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Title: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Lee on October 16, 2007, 16:11:14 I visited this station on 12/10/2007.
Quote from Wikipedia (link below.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashchurch_for_Tewkesbury_railway_station "When reopened in 1997, there were considerably more northbound services, with many trains from Cardiff calling here. However, in the early 2000s these services were withdrawn, reducing the usefulness of the station. Passengers wishing to travel to Birmingham usually have to travel south to Cheltenham Spa, change onto northbound train, then return northwards, passing through Ashchurch without stopping. From December 2006, some peak time services to and from Birmingham were reintroduced." I do find it rather weird that more trains dont call here off - peak other than the 2 - hourly FGW service. Currently , the every 15 minutes "rail - link" bus service to Tewkesbury seems completely wasted. There is also a large car park , which again is an example of potential wasted due to the relatively sparse service and wide catchment area. Still , the station is in relatively good condition , and I have never seen an empty platform when stopping there on my way through. Wessex buffs may wish to know that one of the former TOC's area / rail network maps is still on display. Also , I noticed that the line towards Evesham appears to be in situ. When passing through AFT , I always assumed that this was just a short siding. Anyone know how far the line extends? I know that there were cargo loading sidings for the nearby army base and that some still exist. As stated above , some peak Nottingham - Cardiff trains do call at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury , and I caught one of these (the 1606) to Newport. I must say that getting a seat on a clean , comfortable 3 - coach Central Trains Class 170 unit really does give you a sense of "how the other half live." Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Lee on April 04, 2008, 08:58:55 Angry Ashchurch parish councillors staged a protest as their authority was consigned to the history books after 114 years. They showed their disappointment at the local government changes which have led to the council being abolished (link below.)
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231774&contentPK=20304698&folderPk=108867&pNodeId=231888 As of midnight on Monday, Ashchurch Parish Council was no more. It is being replaced by three new parish councils, representing Northway, Ashchurch Rural and Wheatpieces. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Lee on June 24, 2008, 15:04:13 From the FGW website :
12:51 Great Malvern to Weymouth due 17:10 This train will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill and restarted from Bristol Temple Meads at 14:49.It will no longer call at: Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Cam & Dursley, Yate, Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.This is due to a train fault. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on June 24, 2008, 18:09:34 Why has Ashchurch been mothballed by FGW and XC/CT.
I was told by a local, that one day all the commuters who travelled to places such as Worcester or Birmingham turned up one day, only to find that their services no longer existed! At least LM are going to fill some gaps with some magiced up 170s! If they want numbers (and revenue) to go up, re-brand it as a parkway station for Tewkesbury and install some canopies and ticket machines. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: charlies aunt on January 09, 2010, 12:49:19 A preliminary meeting is being organised on Tuesday, 12 January at 7.00 at Northway Parish Council Offices, Ray Shill Building, Lee Walk, Northway for anyone interested in helping to set up a 'Friends of Ashchurch Railway Station' organisation. The organisation will be concerned with promoting Ashchurch Station, encouraging rail companies to stop more often at the station etc.
This is an open meeting and further information can be obtained from Alistair Cameron on 01242 584081 or 07901 564616. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: grahame on January 09, 2010, 13:00:53 Hi, and welcome to the forum. I know that Ashchurch for Tewkesbury has been a major concern for some of our members here, so I hope you're able to liaise well with them, and get to a more appropriate service.
Your post (above) appears to duplicate a contribution you've added to another thread ... I know it's very easy to paste the same thing twice (perhaps by accident), but you'll find you can get the message through and a far better response if you don't repeat the same thing in lots of places. Perhaps you could add something on to this thread to tell us a little more about the current services to Ashchurch, and what the (potential) users are looking for, or even go back and add it in to the post above so that it becomes a thorough reference point? Thanks! Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: charlies aunt on January 16, 2010, 14:40:18 Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group (ATDRPG). The group is being set up to promote Ashchurch Station and press for improvements to the services and facilties for the station. We believe the station has enormous potential due to its good road links and car parking. People from all over North Gloucestershire and South Worcestershire would be able to use it but it needs better services. We will press the rail companies to stop more at the station and will also lobby the Department of Transport and local bus companies for improvements. We will work with local authorities, local business groups and local communities. The organisation will be non-political and will engage with rail operation companies and other interested parties in a non-confrontational and constructive manner. We had our preliminary meeting on Tuesday and are arranging a full public meeting on Tuesday, 23 February at the Ray Shill Building, Northway Parish Council Offices, Lee Walk, Northway, Tewkesbury starting at 7 pm where there will be invited speakers. Any advice or previous experiences will be greatly received. Thanks in anticipation Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: charlies aunt on April 05, 2010, 08:42:46 Following the successful open meeting in February ATDRPG (Ashchurch,Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group) will be holding another get together for anyone with an interest. This meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th April 7 for 7.30pm at The Royal Hop Pole Hotel (Wetherspoons) Church Street, Tewkesbury, where the intention is to work towards formalising the constitution. Any input will be very welcome.
