Corsham Station reopening

[whole diary]

[Btline]

My problem with this, is that it would slow down (again, even more), FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

Unless new services were started (e.g. Oxford to Bristol) - fat chance!

[Lee]

My problem with this, is that it would slow down (again, even more), FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train).

Unless new services were started (e.g. Oxford to Bristol) - fat chance!

Which is exactly the debate that we have been having with FGW 

See archive quote below :

Regarding Corsham, research (backed up by source info) suggests that calling HST's there would take 3 minutes extra, and that there is approximately 3 minutes slack into Bath. Stage Two of my West Fleet plan takes this into account, and also makes provision for a seperate hourly daytime service calling at Corsham (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1407.msg8181#msg8181

[Btline]

I suppose so, but surely faster services are needed, then with additional local services!

In your "slack" example - 3 mins shorter journey time would be good!

But - it is a good observation. if trains can be called within slack time without affecting performance.....

[John R]

But given the slack time is needed for to ensure decent PPM^‡(resolve) figures, the result would inevitably be an extra 3 mins on the timetable. 

[Btline]

But given the slack time is needed for to ensure decent PPM^‡(resolve) figures, the result would inevitably be an extra 3 mins on the timetable. 

Of course, if the track speed was increased to 140 mph.....

[Lee]

My rationale was to create a non-HST^▸ (High Speed Train) additional service as follows :

New hourly off-peak Chippenham-Worcester Shrub Hill service calling at Corsham, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Parkway, Yate, Cam & Dursley, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa and Ashchurch for Tewkesbury. Some calls are also made at Oldfield Park, Keynsham, Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road. During the "Bristol peak", services run to/from Westbury/Weymouth rather than Chippenham. The service also improves commuting opportunities between Bristol-Gloucester and Worcester-Cheltenham.

This would also have the benefit of increasing frequencies at stations further up the line towards Gloucester/Cheltenham/Worcester, when combined with other services.

HST's would only call at Corsham when the above service runs to/from Westbury/Weymouth rather than Chippenham. The HST services would run 3 minutes earlier between Bristol Temple Meads-Bath Spa. This timing alteration applies in the Bristol-London direction only.

It is worth noting that the only difference between my position and FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s on the timing is that they came up with a 5 minute figure for the above calculation. I am happy to stick with mine, given that it was worked out by a very reliable source.

Running the non-HST service to/from Westbury/Weymouth during the peak would also have the effect of increasing service provision along that corridor when it is most needed.

Another part of my reasoning was that Corsham would likely require at least limited direct services to/from London.

See link below for full details. The proposal also requires the third platform to be restored at Chippenham.
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/jan08/stage2.doc

[Btline]

When I read you plans, I thought you had some good ideas (the above one for example).

But does anyone know of them? FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? Net Rail? If so, what do they think?

[Lee]

When I read you plans, I thought you had some good ideas (the above one for example).

But does anyone know of them? FGW^▸ (First Great Western)? Net Rail? If so, what do they think?

On FGW, they have a long-held position that there needs to be a suitable local service to call at the station, and they dont want to call HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s there. It was always going to be a long shot to change that. To be fair, they have studied the plans in detail, and also responded to our counter-points. I am sure that we will have further dialogue on this and other issues.

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) have also considered the plans, but have not elaborated on what they think. However, their plan for FGW comes out in May, and we will be looking to see at least some of our ideas included.

[John R]

But given the slack time is needed for to ensure decent PPM^‡(resolve) figures, the result would inevitably be an extra 3 mins on the timetable. 

Of course, if the track speed was increased to 140 mph.....

Actually, there is a way. Just reinstate 125mph running from Reading to Swindon and you gain the 3 minutes needed for the stop at Corsham. Travelling at 125mph from Stafford to Wolverhampton yesterday on a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) service you certainly notice it when they go above 100. 

[corshamjim]

The Pound Art Centre, Pound Pill, Corsham is the place to be on Friday, 23rd May 2008 at 7.30 for 8.00 pm for all those people interested in the reopening of Corsham Station.

Edit by Conner: Now linked to Calendar.

[grahame]

The "Official" poster ...

[corshamjim]

Mike Greedy of Passenger Focus gave a witty and detailed presentation showing how the decision-making process works and giving some insights in to where we need to focus our efforts.

The Corsham Station Campaign website is now officially launched at http://corsham-station-campaign.org.uk 

[Lee]

Link to the wider Liberal Democrat proposals.
http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/liberal-democrats-launch-radical-new-transport-policies.14392.html

The main proposals include:

Cutting fuel duty and abolishing VED over the next 10 years and introducing a cost-neutral road user pricing scheme on motorways and trunk roads

Building a high speed rail network paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights

Introducing rolling contracts for train operating companies to increase long-term investment and improve services

Give power to control local bus services back to local authorities
 
Introducing a new fund for rural transport
 
Giving passengers a stronger voice to improve local transport services through a new passenger watchdog

[Phil]

Dunno about "soon", but it seems they're not giving up altogether.

This from the Wiltshire Times website:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/4737837.Corsham_station_bid_takes_centre_stage/?ref=eb

Corsham station bid takes centre stage

4:00pm Friday 13th November 2009

Corsham Station campaign members will be in the Martingate Centre on Saturday from 10am exhibiting statistics from the area.

The campaigners will be using a shop to display information and traffic figures to the public in a bid to drum up support for the re-opening of Corsham Station.

People will be able to find out more about the rail schemes across the area and to write their own response to Network Rail^s consultation on the future of rail services across the region.

Anyone planning on attending today?

Presumably when they say "People will be able to find out more about the rail schemes across the area" they're including the TransWilts campaign - have you been invited, Graham?

[grahame]

Anyone planning on attending today?

I went along - very much welcomed by old friends and some good stuff which I'll follow up on later (I'm passing by and out again in 5 minutes).