The old station was opened on 1 September 1879. On 2 June 1944, the station was destroyed in the Soham rail disaster, when a munitions train carrying high explosivebombs caught fire and blew up, killing two and damaging over seven hundred buildings. The driver, Benjamin Gimbert, and fireman, James Nightall, were both awarded the George Cross for preventing further damage which would have occurred if the rest of the train had exploded. The signal box, also damaged in the explosion which resulted in the death of signalman Frank Bridges, is now preserved on the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Although the line remained open, the station was closed to passengers on 13 September 1965.
Reopening
Since closure a local campaign has run to reopen the station. In February 2011 East Cambridgeshire District Council obtained funding for a study into a possible reopening. In January 2013 Network Rail released a five-year upgrade plan, which included reopening Soham station as part of improvements to the Ipswich to Ely Line. A Network Rail study concluded that building a new station on the existing infrastructure was feasible and that the current line could support an additional stop at Soham. Although Soham was unsuccessful in a bid submitted to the New Stations Fund second round, funding was obtained from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Cambridgeshire County Council to progress the next stage of design work with Network Rail. The new station will have a single 100 metre platform capable of accommodating a four car train. A new stepped footbridge will span across the railway to an existing right of way - as well as being future proofed for a potential second platform and lifts. The station would also have a drop off and pick up point, cycle parking and a 50 space car park. Construction of the new station by Network Rail is scheduled to start later in 2020, with completion due in Spring 2022. The station will be operated and managed by Greater Anglia with a two-hourly train service in each direction on the Ipswich to Peterborough route. There are no current plans for direct services to Cambridge, but Mayor James Palmer has expressed support for the idea in a future phase of the project.
