordinates
Take the A142 to Chatteris, and follow the A141 (signposted March) until reaching the southern end of the town. The B1101 will take you into the town centre. Follow the road over the river to where the lanes divide on approach to the traffic light controlled junction with the B1099, with the town bandstand as the centrepiece. Turn right at this junction, and you want the next right turning, Creek Road, which is awkwardly situated on a sharp left. You will find the level crossing and South Jnc signalbox about half a mile away.
From the A47 Guyhirn roundabout:
Take the A141 (signposted March) for about 5 miles before the road crosses over the March - Peterborough line on a concrete bridge. Take the B1099 off the roundabout immediately over the bridge, follow this to the town centre and junction with the B1101 at a traffic light controlled junction with the town bandstand as the centrepiece. Go straight at this junction, and you want the next right turning, Creek Road, which is awkwardly situated on a sharp left. You will find the level crossing and South Junction signal box about half a mile away.
From the railway station
Turn left out of the station approach and over the level crossing. At the double roundabout, turn right into Estover Road; follow this until reaching an angled junction with Creek Road, turn right (careful as sighting isn’t great) and follow this to find the signalbox and level crossing.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
March South Junction map co-ordinates
Parking
You’ll have to find a spot on the roadside, although to park safely this will have to be about 60 metres either side of the level crossing. Don’t be tempted to use the lane opposite the signalbox, its frequently used by lorries.
Public transport
Bus timetables to the centre of March - Click the letter M for March. There is a Creek Road stop on the March Town route.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
None in the immediate area. Heading into town along Creek Road will bring you back to the town centre, you’ll come across a Sainsburys store which has cash points and telephones. There is a chip shop on the opposite side of the main road (B1101 Station Road).
Accommodation
‘The Station Hotel’ immediately outside the railway station. +44 (0) 1354 653259
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
March South Junction
Streetmap links
March South Junction general view map
March South Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
March South Junction
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
March South Junction
Googly map
March South Junction general view map
March South Junction close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
March South Junction
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The signal box is on the northern side of the railway, this can be incorporated into photographs taken from the opposite side of the crossing. The box retains its attractive enamelled Eastern region blue sign – unfortunately someone wasn’t thinking about photographs when placing a speed sign directly in front of it! Views are slightly hampered at present by a stack of concrete sleepers on some former stabling roads and the slightly by the caging around the barrier mechanism but the imaginative photographer or videographer will find a place to stand and get a decent shot of southbound trains leaving the yard area. (fig 4)
Standing on the same side of the road as the signal box, you can get a telephoto shot into the yard itself, capturing trains passing the semaphore signals within. Otherwise, by walking a yard or two down the little lane (minding the occasional lorry) you can get a clear shot of trains approaching from the south by leaning against the fence. (see fig 3).
Standing on the same side of the road as the signal box, you can get a telephoto shot into the yard itself, capturing trains passing the semaphore signals within. Otherwise, by walking a yard or two down the little lane (minding the occasional lorry) you can get a clear shot of trains approaching from the south by leaning against the fence. (see fig 3).
General views - All photographs © Ben Cannell unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
The signal box as taken from the southern side of the railway, you’ll see what I mean about the badly placed speed restriction board.
Fig 2 - Looking north
The view from the signalbox side of the crossing down into the yard, taken with a telephoto lens leaning over the barriers.
Fig 3 - Looking south
A GBRf Intermodal service from Felixstowe approaches the crossing.
Fig 4 - Looking north
Hastily taken photo of train passing the signalbox from the southern side of the crossing, the photographer with a bit more time will be able to choose a slightly better position or angle!
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
