Devizes 52-year wait for train station could end

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Could I ask where is the planned new station "facilities" are planned car park taxi rank bus/s turn round?

Will it be a single sided access station or access from both sides

From devizes.org.uk

I'm seeing buses, car parking, and an airstrip.  Nothing marked for taxis, kiss and ride, or cycles (but that could be due to scale).  All facilities on northern side with footbridge (ramps) to access a platform on south side.

Plans can obviously be revised as subsequent iterations; 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) is talking of community engagement and this being the beginning of the process.

[rogerw]

The airstrip is an existing facility. Not sure how much it is used

[Oxonhutch]

Seems like an awfully long access road to accommodate an easily relocated grass airstrip, or are there noise/braking/sighting issues that place the station site so far from the main road? An interesting rail-air interchange  .

Would TonyK like to comment on a 400 capacity carpark in the airstrip undershoot/overshoot?

[Robin Summerhill]

Seems like an awfully long access road to accommodate an easily relocated grass airstrip, or are there noise/braking/sighting issues that place the station site so far from the main road? An interesting rail-air interchange  .

A quick look at the OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) (and some knowledge of the area) shows that there is a quite steep but short cutting in the vicinity of the bridge. Siting the station as proposed would save digging lumps out of that to provide platform and road access/parking space.

[grahame]

Seems like an awfully long access road to accommodate an easily relocated grass airstrip, or are there noise/braking/sighting issues that place the station site so far from the main road? An interesting rail-air interchange  .

A quick look at the OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) (and some knowledge of the area) shows that there is a quite steep but short cutting in the vicinity of the bridge. Siting the station as proposed would save digging lumps out of that to provide platform and road access/parking space.

Agreed - it does make sense.  The original Berks and Hants line from Newbury via Hungerford and Pewsey ran to Devizes (opened 1862) then in 1900 a cutoff was opened from a new station at Patney and Chirton (where the minor road crosses the railway on the right of this map), falling and through a cutting before bearing off to the left.



There would indeed be a fair chunk of digging out to get platforms down onto the line near the A342, and as the cutting was not built until after the end of broad gauge, the cutting is only standard gauge width - no extra slack .   Even the selected site is only halfway from the A342 to Patney and Chirton

[grahame]

TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) understands that, subject to any last minute changes, ITV West will broadcast a news item on the Devizes Gateway station this evening. It was filmed about two weeks ago. The program starts at 6 p.m.

"This" being 7th July 2020 for anyone who comes back to my quote out of context at a later date.  Link to

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/18471455.devizes-wins-government-cash-train-station-project/

[Celestial]

Hopefully it will be opened by the Wurzels in due course, with a cafe selling hot meat pies and cider.

[chuffed]

The Wurzels belong to Somerset ! Why not try raking in a few Moonrakers instead?

[Western Pathfinder]

I doubt there's room for more than one Space Shuttle.🤔

[infoman]

ITV West covering the story on tuesday evening,available on channel 33 at 19:00pm as well.

[Celestial]

The Wurzels belong to Somerset ! Why not try raking in a few Moonrakers instead?

But they did immortalise Devizes, I think more because of the opportunity for rhyming with it than it's rather loose association with the West Country proper.

[PhilWakely]

The Wurzels belong to Somerset ! Why not try raking in a few Moonrakers instead?

But they did immortalise Devizes, I think more because of the opportunity for rhyming with it than it's rather loose association with the West Country proper.

That doesn't surprise me - but then again, I never get surprises! 

[grahame]

The Wurzels belong to Somerset ! Why not try raking in a few Moonrakers instead?

But they did immortalise Devizes, I think more because of the opportunity for rhyming with it than it's rather loose association with the West Country proper.

I was thinking more of a limerick with prizes and sizes.


The piece on ITV was a good one - and excellent to see that they found only people who thought it was a good idea on Devizes Market (mainly because it IS a good idea).    Nothing like local unanimous support to make the civil servants and ministers feel comfortable helping it move forward.   Good for Devizes (and so unlike elements of the local sentiment at some others places including one I was discussing with a member on the phone this afternoon).

Interesting to hear "we don't have public transport" from one exponent of the scheme and "buses to Trowbridge or Swindon are a real downer" from another.   The second was right and the station WOULD be used (and probably abstract very little).  Perhaps the first is too upper class to lower herself to a bus.  A third person commented that using public transport for her means driving to Great Bedwyn.

[martyjon]

Reading the Wiltshire Times article I had to smile at the statement "within five years", if the progress on Portway Parkway is anything to go by you might want to add a zero to the five but then being Wiltshire it could happen because it's not Bristol !!!!

[grahame]

Reading the Wiltshire Times article I had to smile at the statement "within five years", if the progress on Portway Parkway is anything to go by you might want to add a zero to the five but then being Wiltshire it could happen because it's not Bristol !!!!

It's within the election cycle, with a conservative council, a conservative 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) who's part of the inner circle, at a time of a conservative government, on a line with a service that could stop there, a strong local sentiment, ticks climate change and integrated transport boxes, and has what looks to me like a good business case.  The ducks might be in a line. Mind - it would be the first (re)opening in Wiltshire since 1985.