Transport Secretary in Taunton to look at region^s largest regeneration project

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

From South West Business (12/06/2014):

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will be in Taunton today (Thursday) to see for himself why a dramatic up-grade of Taunton Rail Station is so vital, and how it would stimulate the largest regeneration project in the South West on the adjacent Firepool site.

The ^4.6 million station masterplan which has the backing of Network Rail and First Great Western, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset County Council, will re-orientate the station turning the access around to face the Firepool area.

Passenger facilities, improved parking, a public transport interchange and new commercial, residential and retail developments are all linked to the project. Leafy boulevards will lead rail users via a ^Riviera-style^ riverside approach to the centre of the county town.

A bid for funding has been submitted by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership as part of an overall ^22 million plan for Taunton which will be triggered once the initial funding has been secured.

A decision on whether the station scheme will win Growth Deal funding is expected within weeks.

Rebecca Pow, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Taunton Deane, will show Mr McLoughlin the site.

He said: ^It is just 90 minutes by train from Taunton to London and with rail use through this station, which is a central West County hub, predicted to rise by 40 per cent within the next six years, improving the site is absolutely vital.^

Also, a video news report on the same subject from ITV News:
http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2014-06-12/taunton-station-in-line-for-four-million-pound-upgrade/

[eightf48544]

Any mention of improving capacity reinstating some of the four tracking or facilities for the West Somerset?

[broadgage]

Any mention of improving capacity reinstating some of the four tracking or facilities for the West Somerset?

I doubt it ! "leafy boulevards" though ! what is not to like about that.
Sounds as though business travel might increase, perhaps more first class seats might be needed on the trains ? or what about introducing some new longer trains, rather than 5 car DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) ? or perhaps new trains with a hot buffet or even a restaurant available to steerage ?

The last improvement at Taunton consisted of blocking the exit from the down platform to the taxi rank, requiring a detour via the invariably open and unmaned new ticket gates.

And as for Taunton being only 90 minutes from london, that sounds a bit optimistic ! the fastest down services are about 105 minutes, with 115 minutes being more typical. Slower into London due to charter minutes being inserted at the end of a journey.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The last improvement at Taunton consisted of blocking the exit from the down platform to the taxi rank, requiring a detour via the invariably open and unmanned new ticket gates.

Yes, that struck me, too, as a rather bizarre 'improvement' to the Taunton station facilities ... 

[Wilf19]

Interesting - I've found the new barriers to be closed on most of the occasions I go through them and unmanned.  Maybe it's the times I go through, 7am and 6 - 7 pm.

When the barriers refuse to read my weekly season ticket (usually by about Wednesday each week) I then have to use the video intercom thing to talk to the station staff on the other barrier to get in or out - quite challenging when there is a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) Power Car parked next to the intercom.

Sadly ^4.6m doesn't seem to go far on these sort of projects these days, so I'm not going to get my hopes up too much. Of course I hope I'm proved wrong.

Taunton only 90 minutes from London? Please show me that train in the time-table!

[grahame]

Taunton only 90 minutes from London? Please show me that train in the time-table!

London fare zone boundary to Taunton, 90 minutes, is perhaps what he meant?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C48443/2014/06/16/advanced