There is now a dedicated e-mail address atdrpg@rocketmail.com and a facebook page 'Ashchurch Tewkesbury Rail Atdrpg' Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on September 12, 2010, 16:58:54 From The Citizen (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/tewkesbury/Backing-new/article-2630825-detail/article.html) (Gloucester):
Quote A Campaign to give Ashchurch railway station a new name is building up a head of steam. Earlier this year, the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group began moves to get the station's name changed to Tewkesbury Parkway. It hopes the new name would raise the station's profile and make people realise it is the station for Tewkesbury. Group secretary Helen Burns said hundreds of people had signed a petition calling for the change. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on September 13, 2010, 02:09:25 Hmm. Are people really too stupid to figure out that "Ashchurch for Tewkesbury" indicates that Tewkesbury is nearby? Or is it that (a) no-one wants to go there or, more likely (b) because the service there isn't that great, it's just not particularly useful...?
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 13, 2010, 03:08:46 Hmm. :P
So a campaign to rename a railway station is "building up a head of steam", is it? Journalists, eh? ::) As to it being renamed a 'parkway': there are 55 spaces, each costing ^4.50 a day, according to National Rail (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/asc/details.html). However, "hundreds of people ... signed a petition calling for the change." See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashchurch_for_Tewkesbury_railway_station Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: willc on September 13, 2010, 10:45:20 Not too hard to get plenty of names on a petition if you stand in the middle of Tewkesbury on a Saturday morning. And Parkway seems a perfectly sensible name - people usually understand this indicates it's not in the town centre. As for car park size, Bodmin Parkway has, er, 70 spaces, though at a bargain ^2 a day (owned by FGW, not the council, which is the case at Ashchurch). Development in recent decades has effectively closed the gap between Ashchurch and Tewkesbury anyway, making them one large community.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on September 13, 2010, 15:08:09 for me having parkway added to a station name normally means concrete sh*t hole in the middle of nowhere with poor bus connections so you have to use your car to get there somewhat defeating the object of the place
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: willc on September 13, 2010, 16:21:49 you have to use your car to get there somewhat defeating the object of the place
Eh? What do you think the PARK bit of the name is for? That is the object of the place. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on September 13, 2010, 16:29:18 ;D that was slightly silly of me, my point was it hardly gets people out of cars if they have to use them to get to the station
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on September 13, 2010, 16:33:38 To run wiht your theme willc, and never mind that there's an anomaly at Bodmin, a Parkway station is supposed to have lots of car parking space (e.g. Bristol Parkway and Didcot Parkway with, I believe, well north of 1,000 spaces each) rather than some cruddy little car park with 55 spaces!
Bodmin Parkway was just a renaming of Bodmin Road to make it sound a bit more modern, and I suspect to make it clear that it wasn't that close to Bodmin. It wasn't a purpose-built Parkway station like the original at Bristol. And yes, I know Didcot wasn't built as a Parkway station but the soubriquet was applied after the enormous car parks were built and it had become a "park and ride" railhead for much of south Oxfordshire. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: willc on September 13, 2010, 18:13:31 Quote It hardly gets people out of cars if they have to use them to get to the station So we should close these stations and make people get a bus all the way into town instead? That idea would go down well in the north of Bristol. And in the case of Didcot, the station serves a huge swathe of Oxfordshire with limited bus services once off the main roads - and there's not a single station for 20 miles west to Swindon. Maybe we should close down city park-and-ride bus services by employing the same logic and demand people use buses from where they live (which assumes there is such a bus service in the first place - often there isn't). As for Chiltern's business plan for Oxford-London, it wouldn't add up without the planned Water Eaton Parkway. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live 10 minutes' walk from a station - happily for me, I do. So inspector, what should they call it? Leave the name as it is, which it appears the locals aren't hugely keen on, just call it Tewkesbury, which isn't strictly correct, hence it wasn't used when the station reopened, or perhaps a name used for railway stations to indicate they're a bit out of town (just as much as it indicates they have a car park, whatever the size), such as, er, Parkway? And if the station in question had a regular, predictable train service people could rely on, offering more options destination-wise, rather than the erratic, frequently chopped-and-changed service of recent times, where in order to go north to Birmingham you first have to go south to Cheltenham much of the day and where London connections are often better via Bristol Parkway than Cheltenham, then it probably would need a much larger car park. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on September 13, 2010, 18:41:55 So inspector, what should they call it? Leave the name as it is, which it appears the locals aren't hugely keen on Yes! I think your analysis in the last paragraph is spot-on. People don't use it because the train service there is infrequent and not very useful. Ashchurch for Tewkesbury describes it perfectly IMHO - tells you where it is and that a major town is nearby. And do the locals really dislike it, or does a small minority who took to the streets with a petition dislike it? Not necessarily the same thing - frankly if I'm accosted by a busybody with a clipboard whilst out and about, unless it's something I violently disagree with it's generally much easier just to sign the petition to get them to go away. I would agree with you completely that it probably isn't very difficult to get a few hundred signatures on a petition, but as you will know there are all sorts of possible confounding factors (How many of them were locals, was an unbiased question asked, etc etc) that you can't really conclude that the natives as a whole don't like the name. Honestly, I think that re-naming the station is just pointless tinkering around the edges and would make almost no difference to usage there. What might well help is the provision of a better train service. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on September 13, 2010, 19:30:50 yawn
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: The Grecian on September 13, 2010, 20:00:33 A lot of Parkway stations were opened to reflect reality re driving. I believe part of Bristol Parkway's purpose was to draw people in from the M4 further west who were going to London. Ultimately some people will always favour driving west of there because the railway doesn't have a significant speed advantage beyond BPW, whereas central London is less than 90 minutes from BPW. While it would be nice to get everyone using the railway further west it isn't going to happen but at least BPW gets them using the railway for part of the journey.
