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Council welcomes Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study

Wiltshire Council has welcomed the publication of Network Rail's Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study, which sets out the basis of strategic rail planning in the county in the future.

Published 23 October 2024

Wiltshire Council has welcomed the publication of Network Rail's Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study, which sets out the basis of strategic rail planning in the county in the future.

The Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study, led by Network Rail and local partners, looks at how rail services can support the county's growing population and economy. It suggests improvements to rail connectivity within Wiltshire and to key regional hubs to connect the county to the rest of the country.

It highlights that the current rail system lacks frequent and direct services, especially in north-south routes, and needs better links to hubs such as Oxford and Birmingham.

Its key recommendations look to increase services, grow passenger numbers and build new stations, including:

* Enhance local services, especially on the TransWilts route (via Melksham), to improve connectivity within Wiltshire.
* Build new stations at Devizes and Corsham to support population growth and increase rail usage.
* Develop new direct rail services between Wiltshire and key hubs.
* Upgrade track and signalling infrastructure, such as in Westbury and Melksham, to accommodate more services and improve connections at Westbury.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We welcome this wide-ranging Network Rail report, which looks to improve connectivity and transport links in Wiltshire and beyond. It follows the business cases developed by Wiltshire Council under the previous government's Restoring your Railway scheme.

"It also supports our county's sustainable economic and population growth, helping the county to expand sustainably, while also improving regional connectivity, and boosting both passenger numbers and freight use of the railways.

"However, there is a still a long way to go before the objectives of this study can be realised, and Network Rail will now begin detailed analysis of the proposals before taking forward business cases to progress these projects.

"Ensuring we have well-connected communities is a key part of our Business Plan, and a growing Wiltshire rail network will help us to deliver on this. Rail is also a key part of our forthcoming Local Transport Plan, which looks to provide genuine travel choices while also reducing carbon emissions.

"We will continue to work with both Network Rail and other partners to take these projects forward and will keep lobbying Government to invest in rail improvements throughout Wiltshire."

Can we read the full study anywhere?

Not yet, apparently: it hasn't been posted on the Network Rail website, so far.  :-X

You should now find a copy of the final report in our member's mirror at
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/Wiltshire_Rail_Strategic_Study_final.pdf

Certain elements will be discussed on BBC Radio Wiltshire just after 7 a.m. tomorrow (24th)

Two towns with increasing populations should get their own railway stations, according to a new report.

Network Rail has recommended building the stations in Corsham and Devizes, Wiltshire, to support population and economic growth.

Other recommendations include increasing the number of services in Wiltshire by upgrading tracks and signals.

Sarah Gibson, MP for Chippenham, said the report is a "great step forward", but warned the plans would need approval from the government and Treasury.

The far-reaching report, called Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study, sets out the basis of strategic rail planning in the county.

It also says Wiltshire's current rail system "lacks frequent and direct services", especially in north-south routes.

Better links to areas such as Oxford and Birmingham are also needed, the report stated.

TRANSWILTS WELCOMES NETWORK RAIL STUDY

TransWilts Community Rail Partnership (TWCRP) is pleased to see the publication of the first stage in developing a strategic plan for rail in Wiltshire. The Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study, developed by Network Rail and key stakeholders, including TWCRP, outlines a set of proposals to form the basis of strategic rail planning in Wiltshire. The next stage in this work is to test out the proposals before identifying the most feasible projects to take forward backed by robust business cases.
We are delighted the report is highlighting the need to enhance local services on the TransWilts route via Melksham and to upgrade track and signalling infrastructure, such as in Westbury and Melksham to accommodate more services and improve connections at Westbury.

We are committed to increasing the number of people using rail and other means of public transport and so the inclusion of existing proposals to build new stations at Devizes and Corsham is very welcome. Whilst building stations is a costly business, we support both stations to assist the economic gains to be had from population growth and business interest in those areas as well as the environmental benefits in reducing carbon emissions.

TransWilts and its partners will continue to contribute to the work to create a deliverable strategic plan for rail in Wiltshire. We welcome this first stage and its proposals to improve connectivity and transport links both within Wiltshire and to key locations beyond the County.
ENDS

I rather think you are waiting for the budget announcement to find out.

Anyone actually *seen* the report yet? If so, a link?

You should now find a copy of the final report in our member's mirror at
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/Wiltshire_Rail_Strategic_Study_final.pdf