Worcestershire Parkway Station project - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Actually, if it's non-stop or one-stop (likely University), it'll attract passengers....

Interesting thought ... that with a University stop throughout the day, you're looking at a journey time of about 25 minutes which is probably very attractive for people who want to live in the Worcestershire countryside and work or study at the University.  Market to develop there!   

Looking at Ashchurch prices - £42.00 for an anytime return to University ... £26.10 after 09:30.  £87.90 for a 7 day season looks like much better value.   Ashchurch to University as a commute isn't one I had previously thought of - perhaps because of the poor through services - see attachment

[Red Squirrel]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

[grahame]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

Kent House?

Long explanation I saw somewhere that suggests the name indicates it's a station for the wider county and not just for Worcester, hence the name.

[Oxonhutch]

Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

Bit like the sauce! For generations, we've enjoyed Worcester Sauce in our family - and now I see the suffix '-shire' has been added to every bottle. 

[stuving]

Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

Bit like the sauce! For generations, we've enjoyed Worcester Sauce in our family - and now I see the suffix '-shire' has been added to every bottle. 

Since Lea & Perrins added the -shire 150 years ago, presumably to appear classier, you've obviously been using one bottle very, very, slowly, or else a supermarket own brand sauce - no point their trying to look classy.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

Not a county, of course, but there's East Midlands Parkway.

[patch38]

Since Lea & Perrins added the -shire 150 years ago, presumably to appear classier, you've obviously been using one bottle very, very, slowly, or else a supermarket own brand sauce - no point their trying to look classy.

Brings to mind one of my favourite Tim Vine gags:

"I entered a competition and won a year's supply of Marmite. One jar."

[Richard Fairhurst]

Looking at Ashchurch prices - £42.00 for an anytime return to University ... £26.10 after 09:30.  £87.90 for a 7 day season looks like much better value.   Ashchurch to University as a commute isn't one I had previously thought of - perhaps because of the poor through services - see attachment

Of course, there's the pricing elephant in the room...

Worcester Stations to Birmingham Stations is £11.30 SDR, £9.60 CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')).

Ashchurch to Birmingham Stations is £42.00 SOR, £26.10 SVR. (No day returns available.)

You've probably already guessed that the former are set by West Midlands Railway and the latter by Cross"we've never found a flow we don't want to gouge"Country. Given that the services at Worcestershire Parkway will be operated by CrossCountry, I would assume they'll set the prices too.

But if a day out from Parkway is three or four times the cost of one from Shrub Hill or Foregate, I wonder how many people will choose it. Yes, there are always advance fares, and maybe - he says doubtfully - it'll find a niche for Worcestershire folk going on holiday to Devon or something. Still, WMR^» (West Midlands Railway - website)'s Worcester-Birmingham fares are famously good value, and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise))'s fares are famously bad value, and putting the two up against each other may not end happily.

[grahame]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

You used to have the LCC - London County Council.  So perhaps you could consider London Fenchurch Street, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars and a few more I have overlooked to be considered as bearing county names.

[Bmblbzzz]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

You used to have the LCC - London County Council.  So perhaps you could consider London Fenchurch Street, London Cannon Street, London Blackfriars and a few more I have overlooked to be considered as bearing county names.

If you look at it that way, Bristol is (in)famously city and county, so Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway could be thought of as county names.

For a different answer to Red Squiggel's question, this station is quite some way from Worcester.

[stuving]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

Northumberland Parlk - now that is a long way away, even for a lover of old counties.

Edit:to remove a duplicate I didn't spot at the time.

[JontyMort]

Out of interest, can anyone think of another instance of a station being named after a county rather than a city or town? Why isn't it Worcester Parkway?

I have always assumed that "Worcester Parkway" would be too like Worcester Park. That said, the County is keen to attract traffic from west of the Severn. Presumably they are also keen to divert traffic away from the county's main station (arguably Warwick Parkway...).

[Dispatch Box]

When is this station going to be built, and opened. Now heres to a Gloucester Parkway next, should be by the Barnwood Bypass.

[IndustryInsider]

It is being built currently and will open next year.

[CMRail]

When is this station going to be built, and opened. Now heres to a Gloucester Parkway next, should be by the Barnwood Bypass.

They were going to build one at Elmbridge Court in 2006 however it wasn’t the best idea. The Gloucester MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) said it’s unlikely  one would be built in the next ten years, however if it was would be built near to Waterwells Business Park.