GWR Growing places report March 2026

John D

Sr. Member

Posts: 296

GWR Growing places report March 2026

« on: March 23, 2026, 15:43:23 »

GWR^▸ have released a report, with case study of 11 stations, regarding growth (economic, housing and jobs)

https://www.gwr.com/-/media/gwr-sc-website/files/publications/growing-places-report-2026.pdf

Has some interesting charts on page 13 which unless I am misreading them seem to suggest office growth is expected to be lot faster in South West than South East.

I am still trying to comprehend if it is basically a nudge to Government saying we need to expand railway away from London, specifically in South west (rather than London & SE or north), or what else it is trying to achieve.

There is even a section on pollution, but doesn't seem to offer a solution, guess they can't move the 387s or utilise surplus 350/2 due to Bristol being a non electrified railway. Not clear to me if it is saying we are held back by not being an electrified railway, or if it is saying aren't we clever for just about managing.


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grahame

Administrator
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Posts: 46897

Re: GWR Growing places report March 2026

« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2026, 16:33:20 »

Quote from: John D on March 23, 2026, 15:43:23

Interesting choice of 11 places - how have GWR come up with those?

I tend to look at things with a Wiltshirecentric view. My home town of Melksham has had perhaps 1000 new homes in the past five years, and it's expected there will be a further 3000 to 4000 in the next dozen years or so. I'm not sure what "vicinity of the station" means, but 68.5 acre has been sold off by Cooper Tires really close to the station, and the upside yard, Avonside proposal and Library site are all very close. We look pretty impressive against some of the officially chosen ...

Not a single new station in Wiltshire. A co-incidence in this planning period? I don't think so - the last brand new station to open in Wiltshire was in 1937, and there was a single re-opening of a 1966 closure in 1985.

And I have mirrored the report for members at https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/mirror/growing_places_report_2026.pdf in case it goes off GWR in due course.


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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member

eightonedee

Transport Scholar
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Posts: 1974

Re: GWR Growing places report March 2026

« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2026, 22:38:12 »

Wot no Devizes Parkway?


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Bob_Blakey

Transport Scholar
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Posts: 982

Re: GWR Growing places report March 2026

« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2026, 09:14:39 »

The newish Marsh Barton station appears in the report. It is hemmed in by the Marsh Barton Trading Estate to the west, and by the River Exe and it's flood plain to the east, so I would suggest there is little in the way of potential residential building development, and thus leisure passenger growth, in the immediately adjacent area. I assume 'travel to work' passenger numbers are already established.

The ongoing significant residential developments to the south of Marsh Barton, roughly 1.5 - 2.5 miles from the station, will possibly over time increase footfall although only if the regular A379 & Bad Homburg Way traffic jam issues are resolved.


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Sulis John

Full Member

Posts: 72

Re: GWR Growing places report March 2026

« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2026, 15:02:56 »

It’s hardly surprising though that none of the 35 stations is in Wiltshire - we know that there are currently no new stations funded / under construction in the county - unlike all of those 35 (36 if you add in Brabazon). What should be is of course another matter.


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grahame

Administrator
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Posts: 46897

Re: GWR Growing places report March 2026

« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2026, 15:16:29 »

Quote from: Sulis John on March 24, 2026, 15:02:56

Last Thursday I attended the "Wiltshire Sustainable Transport Forum" in Trowbridge

I am (today, Tuesday) on my way home from the GWR^▸ and Network Rail briefing in Westminster.

To my knowledge, I was the ONLY person to attend both ...

"What should be is, of course, another matter" Grin


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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member

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