Likewise Tiverton Parkway is attractive for people from North Devon who want to go to London or Birmingham and the north who are unlikely to want to use the Tarka Line from Barnstaple to Exeter (or if it had survived Beeching, wouldn't want to use a rambling branch line from Barnstaple to Taunton). Again, better they use the railway for part of their journey than not at all. Hope I'm not going too off-topic here! Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: 6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01 on September 13, 2010, 20:08:05 A lot of Parkway stations were opened to reflect reality re driving. I believe part of Bristol Parkway's purpose was to draw people in from the M4 further west who were going to London. Ultimately some people will always favour driving west of there because the railway doesn't have a significant speed advantage beyond BPW, whereas central London is less than 90 minutes from BPW. While it would be nice to get everyone using the railway further west it isn't going to happen but at least BPW gets them using the railway for part of the journey. Likewise Tiverton Parkway is attractive for people from North Devon who want to go to London or Birmingham and the north who are unlikely to want to use the Tarka Line from Barnstaple to Exeter (or if it had survived Beeching, wouldn't want to use a rambling branch line from Barnstaple to Taunton). Again, better they use the railway for part of their journey than not at all. Hope I'm not going too off-topic here! not at all its my fault, thankyou for a constructive reply to my comments Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on September 13, 2010, 21:27:26 This is a no brainer. The station is there to serve Tewksbury. The "for Tewksbury" bit is actually rarely used - probably because it is clunky.
Parkway is a good idea, as (a) the station is not in the centre of town and (b) with a decent service and adverts, it would get people off the M5 to park here. All we need now is for LM and FGW to bash their heads together to form an hourly Bristol - Worcester service, and for XC to stop messing Worcestershire about and stop ALL the Cariff - Nottinham trains here! Oh, and throw in a free bus link to Tewksbury every 15 mins. [Wakes up.] ::) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: John R on September 13, 2010, 21:35:07 and for XC to stop messing Worcestershire about and stop ALL the Cariff - Nottinham trains here! [Wakes up.] ::) Why is not stopping at Ashchurch (or even Tewksbury Parkway) messing Worcestershire about? Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on September 13, 2010, 21:49:52 Because they add stops in one TT change, then take them out. Some used to run via Worcester. Now none do. It's the consistency of service that's at fault.
One day, commuters turned up at Ashchurch, no train stopped for a while, although several roared through. It later dawned on them that in the new timetable, there was no service (for commuters) to B'ham anymore! Gone - cancelled just like that. These people (who'll now use the M5) won't come back to the railways until there is a stable service. Of course, the bean counters will see declining passenger numbers as an excuse to axe the remaining services that cling on... Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on September 13, 2010, 22:54:20 Parkway is a good idea, as (a) the station is not in the centre of town and (b) with a decent service and adverts, it would get people off the M5 to park here. (my emphasis)Continuing with my devil's advocate hat on though, is that a good idea? The place only has 55 car parking spaces, and although I don't know the local geography well I doubt the burghers of Ashchurch would be particularly impressed if their village turned into a giant car-park for the railway station. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on September 13, 2010, 23:43:07 It's in an industrial estate.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: John R on September 14, 2010, 07:09:24 Because they add stops in one TT change, then take them out. Some used to run via Worcester. Now none do. It's the consistency of service that's at fault. One day, commuters turned up at Ashchurch, no train stopped for a while, although several roared through. It later dawned on them that in the new timetable, there was no service (for commuters) to B'ham anymore! Gone - cancelled just like that. These people (who'll now use the M5) won't come back to the railways until there is a stable service. Of course, the bean counters will see declining passenger numbers as an excuse to axe the remaining services that cling on... It's not in Worcestershire though. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: gwr2006 on September 14, 2010, 17:15:22 Taking another angle, perhaps someone in the know in the industry can explain what is involved in changing the name of a station and the costs involved in doing so as it doesn't happen alot.
