Second station planned for Cranbrook despite long delay in original plans
Cranbrook Station takes shape
PROPOSALS are being considered for a second railway station at Cranbrook.
The first station at the new community has still not opened and is currently more than a year behind schedule.
But it has now emerged that a second station could serve the growing community.
A feasibility study is currently underway into the proposal, according to the county council.
A council spokesman said: ^We^re talking to East Devon District Council and others about the future infrastructure needed for the growing town.
^The rail line is a really important part of the town^s transport strategy, providing fast and direct access in and out of Exeter, reducing the need for car use.
^A lot of work would need to be done before deciding whether a second station would be feasible.
^Discussions at this stage have been around securing land early on that could be used in future as a second station, if such a plan becomes feasible.^
Plans to build the station currently emerging at Cranbrook have been hit by lengthy delays.
It was meant to open last summer. That deadline was pushed back to last Christmas after the development was beset with problems.
The latest prediction is that it will open this autumn.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: ^This is a very exciting project for Network Rail and we are working hard to finish the work as soon as we can.
^However, we and our contractors have encountered unforeseen problems that mean that we are faced with some delays.
^These include the complications building the entrance over an important sewer that runs through the village and also with the railway^s signalling system.
^Network Rail is working with its contractors to establish what impact these issues will have on the completion date for the station ^ pending the outcome of these discussions, it is likely that construction will now complete in the autumn.^
Meanwhile, a working party of the county council currently looking into the future of rail transport in Devon has raised a question mark over another rail project near Cranbrook.
Plans for a huge distribution centre for Sainsbury^s, on land originally intended as an intermodal freight terminal, were abandoned several years ago.
The supermarket giant said earlier this year that it was marketing the vacant site and was in detailed negotiations with interested parties.
The site, just outside Clyst Honiton, is seen as having potential for a rail link. But that is now up for discussion.
The council^s working party said in a report: ^Devon County Council will be addressing the principle of retaining rail access into the planned Intermodal Freight Terminal site near Cranbrook as part of the Examination in Public of the East Devon Local Plan.
^A matter has been raised by the Planning Inspector which asks the question about the need for this requirement.
^Devon County Council considers that access to the rail network at this location is unlikely, due to a range of technical and economic reasons.^
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