Pop up stations - where should be tried??

[whole diary]

[grahame]

'Pop up' railway stations could test passenger demand, say Greens

A story from The Scotsman

‘Pop up’ railway stations could test passenger demand, say Greens. Picture -  Passengers wait for a train at the temporary Workington North railway station which was built in six days in 2009.

“Pop-up” rail stations should be built to test passenger demand at new stops, the Scottish Greens have urged. The party said temporary halts would help make the case for permanent new stations.

The possible new 'pop-up' stations Its MSPs^▸ (Member of Scottish Parliament) are lobbying Scottish Government officials to consider the novel approach as part of a deal struck in return for supporting the minority SNP’s 2018-19 budget. Finance secretary Derek Mackay has agreed to consider a new “pipeline” fund of up to £2 million to develop new stations and lines. It was prompted by the Greens’ concern that no new rail projects have been proposed by Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland since it was created 12 years ago.

New stations on existing lines which have opened since 2006, such as Edinburgh Gateway and Laurencekirk, had been previously approved. Consultants Allan Rail, run by former Transport Scotland rail official David Prescott, have suggested around 20 possible pop-up station sites across Scotland.

Where (if anywhere) might we suggest for such trials in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) land? 

[eightf48544]

Not sure how this would work. A  modern simple  railway station is a pretty hefty piece of infrastructure requiring a large amount of land. Not at all  like a pop up shop or cafe  which use an existing building. Or even some of the Great Western Halts which consisted of a dirt path from the road  to a couple of sleepers by the side of the track. The famous quiz question halts Fountain Bridge and Waterloo come to mind.

A long time back at a First GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) User Group meeting in Bristol we coined the phrase A railway station is not a bus stop.

[johnneyw]

Aztec West would be nice as would other suggested Metrowest stations. St Anne's immediately springs to mind.

[rogerw]

Easy access would be a necessity to ensure quick/cheap construction.  Unfortunately those two site do not have easy access.

[johnneyw]

Easy access would be a necessity to ensure quick/cheap construction.  Unfortunately those two site do not have easy access.

Aztec would be difficult. St Anne's site I think has adequate road access still from what I recall after walking by it last year. Could be wrong though.

[grahame]

Easy access would be a necessity to ensure quick/cheap construction.  Unfortunately those two site do not have easy access.

Aztec would be difficult. St Anne's site I think has adequate road access still from what I recall after walking by it last year. Could be wrong though.

Aztec would be more of a drop down than a pop up!

[Richard Fairhurst]

Difficult in that any pop-up station needs to be predominantly local custom who can walk/cycle there (unless there already happens to be a convenient car park next door), and the line needs to have capacity.

Cullompton might have a case. Slightly outside GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) territory, I could see a few opportunities in South Wales - from St Clears to Caerleon.

[froome]

Realistically, sites that might be possible are likely to already be on lists waiting for available funding. With this in mind, it would be fairly simple to do a pop-up at the old Ashley Down station, where the old platform on one side still exists and has a foot/cycle path leading to and from it, and probably at Saltford, where I think the platform still exists in some form and where access (and probably car parking) could probably be negotiated for a temporary trial.

With tongue slightly in cheek I would also suggest Pilning, where some trains could actually pop up and stop from time to time!

[martyjon]

Charfield, Stonehouse (Bristol Line), Gloucester (Barnwood on avoiding line), Saltford, Corsham, Wilton Parkway, Devizes Parkway, Langport, Bristol Muller Road (Ashley Hill), Bristol Constable Road (Horfield/Lockleaze), Bristol St. Annes, Bristol Portway (Park and Ride). Plymouth (Laira area/ foot of Hemerdon), Collumpton, Wellington, Norton Fitzwarren, Wantage Parkway, Wotton Bassett, Pilning, Llanwern.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... Collumpton ...

Ah, you got me guessing with that one. 

[martyjon]

... Collumpton ...

Ah, you got me guessing with that one. 

Finger trouble !!!!

[eightf48544]

With tongue slightly in cheek I would also suggest Pilning, where some trains could actually pop up and stop from time to time!

In a similar vein Reddish South and Denton plus Brigg line stations could do with pop up trains.

I am sure there are many more stations  where a more regular reliable train service could cause a Melksham effect.