I'm thinking it would involve quite a bit more than simply changing the name on the platforms - that's the easiest bit! The entire train planning system at Network Rail and the train companies and the rail enquiry ststem at NRES would need to be updated, as would the other journey planning websites/software, then there are the numerous leaflets, timetables and other printed material that mentioned 'Ashchurch for Tewkesbury' that various companies produce and all the advance notices about the name change (how far geographically would they need to be shown?)... and if it is possible to book through tickets via Eurostar the train booking system across Europe needs to be updated. I am sure all the costs would add up which is why stations rarely change their names. Someone needs to pay for it - who is going to do that in the current climate unless there is an overwhelming reason to do so? Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on September 17, 2010, 13:51:07 From The Citizen (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/environment/New-railway-help-points-unveiled/article-2654233-detail/article.html) (Gloucester):
Quote RAIL enthusiasts are celebrating a significant improvement being introduced at Ashchurch Railway Station, just a year after their group was formed. Members of the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group have been pressing First Great Western to install help points at the station and the company has now put them in. There is one on each platform and they have a screen showing information about when the next train is coming, where it is going to and whether it is on time. Group spokesman John Stretton said: "Until now, there has only been a box with a button to push and you then heard a recorded message. This is a live screen. It's not as big as those in the big stations but it's big enough. There's also a button for help if you want to speak to somebody." The group is trying to make other improvements to the station. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Pedros on September 17, 2010, 14:54:22 Hi all, as someone who was born, raised and escaped from Tewkesbury (or Chooksbury, if you're local) I'm in favour of the name change. One of the my main thoughts about the 'Ashchrurch for Tewkesbury' tag is that it's not blatently obvious that there is a station in or near the town of Tewkesbury. Having just checked on the FGW website, nothing comes up if you search for Tewkesbury. Hopefully, by calling the station 'Tewkesbury Parkway' may advertise the station more. Just my thinking.
However, I would strongly agree about the mess regarding the services that stop at the station. When I lived in town, I used the station to travel to Lincoln (there used to be the odd direct service, or a service to Nottingham) and to Cardiff and there were always quite a few people on and off at the station. I was quite shocked to see recently how much the service had been reduced. A real shame. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 17, 2010, 18:02:52 Welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Pedros!
The re-naming campaign story has now reached the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-11345645): Quote Campaign to rename Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station More than 300 people have signed a petition to change the name of a Gloucestershire railway station. Ashchurch for Tewkesbury is located in the village of Ashchurch, but is the nearest stop for Tewkesbury. But the Ashchurch Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group wants it to be renamed Tewkesbury Parkway. Campaigners said the aim was to encourage more visitors to Tewkesbury who may not otherwise have realised there was a station serving the town. Treasurer John Stretton said he had had a number of meetings with train operator First Great Western which would be responsible for the name change. "They are fully supportive, provided that they are happy that we have local support which we are gathering at the moment," he said. "And we are to present a package to First Great Western by the end of November in the hope of achieving the change of name from the May timetable change next year. That's the earliest it can possibly be done." Mr Stretton said including the word "parkway" would indicate the station was not in the centre of the town and that parking was available. He added that several neighbouring town and parish councils had also supported the bid. Julian Crow, First Great Western's regional manager for the west of England, said: "We're aware that there is an interest in renaming the station and if this is what the local community wants, we are more than happy to work with them to make it happen." By the way: I've just taken the opportunity to merge a couple of topics here, and rename the topic itself - purely in the interests of continuity and clarity. CfN. ;) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: IndustryInsider on September 30, 2010, 12:57:11 Doubts are surfacing...
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/tewkesbury/Station-change-doubt/article-2702937-detail/article.html (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/tewkesbury/Station-change-doubt/article-2702937-detail/article.html) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on September 30, 2010, 15:03:21 Never thought I'd say this, but I find myself agreeing wholeheartedly with the Parish Council!
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: willc on October 01, 2010, 00:59:41 But the station is actually in the Northway parish (the railway is the boundary) - and the parish councillors there are firmly in the Tewkesbury Parkway camp. What next inspector, will you be advocating it becomes Northway for Ashchurch and Tewkesbury?
They can bang on about history all they like but while the name may have made some sense when there were green fields between Ashchurch and Tewkesbury, plus a station in Tewkesbury itself, today the fields have vanished under industrial estates, the Northway housing estate, a high school and the M5 junction, with just a small sliver of green left, which floods whenever the Avon and Severn burst their banks, otherwise it would have been built on as well. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on October 01, 2010, 01:18:34 Ok then....
'Northway Central Parkway for Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Walton Cardiff, Homedowns, Claydon and Fiddington' Nice commission for the signwriters. :P ;) ;D Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: anthony215 on October 01, 2010, 16:48:50 I dont know why FGW extend some of the Weymouth - Bristol - Gloucester-Great Malvern services which terminate at Gloucester through to Worcester/Great Malvern.
