Worcester Parkway project

[whole diary]

[Btline]

Sorry Chris, the problem with local news articles is that don't archive all articles.
The "source" from Wikipedia, for example is now dead.

However, I can categorically state that it was reported that Shrub Hill would close.

Think about it - there is very little place for Shrub Hill as it is; it only exists due to the track layout restricting use of Foregate Street.
To be honest, re-doing the track layout and signalling would be a better use of the money!

As for Malvern Link - this is my opinon, but I know a lot of South Worcester people drive there (as the traffic in Worcs is a nightmare) and they would switch to Parkway. Can Malvern support 2 stations on its own?

[Unixman]

Sorry Chris, the problem with local news articles is that don't archive all articles.
The "source" from Wikipedia, for example is now dead.

However, I can categorically state that it was reported that Shrub Hill would close.

Think about it - there is very little place for Shrub Hill as it is; it only exists due to the track layout restricting use of Foregate Street.
To be honest, re-doing the track layout and signalling would be a better use of the money!

 

There is, however, a massive plan that will redevelop the area to the east of the station which could mean that it is economically viable to keep SH. Caveat: I have no idea the current state of the plan - this link is from a couple of years back:

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/9732026.City_s_biggest_ever_revamp/

Update: http://www.ggassociates.co.uk/articles.php?artid=29&l=1#

Notice that there is a plan for a footbridge ....

http://www.ggassociates.co.uk/gallery/gallery.php?imageid=70

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting, Unixman, and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum. 

[IndustryInsider]

I see many London Midland services come in to Worcester Shrub Hill from Birmingham and go out of service (they park on the centre track or behind platform no2)

And when do you suggest the drivers take their breaks? Yup, after they've parked up. Going out to Evesham would require further stock, extra driver hours....additional costs. I doubt it would be cost effective for LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise).

The infrastructure does need sorting out perhaps at the same time as the signalling ! This is on the cards to be done.

Errr, not quite. Been put back into Control Period 6 and likely to be CP7 before it gets high enough up the list to be done.

I think as a medium to long term plan, the opening of Worcester(shire?) Parkway and redoubling of the line from Norton Junction to Evesham West Junction, together with resignalling in the Worcester area, will pave the way for services to be extended through to Evesham to provide a half-hourly service throughout the day.  It probably wouldn't be cost effective for LM, as ChrisB says, but that's where subsidies from the local bodies may come in and any staffing and stock costs would not be too astronomic.

Certainly that's for well in the future though when the new station is well established, and the infrastructure have been improved.  Possibly nearer in the future you might be able to squeeze the odd extra train in the peak hours to improve the commuting service from Evesham and Pershore - and Worcester Parkway may well be the added factor that allows that to reach the tipping point in favour.  A LM extension would be the obvious choice.

[martvw]

 At last some positive talk about the Worcester Parkway Station. I for one think that the Worcester Parkway Station will be a good boost for Worcester. Close to the M5 and the southern link road (the council know this road is a pain, but it is to be sorted). The railway infrastructure does need to be sorted out two tracks on the Cotswold line would be better (it will come). As for the two stations at Malvern its had two stations for well over a century both are well used and the town keeps growing so no need to close one. Worcester Parkway will be as popular as the Warwick Parkway station , but will be here on our door step. Lets take things one step at a time! its coming.

[ChrisB]

There is NO way the this station will ever reach the popularity of Warwick Parkway!

Even with a tad of latent demand appearing, where are all the current pax accessing the railway currently? And why would most of them get in their cars now & drive to this Parkway rather than stay accessing where they do currently?

[IndustryInsider]

There is NO way the this station will ever reach the popularity of Warwick Parkway!

Even with a tad of latent demand appearing, where are all the current pax accessing the railway currently? And why would most of them get in their cars now & drive to this Parkway rather than stay accessing where they do currently?

I agree that it would not be a similar station to Warwich Parkway, but it does have some striking parallels to Stratford Upon Avon Parkway, and even Tiverton Parkway.

People who work in Worcester, but are fed up of the high traffic volumes that build up on the approaches to the town centre might use is.  People who live in the surrounding villages and east side of Worcester might use it (though many might be existing passengers using it instead of Shrub Hill or Pershore).  Finally, it may well be useful as an interchange station for people travelling from/to Gloucester/Cheltenham and the Cotswolds/Oxford as it will likely reduce journey times on any other option available currently.

Certainly it doesn't make my 'top 10 list of things which have to be built ASAP', but I think it will prove successful, even if on a more modest level than the likes of Warwick Parkway.

[ChrisB]

Agreed, and should hopefully see something better at Shrub Hill eventually.

I suspect it's in for the long haul, as it'll requite a 'request' from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) in the XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) invitation to tender to 'persuade' them to stop....

[JayMac]

It needn't be a request.

Service Level Commitments can be written in to the tender as compulsory.

[ChrisB]

That's what I meant, hence request in quotes....

[Btline]

I doubt they'll want to slow the Bristol to Bham XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service.

It already takes 90 minutes for just 90m!

The trains are also packed and they won't want Pershore/ Shrub Hill / Malvern Link commuters swamping the trains just for a quicker journey to Birmingham.

(it will be about 30 mins to New Street instead of 40 mins - plus no traffic near Shrub Hill to battle through)

[anthony215]

Like many others I dont believe Shrub Hill will close as it is always well used. The only thing letting it down is the service frequency during the day compared to Worcester Foregate Street. I drive the Henwick Park - City Centre - Worcester Royal Hospital bus very regulary so I regulary go past shrub Hill station and there is always a lot of people going there.

The redevelopment plans for Shrub Hill station is slightl delayed according to reports in teh local newspaper a week or two ago.

One concern I do have is whether or not the council will actively promote Worcester Parkway as a park and ride site as they have failed to actively promote th park and ride facilities in Worcester now resulting in less people using them. so much so the council are pulling the plug and Worcester is going to be hell to drive in come September.

I can also see the council diverting services 550/551 Worcester - Pershore - Evesham to serve this station as well

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

"Like many others I dont believe Shrub Hill will close as it is always well used."
"Is" is the question mark. If Worcester Parkway is built, what will be the Shrub Hill use then? I suspect that Parkway would take a lot of the current Shrub Hill use.
Re the failure of Worcester City/County councils to promote Park and Ride, they need to do something like Oxford. Put up the city centre parking charges so that the inconvenience of using P & R gives it a financial attraction. Make the city centre all day parking charge ^25, as in Oxford, and more people would use P & R & Parkway instead and reduce city centre traffic congestion. There would be a lot squeals from existing city centre car park users and from city shops. To get a real change you have to bite that bullet.   

[IndustryInsider]

There would be a lot squeals from existing city centre car park users and from city shops. To get a real change you have to bite that bullet.   

Perhaps the opening of this new station would give them the confidence to bite this particular bullet!?

[eightf48544]

I can't really see the point of building Worcester Parkway if the fast Bristol Birmingham's don't stop there.

Also I would sugegst it would be politically very difficult to shut Shrub Hill even if Parkway took a lot of it's traffic. If they can't shut Denton with one train a week in one direction then Shrub hill becomes impossible.