New railway stations proposed for Cranbrook, Newcourt and Marsh Barton (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Meanwhile, from the First Great Western press release:

New ^1.44 million railway station announced in Devon

Plans for a new ^1.44 million railway station in Devon have been unveiled by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin following a visit to the region.
The new station at Newcourt was given the green light alongside three other stations in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) after successfully applying for funding under the New Station Fund.

The fund is part of ^37 billion worth of investment spent from 2014 to 2019, which will modernise the railways and provide massive benefits to both passengers and the UK economy.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who was in the region on Wednesday and Thursday [15 and 16 May] to meet with First Great Western^s Managing Director Mark Hopwood and other stakeholders said: ^Funding this new station illustrates our commitment to working with community and national partners to meet local transport needs that not only deliver real benefits to passengers but also improves the network. This is another example of the government^s determination to transform the railways as we continue to push forward with the biggest programme of rail investment ever.^

Mark Hopwood said: ^First Great Western are delighted that the Department for Transport has approved Devon County Council^s bid for a new station at Newcourt. The growth in rail travel in Devon is amongst the highest in the country. We have a strong partnership here with the council, the community and our industry partners. We now look forward to working with them to develop the new station, and to secure further improvements for our customers.^

The fund, managed by Network Rail, was announced at the end of January when local authorities, train operating companies and developers were invited to bid for funding towards the construction costs of brand new stations.

The successful bids announced today are:
Newcourt, Devon, where the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) will pay for around half of the scheme expected to cost in the region of ^1.5 million
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which will receive over ^4.5 million of DfT funding towards a scheme worth over ^6.5 million
Lea Bridge, London Borough of Waltham Forest, which will receive over ^1 million towards a scheme worth in excess of ^6.5 million
Pye Corner, Newport, which will receive over ^2.5 million towards a scheme worth over ^3.5 million

Scheme sponsor Devon County Council will now work with Network Rail to finalise the Newcourt station plans with the new station planned to open before the end of 2014.

[IndustryInsider]

Do we know if there's more stations still to be announced or whether those four are it?  Seems to be a little bit left in the original pot still...?

[Red Squirrel]

Do we know if there's more stations still to be announced or whether those four are it?  Seems to be a little bit left in the original pot still...?

Still waiting for the Avonmouth P&R^▸ (Park and Ride)... I think they like to drag it out for maximum effect.

[paul7575]

Do we know if there's more stations still to be announced or whether those four are it?  Seems to be a little bit left in the original pot still...?

Cynical mode on... 

The DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) are presumably constantly receiving proposals for additional local stations from various authorities who claim they are all ready to go if only there were funds available.  So they announce a surprise pot of money, and a corresponding load of rules, which all boil down to proving that your project is 'shovel ready'.

Lo and behold - the sponsors weren't ready to build after all.  So the main thing DfT have achieved is to increase knowledge of what can and can't be done easily...

Paul

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Exeter Express & Echo:

Funding to improve ^tatty^ Polsloe Bridge railway halt

There is hope that something could be done to improve the railway halt at Polsloe Bridge.

At the moment the halt, which is well used, is looking the worse for wear, being overgrown with weeds and generally a bit tatty.

Cllr Westlake recently attended a meeting of the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Line Rail Users^ Group where there were also representatives of First Great Western and the city and county councils.

Cllr Westlake said: ^This is now called a community railway line and it seems there is money available to improve stations on these. Polsloe at the moment is in a bit of a state with lots of nettles and there have been complaints from residents in Hamlin Lane about rats running around. It was decided a site visit could help see what can be done. For the first time ever it seems that the user figures will hit 1.5 million this year.

^They have also decided that they will run a Sunday service at Christmas to help those who want to come in and shop in Exeter.^

[paul7575]

1.5 million must be the usage for the line surely, looking at the latest usage figures.

As written, the article can suggest a different interpretation...

Paul

[RichardB]

Yes, that's right, Paul.  That 1.5 million figure is for the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Line as a whole -  15% up this year alone.

Good to see this story - I think there is a lot more potential at Polsloe Bridge.

There is much that can be done there, despite the limitations of an old pre-cast concrete platform and a huge flight of stairs to get to it.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Good to see this story - I think there is a lot more potential at Polsloe Bridge.