I used the London midland service just before it was withdrawn. Problem i think was that ther service was exactly hourly and was a bit erratic although i will give London Midland credit for having a go but i think the problems was that the train didnt go through to Bristol which would have helped it if it did, Besides i think passengers might prefer the class 170 compared to the usual class 150/158's. Another good idea maybe Arriva should extend their current Maesteg - Cardiff - Cheltenham service through to Birmingham if they every get anough rolling stock to do it and have that serve Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station ( Although this will depends on if any paths are available.) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: paul7575 on October 01, 2010, 16:55:55 I dont know why FGW extend some of the Weymouth - Bristol - Gloucester-Great Malvern services which terminate at Gloucester through to Worcester/Great Malvern. Yes you do. It's the opposite reason as you already worked out for why ATW don't extend their Cheltenham service... Paul Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: wehrwulf on October 01, 2010, 21:23:42 There is now a website for the Ashchurch rail user group at http://aschurchandtewkesburyrailpromotion.webs.com/
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on October 01, 2010, 21:34:33 Thank you for that link, wehrwulf, and a warm welcome to the forum! :)
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: willc on October 02, 2010, 01:04:20 Quote I used the London midland service just before it was withdrawn. Problem i think was that ther service was exactly hourly and was a bit erratic . The fundamental problem was that - just like the FGW service pre- and post-LM's operation - it didn't provide a decent morning peak service, making it useless for most people who might like to use the train for a daily commute from Tewkesbury into Worcester or Cheltenham/Gloucester, or between Worcester and Cheltenham or Gloucester Quote Another good idea maybe Arriva should extend their current Maesteg - Cardiff - Cheltenham service through to Birmingham Wouldn't be allowed, as XC is the franchised operator for Cardiff-Brum, albeit that its service bears no resemblance to what BR Regional Railways ran in the early 1990s, with Ashchurch calls and running via Worcester Shrub Hill as well. That's 'progress' for you. Quote 'Northway Central Parkway for Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Walton Cardiff, Homedowns, Claydon and Fiddington' That should be Northway East... ;D Interesting to note from the user group website that the supposed ^4.50 daily parking charge is actually ^0! Neither National Rail nor FGW seemed to have a clue. Title: Ashchurch Station meeting - 2 December 2010 in Tewkesbury Post by: Chris from Nailsea on November 30, 2010, 21:37:21 Thursday 2nd December 7.30pm Tewkesbury Library, High Street. Speakers David Northey and Tim Maddocks from Network Rail.
For details of the Ashchurch and Tewkesbury Rail Promotion group, see their website (http://aschurchandtewkesburyrailpromotion.webs.com). Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: wehrwulf on February 18, 2011, 21:16:41 Hi all
The website for the Ashchurch and Tewkesbury district rail promotion group has moved to http://ashchurchandtewkesburyrail.webs.com/index.htm Cross Country trains are sending a representative to our next meeting on March 11th at Tewkesbury library. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on February 18, 2011, 21:25:16 Thanks for that update, wehrwulf - I've taken the liberty of adding those details to our Calendar.
CfN :) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 02, 2011, 20:09:54 At LAST!
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/story-14018566-detail/story.html? Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: mjones on December 03, 2011, 11:36:14 I believe I read somewhere recently, might have been the local paper, that there is a proposal to drop the "parkway" from Didcot, because the station is in the middle of the town it serves. So if Aschurch becomes Tewkesbury Parkway, then to drop (AXE?) Didcot's Parkway at the same time would help provide greater consistency in the use of that title.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 03, 2011, 17:07:07 Quite a few parkways need to be AXED, tbh. ;D (not the stations, just the name)
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: inspector_blakey on December 13, 2011, 16:20:08 I'd agree with Didcot not needing to be called Parkway (I assume it's a function of having various enormous car parks rather than a lack of proximity to the town since, as pointed out, it's pretty central). Never really understood why Port Talbot also has the Parkway handle given that is appears to be reasonably central as well.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: anthony215 on December 13, 2011, 16:31:14 I'd agree with Didcot not needing to be called Parkway (I assume it's a function of having various enormous car parks rather than a lack of proximity to the town since, as pointed out, it's pretty central). Never really understood why Port Talbot also has the Parkway handle given that is appears to be reasonably central as well. Your not the only 1 who has asked that question especially considering how close it is to the town centre. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: paul7575 on December 13, 2011, 16:40:55 I'd agree with Didcot not needing to be called Parkway (I assume it's a function of having various enormous car parks rather than a lack of proximity to the town since, as pointed out, it's pretty central). Never really understood why Port Talbot also has the Parkway handle given that is appears to be reasonably central as well. There are surely two basic uses of a Parkway? 1. Drive to the station from the wider catchment area of a town, and catch the train for the last hop into the town to overcome local parking limitations - that would be a parkway for Didcot - which this clearly isn't. 2. Drive to the station because it has vast carparks and it is a useful railhead to some distant place such as London. In this case the station is a parkway at Didcot. As an example, a parkway such as Southampton Airport (Parkway) is clearly used mostly as a railhead for London - I doubt very many people at all use it for commuting into Southampton, even though it could be so used. It isn't a parkway for the airport either. Paul Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: ellendune on December 13, 2011, 18:12:50 I'd agree with Didcot not needing to be called Parkway (I assume it's a function of having various enormous car parks rather than a lack of proximity to the town since, as pointed out, it's pretty central). Of course when the name was changed the half of the town North of the town was open fields (I use to commute through them) and there were comparitively few shops, almost all on the main street which is now the furthest part of the shopping centre. So the station was very much on the edge of the town. The station car park was also on the side of the station away from the town. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on January 30, 2012, 20:28:48 From thisisgloucestershire (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Tewkesbury-campaigners-want-Parkway-station/story-15078081-detail/story.html):
Quote Tewkesbury campaigners want Parkway station name change Campaigners hoping to change the name of Ashchurch for Tewkesbury rail station to Tewkesbury Parkway have suffered a blow, after Gloucestershire County Council refused to give its backing, vital to the decision being made by Network Rail and First Great Western. The Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group believes the change would be a vital step in achieve their aim of improving the station. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on January 30, 2012, 21:14:58 I wonder what is behind the decision made by Gloucestershire County Council? I thought this name change was a done deal. RAIL magazine recently reported that the name change would go 'live' from May 2012.
