Great Western Coffee Shop

Government provides funding for new train stations
 Organisations:

Department
for Transport
Published:24 January 2013Policy:Expanding and improving the rail networkMinister:The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP.
 


^20 million new stations fund to bring rail services closer to people's doorsteps.
 








New stations will be built in smaller towns bringing rail services closer to people^s doorsteps thanks to ^20 million of government funding announced today by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

The new stations fund, managed by Network Rail, will help build and open new railway stations in England and Wales. It is targeted at ^shovel ready^ projects which can be delivered quickly to provide long-term benefits to passengers and the economy.

Local authorities, train operating companies and developers are being encouraged to apply for the funding which will go towards construction costs of building new stations. Bids must be submitted by February 25.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:
^

The railways play a key role in our lives whether it is delivering benefits to the economy, providing vital transport link for commuters or helping friends and family keep in contact. We are determined to improve this vital service and building new stations will provide that boost.^
 ^

We recognise that local communities are often best placed to deliver their own transport solutions and I would therefore encourage anyone with a credible and worthwhile business plan to apply for this vital extra funding.^
 
Proposals must be at an advanced stage of development and be supported by the relevant local authority, train operating companies and Network Rail. Successful applicants will also be required to provide a percentage of funding themselves.

Applications will be assessed by a cross-industry panel, including representatives from Network Rail and the Department for Transport, with an announcement on successful bids made in the summer.

We are I suppose quite fortunate in being a 'smaller town', radically with a station. 

I can only hope that any town successfully bidding for a new station, can also persuade the TOC to stop the occasional train at it - would makes it a lot more useful as a station, and less ornamental.

KO, you did not say where your 'smaller town is' so your posting was unfortunately less interesting, as a result.  Where are we talking about please?

Hmmm ... "... be supported by the relevant local authority, [and] train operating companies and Network Rail."

I do find myself wondering just how may of those there might be out there, and how far the money might go.  Can anyone list some examples in the Great Western area that enjoy the three way support and are "shovel ready" ...?

i have a shovel .... sidmouth please

I would be very happy to support a station in Clevedon and would encourage the Town Council to apply.  Sadly, the lack of a railway line, the building of the M5 and miscellaneous structures over the old track bed, will probably mean we will be turned down.  I look jealously towards Portishead and continue to support the station in the village (not even a town!) of Yatton.  At least we have an acceptable day time bus connection these days for the first time since the line was shut.

My my how the tune of this political party has changed in the last 20 years  ::)

Very well how about a station at st Fagans which I am sure will be very well used since it will allow easy acess to the museum nearby as well as St Fagans villiage and western area's of Ely etc

At risk of opening myself up to a barrage of comments about 'how we should be grateful for the service levels we get'......  Lostwithiel.

Fishguard & Goodwick met all those requirements, but the local authority, TOC and Network Rail have already done the work. Shame they didn't make this funding available in 2011, the station might have been open for the start of new train service...

Still, FGW station isn't what I hoped it'd be, all the character the orriginal had is gone, and without the facilities of FGH station the bus 'connections' now have little merit.

Still, at least Goodwick has a station AND trains to stop at it now, whereas it did have the trains but not the station (though only for a little while) and Melksham has a station but not the trains.

Thanks very much.  You can always, if it so bad a service (though see what grahame says), drown your sorrows with a pint of 'Praaper jaab'.   :D

 

Without having a clue about what "shovel-ready" means, I wonder if the likes of the new stations in Exeter (Cranbrook, Newcourt and Marsh Barton) would fall into that category?

Shovel ready means that work could start almost immediately and it would not take years to get permission to build it.

An almost socialist response there from the SoS...

Radstock??

The trackbed is mostly still there. The line is still open as far as Whatley for Quarry Trains!

