Next decade new stations - what will open in Wiltshire, what still be just talk?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

New stations opened in 2017 - 329 including (in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom))
Cambridge North
Low Moor

New stations opened in 2018 - 184 including (in the UK)
Kenilworth
Maghull North
Link

New stations opened in 2019 - 180 including (in the UK)
Meridian Water
Robroyston
Warrington West
Link

New Stations opened in Wiltshire in 2017 None

New Stations opened in Wiltshire in 2018 None

New Stations opened in Wiltshire in 2019 None

In fact you have to look back to 1985 for the last "opening" - though actually a re-opening after a 19 year closure - at Melksham. And to 1937 for the last new (not just hiatus) station at Dilton Marsh.

The World and Wiltshire have different scales - but I look forward in hope (but, sadly with limited expectation) to new and re-opened stations in the next decade.  Amongst those places mentioned are Ashton Park, Corsham, Devizes Parkway, Hullavington Parkway, Ludgershall, Marlborough, Petersfinger, Porton, Purton, Royal Wootton Bassett, Staverton, Wilton for Stonehenge, and Wylye Parkway. 

Since the single "drip" or the Melksham re-opening in 1985, UK passenger journeys per annum have risen from 700 million to 1750 million, largely making use of spare station and track capacity, but now that is getting full.  Chippenham used to have one train every 2 hours each way during the day - now it has 2 trains every 1 hour, with more in the peak and with a service every 2 hours to Westbury, where that was just 2 a day as late as 2013.

As we move towards an ever-more-pressing need and desire to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce congestion wihtout covering the country in tarmac, surely we should be moving from talk to action on some of the above in the next decade - using mass transit rail links to transit masses of people.

Would members risk speculating as to which of the new stations listed (or some other - Box P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) anyone?) is most likely, and which is most important for our future?   Would members like to suggest how the community can best get action (and not merely words) to get appropriate new stations actually open and we'll no longer look back to 1937, or 1985, as "the most recent" in Wiltshire.

[ChrisB]

None, unless Wiltshire CC put some money up....

[johnneyw]

I recall reading serious discussion about Corsham a few years back but news about it just seemed to fade away. How are these things decided upon?  You could opt for the least expensive stations to open in the short term or look at more expensive new stations with a greater pay back potential over a longer period of time. I wonder how post election government will set their priorities.

[grahame]

I recall reading serious discussion about Corsham a few years back but news about it just seemed to fade away. How are these things decided upon?  You could opt for the least expensive stations to open in the short term or look at more expensive new stations with a greater pay back potential over a longer period of time. I wonder how post election government will set their priorities.

Corsham is still very much on "wanted" lists.  During the election campaign, Michelle Donelan (at that point candidate, now MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) once again) stated she was supporting the re-opening of Corsham station "in a few years".  Note those final quoted words, which remove (in my mind) a commitment for significant progress to be made during the current parliament, even if it runs the full five year term. 

A station needs trains passing through that can stop there.   Ironically, at the same time we have just elected a new MP who supports the station but not as a short term project, the very last local train that could have realistically called there has been withdrawn in the timetable change.  More an emotional thing - one train in one direction each day was never a realistic service.  But now you have just express trains going through the site. For an express, Corsham is too close to Chippenham for another stop on London - Bristol trains, and traffic would likely be mostly local traffic to Bath - again, a lump in loading for just a few minutes.

A station also needs space away from the platforms to allow people to get to it. Look at the arial pictures of the new Worcestershire Parkway and you'll see an extreme of what I mean.   Corsham is very tight and on one hand a station with a good service to really boost Corsham is wanted, and on the other hand there is concern at how people get there, if / where / how they can park, etc.  Not quite a "station in the back streets" but certainly one that could be limited by its access.

Funding, and development lead funding - not sure I see it at present.  Opportunities have been there and these things come and go.  And local strategy support.  The climate, CO2, congestion agenda could well support a park and ride for Bath and Bristol somewhere out in Wiltshire.   Better if the line was electrified, and other possible sites (each with issues though) are Thinly, Ashley (Box) and Bathampton Meadows.   Not a marginal constituency, not a strong transport board ... the ducks are not lining up for Corsham Station (in my view) just at this time.

[CyclingSid]

I think it is quite clear that the post-election government policies are more roads.. And will presumably ignore this mornings offerings from the Committee on Climate Change.

[simonw]

I believe that Boris did commit to re-opening old Beeching cut lines (£500M) commitment.

So, expanding this question ... which old line should be re-opened and should Wiltshire back?

Devizes Branch Line would be a good start.

[grahame]

I believe that Boris did commit to re-opening old Beeching cut lines (£500M) commitment.

So, expanding this question ... which old line should be re-opened and should Wiltshire back?

Devizes Branch Line would be a good start.

500 million split equally across Great Britain based on population would mean £3.6 million for Wiltshire.   Of the 13 stations I listed yesterday, my gut feeling (educated guess) is that 8 have excellent cases and I think that - in this county - the expenditure would be better channelled to them that re-opening lines.  That feeling might change based on other infrastructure development plans.

[eightonedee]

As an outsider, the absence of any parkway station or similar for Devizes is striking. The point where the A342 crosses the railway looks an obvious spot