Perhaps the good burghers of Ashchurch were not happy to lose their village's moniker from the current station name.... Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on January 30, 2012, 23:50:08 Oh for goodness sake, this is ridiculous. How hard can it be? Just slap a sticker over the signs and change announcements/timetable and fares manual.
What's the big deal? It is illogical not to do this. "Tewkesbury Parkway" is the only sensible name for the station. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: fatcontroller on January 31, 2012, 00:48:09 Oh for goodness sake, this is ridiculous. How hard can it be? Just slap a sticker over the signs and change announcements/timetable and fares manual. What's the big deal? It is illogical not to do this. "Tewkesbury Parkway" is the only sensible name for the station. and then you have to change any maintenance contracts that state Ashchurch, if it's mentioned in the franchise agreement then that will need altering too. It's not simply a case of slapping a few stickers here, there, and everywhere! Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Pedros on February 01, 2012, 09:05:15 I was at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury station on Saturday with my dad and my young boy, and the state of the station was an absolute disgrace. The bins looked as if they hadn't been emptied in weeks, with rubbish piled but also strewn everywhere. Also, one of the information points had been smashed (the way the screen had shattered, it actually looked as if it had been shot at by a gun) It was such a shame to see, coupled with a two-hourly service to Gloucester it shows that the station is held in very poor regard. Conversely, I was plesantly surprised to see that there were probably a good 10-15 people joining the train heading towards Cheltenham/ Gloucester.
Speaking to my dad, he was saying that the 'Ashchurch for Tewkesbury' name comes from when the station was a changing point for people to then connect into Tewkesbury Town. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: eightf48544 on February 01, 2012, 10:48:04 Ashchurch was once an important junction with the line to Twekesbury continuing via Upton on Severn to Great Malvern. The Twekesbury shuttle was the preserve of ancient Midland 0-4-4 tanks.
To the East there was the link to the Reddich branch via Eversham which was a useful diversionary route avoiding Lickey and was heavily used by Iron Ore trains off the SMJR from Northamptonshire to South Wales which joined the route at Broom, before the spur at Stratford was built. Which enabled Broom to Stratford to be shut. There was also a flat crossing betweent the Eversham and Twekesbury lines just North of the station. Sad to hear it's got so run down. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on February 04, 2012, 19:41:54 From the Gloucestershire Echo (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Frustration-rail-repair-delay/story-15129999-detail/story.html):
Quote Frustration over rail repair delay Enthusiasts say rail bosses share the public's frustration that a damaged item at Ashchurch station has not been repaired. Vandals smashed the glass of a help point in early December. It had been installed by a rail operator following lobbying by the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group. John Stretton, from the group, said: "First Great Western are still awaiting a replacement screen from the manufacturers. They are as frustrated as us. The company is putting pressure on the manufacturers and we are a priority as soon as the glass is received." Tewkesbury resident David Bagley is also angry at the delay. He said: "I wonder how long it takes to replace a piece of glass?" Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on February 10, 2012, 21:56:18 An update, from the Gloucestershire Echo (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Commuters-face-new-rail-info-setback/story-15187859-detail/story.html):
Quote Commuters face new rail info setback Railway passengers have been left disappointed for a second time after an information point stopped working. Users had not been able to read train details on the help point at Ashchurch Station since early December, when vandals smashed its glass. But soon after the glass was finally replaced earlier this month, following public complaints about the length of the time it was taking, the help point stopped showing train times. Rail users were met with a message from operator First Great Western, saying information was unavailable due to a "communications problem". The machine was installed by First Great Western following lobbying by the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group. It spokesman, John Stretton, said he was waiting to hear back from the company about the latest problem. ::) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on September 19, 2012, 13:57:41 From the Gloucestershire Echo (http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Early-rail-service-direct-London/story-16929785-detail/story.html):
Quote Early rail service direct to London Campaigners in Tewkesbury have secured a new direct train service to London Paddington. Leaving the station at Ashchurch at 5.40am, it will arrive in London just after 8am. The First Great Western service is scheduled to begin in December. It follows a campaign by the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group which has been seeking to increase the number of trains calling at the station. Group spokesman Ken Radbourne said: "Although the service departs very early in the morning, it will provide a welcome boost in journey opportunities available from the station." Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 26, 2013, 12:27:47 From South West Business (http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/news/11122013092606-london-train-link-from-ashchurch-in-gloucestershire-staying-on-track/):