That's why I quoted it here, Richard. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the Exeter Express & Echo:

Plans for improved rail service from Exeter^s Polsloe Bridge as Marsh Barton station receives successful investment



There are plans for an improved rail service from Exeter^s Polsloe Bridge. Commuters should be able to travel all the way from Polsloe Bridge to the planned station at Marsh Barton without having to change at Exeter St David^s.

The plans were revealed to Richard Westlake, county councillor for Polsloe and Newtown, at a meeting he attended between First Great Western, the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership and the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) Line Supporters group.

The news is particularly welcome as there had been fears that once the Newcourt station opens in December next year it reduce the service at Polsloe Bridge.

Cllr Westlake said: ^I asked about the future of the service as some people were worried that stops at Polsloe bridge might reduce when the Newcourt station opens but I was told that rather they are looking to improve the service and once they have the station at Marsh Barton open you will be able to travel all the way from Polsloe into central Station and then St David^s and on to Marsh Barton without having to change trains. First Great Western are very keen to work with Devon Metro on all the Devon lines to encourage as many commuters as they can to use the train.^

Newcourt station is expected to be built by next December.

Meanwhile, the plan to provide a station at Marsh Barton, just across the tracks from the new Energy from Waste plant, has also been successful in terms of investment. It was one of five schemes recently selected for investment by the newly-formed Local Transport Board for Devon and Somerset, and talks are continuing between the county council and Viridor, the operators of the Energy from Waste plant, on the question of access to the new station.

[DavidBrown]

Exeter Express and Echo

PLANS have been submitted for what will be Exeter^s ninth railway station if they get the go-ahead.

Already approved are plans for a new station at Newcourt and now Devon County Council is seeking planning permission for a new railway halt at Marsh Barton, close to the new Energy from Waste plant.

According to the council it could be built in 2016.

Plans for the two platform station had to be withdrawn earlier this year because there were unresolved questions about access between Devon County Council and Viridor, the operators of the Energy from Waste plant.

These issues have now been resolved ^ and the pedestrian and cycle route now runs directly alongside Clapperbrook Lane.

A spokeswoman for the authority said: ^The county council withdrew the planning application to improve the arrangements for pedestrian and cycle access alongside the Viridor site.^

The station will be unstaffed. It will have waiting shelters, cycle racks lighting, CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) and an integrated help point and customer information service facility.

The county council is also proposing to erect a new steel footbridge to provide access across the railway for pedestrians and cyclists.

The scheme, which has received widespread support from the Marsh Barton Business Forum, which represents traders on the estate, is part of the Devon Metro project which aims to improve the railway network across the county.

A spokesman for the county council said: ^Once we have gained planning approval we will also be commencing the procurement process for a design and build contractor with a view to detailed design in 2015 and then construction in 2016.^


Read more: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Plans-Exeter-8217-s-ninth-railway-station-Marsh/story-20519733-detail/story.html#ixzz2rmzpEPBo

[JayMac]

Couldn't the EE&E have got an artist's impression of the new station actually showing some railway lines or a train?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wot - and spoil the cosy image of that idyllic rural summer scene?? 

[TonyK]

How's about...

PLANS have been submitted for what will be Exeter^s ninth railway station if they get the go-ahead.

[JayMac]

From the Exeter Express & Echo:

Work to start on Exeter^s Newcourt station for completion by December

The design and build contract has been awarded for a new ^1.5m train station in Exeter^s Newcourt.

Dyer & Butler and work is due to start on site this month for completion by December.

Newcourt station will be on the Exmouth branch line between Digby, Sowton and Topsham.

The line has already seen massive passenger growth over the last decade ^ from 800,000 passengers in 2002 to 1.2 million in 2012. The station will serve new housing and employment areas.

It is expected to open before the end of 2014 with trains running every half an hour.

Site clearance and reptile fencing has been established in advance of construction and the pedestrian footpath linking the station with Old Rydon Lane is nearly complete.

The local community group has been involved in the longer term arrangements for adopting the station and caring for the surrounding soft landscaping.

Government backing for the ^1.44m Newcourt Station was revealed by the Minister during a visit to the region.

[TonyK]

This is a bit of a breakneck rush, isn't it? Only two years from start to finish.