Direct trains to Birmingham could return to Stroud, Stonehouse and Swindon

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

From the Stroud News and Journal

Direct trains to Birmingham could return to Stroud and Stonehouse
THE NEWS that direct trains to Birmingham could soon return to Stroud and Stonehouse for the first time in more than 20 years has been welcomed by key figures.

The plans are part of the £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub scheme, which aims to boost rail services across the region by adding up to 260 additional weekly services through Stroud and Stonehouse.

A new hourly direct route between Swindon and Birmingham - through Stroud and Stonehouse - could be introduced, re-establishing a connection last served in the early 2000s.

The article continues

[ChrisB]

Sure does....

"Hopefully this could also bring the long-awaited and much-needed accessibility changes we need made to Stroud Railway Station, as otherwise those with mobility issues will find that whilst the journey could be made, their experience accessing the town will be less than positive."

Might be an idea if the good councillors arranged for their kerbs to be dropped otherwise wheelchairs won't be welcome even if the station becomes accessible - the town isn't....

[infoman]

Would this West Midlands money be better spent on bringing over heads wires to Bristol temple meads for the Bristol to Manchester services?

Just think how much more pollution would be removed from Birmingham new street train station.

[John D]

Would this West Midlands money be better spent on bringing over heads wires to Bristol temple meads for the Bristol to Manchester services?

Just think how much more pollution would be removed from Birmingham new street train station.

Some of the route is already wired, although only 2 of 4 tracks are done around Kings Norton.  I think the Midlands Hub is due to do this anyway.

And the section from near Yate to Filton is also electrified.

There is a short section of electrification at Swindon end of line from Kemble too.

If Filton Bank into Temple Meads is done, then don't need to add very much (makebe short section to accelerate northwards from Yate) to allow Battery EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) (rather than bimodes) to take over the service. 

And as the bridges to Water Orton are being raised for adjacent HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) tracks that section would be easy to electrify too (which allows BEMUs to reach Central Rivers Depot)

Regarding New Street after the cross city line was electrified air quality was much better, but has become lot worse since voyagers were introduced 24ish years ago, as it was rebuilt with expectation of locos at the end of trains, so the exhausts were in open air section, not in the covered section with concourse and shops above.

[ellendune]

Would this West Midlands money be better spent on bringing over heads wires to Bristol temple meads for the Bristol to Manchester services?

This is a false comparison as the electrification is capital investment and a new service is revenue. 

Just think how much more pollution would be removed from Birmingham new street train station.

OK but this service would transform journeys from Swindon to the midlands and the north as the change at Cheltenham can be somewhat of a lottery adding up to an hour to the journey time.   Think how much pollution this would remove from our roads.

[ellendune]

From the Swindon Advertiser

Swindon to Birmingham train line return to bring 12,750 jobs

An extract

The £1.75 billion investment aims to improve rail connections across the Midlands, South West, and South Wales.

The first phase of the Midlands Rail Hub is expected to create more than 12,750 jobs and deliver benefits for travellers in the region.

Swindon North 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) Will Stone met with Midlands Connect and rail leaders at Swindon railway station to discuss the scheme’s potential, which could introduce up to 130 extra trains per week between Swindon and Birmingham.

The MP said he will be working to ensure Swindon benefits not just from the rail connection but also ensure companies in the town are involved in the supply chain jobs and provide apprenticeships for young people in our town.

Mr Stone said: "It’s fantastic that Swindon could be benefiting from the Midlands Rail hub expansion.

"We’re a town built on connection via the railways, and so it’s great to see Swindon getting an hourly service between a fellow industrial town like Birmingham."

[ChrisB]

From the Stroud News and Journal

Direct trains to Birmingham could return to Stroud and Stonehouse

The plans are part of the £1.75 billion Midlands Rail Hub scheme, which aims to boost rail services across the region by adding up to 260 additional weekly services through Stroud and Stonehouse.

From the Swindon Advertiser

Swindon to Birmingham train line return to bring 12,750 jobs

An extract

Swindon North 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) Will Stone met with Midlands Connect and rail leaders at Swindon railway station to discuss the scheme’s potential, which could introduce up to 130 extra trains per week between Swindon and Birmingham.

Hmmm.......making it all up again.....we'll see.

[grahame]

It was interesting to read the piece on this in the Swindon Advertiser too (I think we have another thread going on that?) and see how public comment was "it's all very well about the midlands - but what about south from here?".   And indeed the Swindon MPs^▸ (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) might like do well in the popularity stakes to sort out in-county travel to places like Trowbridge and Salisbury - get it reliable and hourly - before they head off on a brand new project of trains to Birmingham.

[chuffed]

The person to lobby is the SoS who is Heidi Alexander 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) for Swindon South!.

[ellendune]

I travel much less for business these days (only work 2 days a week anyway) but, when I did, the need to change at Cheltenham was a definite disincentive to use the train for long distance travel to the midlands and the north of England - where half our customers are based.  I have spent many hours on Cheltenham Station waiting for connections over the years. The choice of going via Oxford or Reading was not ideal either as Oxford involved 2 changes and the connections on that route are even more precarious, particularly if going to the east midlands or the north east. I have waited at Oxford while staff  stand around talking when the signal was cleared to take the local train to the sidings, delaying my cross-country train which was waiting to enter the platform, the delay meant I lost my connection at New Street!

[Noggin]

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), as part of the Midlands Rail Hub there was a plan that TfWM would run a train per hour from Moor Street to Bristol, and one to Cardiff.

I wonder if one of those legs is now considered unviable (perhaps XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) didn't want the competition to Cardiff) and so the powers that be are making a virtue out necessity? 

Seems like a sensible idea anyway.

[Witham Bobby]

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), as part of the Midlands Rail Hub there was a plan that TfWM would run a train per hour from Moor Street to Bristol, and one to Cardiff.

I wonder if one of those legs is now considered unviable (perhaps XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) didn't want the competition to Cardiff) and so the powers that be are making a virtue out necessity? 

Seems like a sensible idea anyway.

It's a sensible idea, but, given the capacity constraints Moor Street and Bristol (via Oxford, I guess you mean, but also if via Bromsgrove) I don't see how it could happen, without the restoration of the route between Stratford upon Avon and Cheltenham

[John D]

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), as part of the Midlands Rail Hub there was a plan that TfWM would run a train per hour from Moor Street to Bristol, and one to Cardiff.

I wonder if one of those legs is now considered unviable (perhaps XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) didn't want the competition to Cardiff) and so the powers that be are making a virtue out necessity? 

Seems like a sensible idea anyway.

It's a sensible idea, but, given the capacity constraints Moor Street and Bristol (via Oxford, I guess you mean, but also if via Bromsgrove) I don't see how it could happen, without the restoration of the route between Stratford upon Avon and Cheltenham

The Midlands rail hub has plans for a new spur at Bordesley linking the line from Moor Street to the Camp Hill line to Kings Norton.   At Moor Street plans are for couple of extra terminating platforms built over Shaws Passage (and adjacent derelict site), freeing up some of the existing platforms for the Camp Hill line trains.

The line from Moor Street was one of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) improvements of 1932 and was quadrupled to Lapworth (although some has since been rationalised to just 2 tracks)

[ChrisB]

.... and Bristol (via Oxford, I guess you mean, but also if via Bromsgrove)

Via Bromsgrove....and the Golden Valley - if you check the paper quotes above