Quote London train link from Ashchurch in Gloucestershire staying on track Early morning train commutes from Ashchurch for Tewkesbury are set to continue after it was deemed a success. A trial run of the first direct train link to London from Ashchurch started last year. And on its first year anniversary yesterday, operator First Great Western said it would now put the stop permanently on its timetable. Together with Gloucestershire County Council, the train operators agreed last December that the 5.21am train from Worcester to London Paddington would stop at 5.40am at Ashchurch. And with an average of 15 people a week using the service, First Great Western has now decided to make the extra stop permanent. The county council agreed last year to put ^13,000 into the project ^12,000 of that for fuel, and ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. First Great Western will now take over the full costs of the stop. Campaigners yesterday applauded the news, and hope more people will now use the service. John Stretton, spokesman for the Ashchurch, Tewkesbury and District Rail Promotion Group, said: "It is like a Christmas present come early. I half expected First Great Western to say that it would do without the stop, but it has pulled out all the stops to ensure it remains, which was much more than we anticipated. Businessmen will now have the confidence to support it, now that it is a proper stop, not just a 12-month trial. The message is now getting out there, and more people are becoming interested in using the service. There is certainly potential for growth there." The group is now in talks to try and get a direct return train next year. Simon Excell, lead commissioner for strategic infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council said: "On a one year trial basis back in December 2012 we invested ^13,000 into Ashchurch railway station. It^s proven to be a real asset to local residents, especially those living in the north of the county as it offers an additional direct service to London." Vernon Smith, local cabinet member for Tewkesbury East, said, "It^s great that First Great Western has included the additional stop in the timetable, it seems to have been something that train users have really valued." Quote ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. Eh?? :o Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Electric train on December 26, 2013, 12:44:58 Quote ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. Eh?? :o That's about right, production cost a lot of railway signs are custom made often by RBL and then there is the fitting cost. Oh and we must not forget the "sighting" process ::) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: IndustryInsider on December 26, 2013, 12:45:56 Presumably the 2+7 and 2+8 stop car boards for HST's? Two platforms, so four would be required in total.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 26, 2013, 13:35:06 Thanks for those explanations - I'm now reassured! :D
I also noted this, from that article: Quote ... with an average of 15 people a week using the service, First Great Western has now decided to make the extra stop permanent. So FGW are happy that the fares they collect from those relatively few passengers will cover the full costs of the stop in the future. That's very encouraging, and not just for Ashchurch. ;) Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 26, 2013, 20:19:56 How on earth can 2 people per day cover the costs? I suppose the HST has to come from Worcester so it would be passing through.
If they re-named the station Tewkesbury Parkway they might get more people! Extending all of the Cheltenham HST to Worcester this way would also drum up the Gloucester - Worcester traffic and get more people to use the station. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 26, 2013, 20:23:50 If they re-named the station Tewkesbury Parkway ... ... that would be another ^1,000 for some new signs. ;) :D ;D Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on December 26, 2013, 20:25:44 Extending all of the Cheltenham HST to Worcester Stabling facilities? Staff facilities? Pathing? Timetabling? Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 26, 2013, 20:28:49 Indeed! I'll make them myself for less...
Surely FGW hav a depot in the Wos area? As for stabling, there is plenty of space for sidings at Worcester - or at least there was. Only an idea: seeing as no-one has increased the pathetic 2 hourly Malvern to Bristol service. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: grahame on December 26, 2013, 20:29:27 How on earth can 2 people per day cover the costs? Single to London (standard class) 78.50 / 157.00 return. At that time of the morning, I doubt whether the traffic is local so if there's room on the trains, 5 stops a week brings an income of a thousand or two pounds. Looks like common sense ... Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Chris from Nailsea on December 26, 2013, 20:36:32 From the previous news article:
Quote Together with Gloucestershire County Council, the train operators agreed last December that the 5.21am train from Worcester to London Paddington would stop at 5.40am at Ashchurch. And with an average of 15 people a week using the service, First Great Western has now decided to make the extra stop permanent. The county council agreed last year to put ^13,000 into the project ^12,000 of that for fuel, and ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. First Great Western will now take over the full costs of the stop. So, now that those new signs are installed, the only ongoing cost of that additional service (which First Great Western will cover) is the ^12,000 for fuel over the year. As grahame says, looks like common sense ... :D Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: ellendune on December 26, 2013, 21:27:27 Extending all of the Cheltenham HST to Worcester Stabling facilities? Staff facilities? Pathing? Timetabling? There is of-course the small fact that the turn round at Cheltenham does not give time fro a trip to Worcester and back so that would mean additional HST's - any idea where they would come from? If they were available then the cost would have to be covered from additional income. Remember that Worcester also has a service to london via the North Cotswold line. I think you are talking about a whole different ball game. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: JayMac on December 26, 2013, 22:28:07 Indeed ellendune.