My personal preference however would be the reopening of the Witham Friary branch to Cranmore, then building a new station slightly further on from the line terminus (Mendip Vale IIRC) for Shepton Mallet. Track goes as far as Mendip Vale, just over a mile from the town centre and on an existing bus route (First 161 Frome - Wells Stopping Service)

You could also build new stations at Witham Friary. Although a 3 platform station could be considered overkill, nothing stopping you doing a single platform on the loop section there. That being said, it's not futureproof! Then a further station at Wanstrow which is a small village which went from having 2 bus services a WEEK, to 1 Bus Service on a Saturday and now NO bus services at all! Why a station here? Well the track already passes through there so it wouldn't make sense not to. Also a good point for a passing loop.

Then in that situation, run a Train from Shepton Mallet to Bristol Temple Meads calling all stations apart from Avoncliff and Freshford. That would allow a through journey from Shepton Mallet, Cranmore, Wanstrow and Witham Friary to Bath and Bristol as well as intermediate towns. You can only get 1 bus per day direct from Shepton Mallet to Bristol. If you want to go any other times during the day you need to change buses in Wells. The same for Bath as well, but you also have the option of going via Frome for that route too at no additional cost (First Day South West Ticket)

Finally, Station at White Horse Business Park could make that area of Wiltshire very attractive for businesses. There are already big players on that estate including Vodafone and Virgin Media (The latter may have gone now). Then install Fibre Broadband Cabinets for FTTC Based Internet on the Business Park and you're sorted.

@The trout.

Excellent original thought D.  Actually the line to S.M. can be taken down to the old Tesco site there without much difficulty and I am not sure why the preservationists do not plan that, as there is good parking access.

1. How about:

Marlborough and Burbage Parkway
Devizes Parkway
Somerton
Loddon Bridge (P & R)
and possibly Twickenham (Platform 2, to allow up SWT trains to overtake between Ascot and Barnes).

2. Could this money also be used to provide adequate platform lengths?

3. Does NR have suitable low-cost prefabrication methods (like the SR Exmouth concrete works) to make good use of the money or is this another rail contractors' holiday benefit?


OTC

How about Cullompton and Wellington (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5272.0)?  :-\

Excellent Further Suggestion there. I didn't think about the "Old Tesco Site" (Don't know when you were last in SM, But the old Tesco Store is now a Dobbies Garden Centre :-\ ). But even so, the parking for a Garden Centre is pretty much overkill so a very good suggestion. The station could be sited next to the Garden Centre and if Car Parking became an issue, then use the already existing car park at the Defunct Focus DIY store just across the road. Or my original suggestion and use the Focus DIY site for a Park & Bus/Rail Ride to a new station just outside the town?

Also how could I forget Taunton - Minehead? ;D Then shift all the Butlins Holiday Makers from the Over Capacity 28 Bus Service onto a direct Taunton - Minehead or even Bristol Temple Meads - Minehead?

Finally. CfN's suggestions of Cullompton & Wellington are very do-able at low cost. The former just needing a new station installed along the existing GWML. A possible good site is where the Motorway Service Area is. Then the car park can be expanded and you'd certainly be able to turn a bus or three around in there. Expanding on both CfN's idea and the Minehead one, Norton Fitzwarren could also be a good suggestion. Again, all the kit is still there!

You get chicken and egg situations with all this.  Chard 'Parkway' (was Junction) is, despite itself being on a passing loop, awaiting the full doubling of the line, before it can realistiacally be proposed, unfortunately.  The local MP (David Laws, heard of him?) has tried to get the old branch station area reserved as a station car park but has had no cooperation from anyone.   To whet our host's lips, what does he think of a direct service from Swindon to Exeter?  So redouble Salisbury to Exeter and then start looking at possibilities.  Exeter to Southampton via Yeovil and Bournemouth  - and so it goes on.

Chard Parkway really is the no-brainers of all no-brainers.

From the Somerset County Gazette (https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17959944.plans-wellington-railway-station-taking-shape/)

Wellington at least might be moving a bit:

https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/17959944.plans-wellington-railway-station-taking-shape/

Edit: Bah, should have checked that no one had already reported this. 😕