I could've added 'Stock?' to my list. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 28, 2013, 01:04:32 Nah, they have enough stock - just pinch HSTs from the Cotswold line. :p
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Andrew1939 from West Oxon on December 28, 2013, 17:17:15 BTLine - pinching HSTs from the Cotswold Line is just what FGW does already but I think you must have your tongue in cheek.
Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 28, 2013, 21:07:14 Indeed, hence the tongue in cheek smiley. ;)
It would be an option to improve Worcester's links to the XC service at Cheltenham and Gloucester. The best option would be an extended Snow Hill line service running to Gloucester to make Worcs - Glous hourly. This would provide extra links such as Kidderminster - Cheltenham. Even better would be FGW running 1 tph Worcs to Bristol or sharing the running of the service with LM. This all needs stock - what's frustrating is that LM had the stock (after axing the Walsall to Wolverhampton line), but they ran an isolated Worcester - Gloucester service and timetabled it so it ran just after the FGW service. Unsurprisingly this got axed and the 100 mph stock was poached for Shrewsbury. This was a wasted opportunity, as LM and FGW now claim there is no demand. Well of course - the M5 is currently better! Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: CLPGMS on December 29, 2013, 11:04:07 I think that the take-up at Ashchurch would be higher if there was a return train from London which called there. Perhaps, the 1948 from PAD to Worcester could do so.
Quote It would be an option to improve Worcester's links to the XC service at Cheltenham and Gloucester. The best option would be an extended Snow Hill line service running to Gloucester to make Worcs - Glous hourly. This would provide extra links such as Kidderminster - Cheltenham. For once, I agree with Btline. It occurs to me that too many trains (FGW and LM) run between Worcester and Great Malvern, with the result that some only carry one or two passengers between these stations, especially when trains are only 10 minutes apart. If some way could be found to divert, say, 3 LM trains per day to run from Birmingham, via Kidderminster, to Cheltenham (or Gloucester) instead of Great Malvern, at times in between the existing FGW service, making connections at Shrub Hill, then the whole operation could cost next to nothing. LM train crews already know the route as one train per week runs from Birmingham to Gloucester (2346 from Shrub Hill on Fridays only). I suspect that it would just be a case of "where there's a will, there's a way"! Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: anthony215 on December 29, 2013, 14:15:07 If stock is available to do it and Network rail give the ok for paths then a Birmingham - Gloucester service via Stourbridge, Kidderminster & Worcester would be popular.
The section between Worcester & Great Malvern already has the hourly Hereford - Birmingham new Street service and a regular Hereford/Great Malvern - London service which the latter should hopefully be improved in the near future. I have seen the services coming from Snow Hill and these are usually empty between Worcester Forgate Street and Great Malvern with passengers prefering the others ervices I have mentioned. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Btline on December 29, 2013, 14:45:15 The other option is starting a 2nd train per hour from Worcester to Birmingham (path and stock available as it is half hourly during peaks).
This train could then continue to Gloucester or Evesham (post redoubling), providing more North Worcestershire links. A bit of imagination is required. Stock is available. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: grahame on January 04, 2014, 05:27:14 From the previous news article: Quote Together with Gloucestershire County Council, the train operators agreed last December that the 5.21am train from Worcester to London Paddington would stop at 5.40am at Ashchurch. And with an average of 15 people a week using the service, First Great Western has now decided to make the extra stop permanent. The county council agreed last year to put ^13,000 into the project ^12,000 of that for fuel, and ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. First Great Western will now take over the full costs of the stop. So, now that those new signs are installed, the only ongoing cost of that additional service (which First Great Western will cover) is the ^12,000 for fuel over the year. As grahame says, looks like common sense ... :D Interestingly, had about 80% of the additional fare box income gone to the DfT as it would under cap and collar until last autumn, it would have made a lot less common sense. Such was the way that innovations were slugged, and it's good to see new shoots of innovation such as this one. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Bmblbzzz on May 06, 2015, 10:29:27 Quote ^1,000 for a new sign for drivers. Eh?? :o That's about right, production cost a lot of railway signs are custom made often by RBL and then there is the fitting cost. Oh and we must not forget the "sighting" process ::) Though I'm not sure why that would cost ^1000, except that, again, there would be several of them. Title: Re: Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station - campaign for renaming and other improvements Post by: Richard Fairhurst on December 06, 2017, 12:36:12 I see the Ashchurch & Tewkesbury District Rail Promotion Group has a new website: https://atdrpg.wordpress.com/
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