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

[whole diary]

[signalandtelegraph]

Is going to be provided as part of the 'new town' of Cranbrook - currently on hold.  No co-ordination with other schemes on the line but this loop would allow the county councils aspirational half hourly service to Axminster.

http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/index/planning_services/major_planning_projects/new_community

[devon_metro]

allow the county councils aspirational half hourly service to Axminster.

Blimey thats a bit optimistic. It doesn't really require that level of service, if anywhere in Devon needs it, then it is between Paignton and Exeter.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

you say that because you live there... however i agree hourly at axminster is an amazing level of service and doesnt need improvement at this time apart from at peak times

[paul7575]

Not sure if that planning website is up to date, it doesn't seem to have changed for a couple of years IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly). I think the report Chafford1 mentions is much more recent.

Does anyone know what the expected mileage is for Cranbrook, and is it very close to Feniton or Whimple - might either see a reduced service?  I've seen reports that the current timetable allows for the additional stops, but just how close are the existing stations?

Edit: found a map, seems much further west than I thought, seems like it isn't far from the site of the closed Broadclyst station. Maybe an extension of the double section out of Exeter will be the best solution?

Paul

[FlyingDutchman]

Pinhoe don't have enough trains stopping at it now.

I see the Government want to build another new town on some where near cranbrook.

Guy

[devon_metro]

Pinhoe don't have enough trains stopping at it now.

1tp2h as it was before the timetable changed!

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

pinhoe is well served! ok i favor the west of england line but its had its upgrade and hourly plus nice trains plus well looked after platforms cheeper fairs direct service to london.... you can get greedy you know besides digby and sowton aint a million miles away

[Chafford1]

The report from July 2009 confirmed the go-ahead for Cranbrook from March 2010:

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Business-leaders-welcome-12m-Cranbrook-boost/article-1196879-detail/article.html

Further track enhancements would be a good idea - you could then have an Axminster - St Davids stopping service and accelerate the Waterloo - Exeter services by removing all the stops west of Honiton.

[John R]

Though that's for the start of development. I would have thought the station would be a couple of years away, as typically provision of a station waits until a reasonable population is in place to use it. 

[paul7575]

The report from July 2009 confirmed the go-ahead for Cranbrook from March 2010:

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Business-leaders-welcome-12m-Cranbrook-boost/article-1196879-detail/article.html

Thanks for the link. However, I don't see it stating for certain that the ^12M includes the new station. It talks about a road leading to the new station though...

The ^12 million investment includes ^3 million towards a ^10 million Clyst Honiton bypass, ^4 million for the main road serving the first phase of Cranbrook and linking to its new railway station, and ^5 million towards a new primary school serving Cranbrook.

I'm not convinced that Cranbrook station on its own actually needs any track alterations. It is so close to Pinhoe that if it ever required a half hourly service to/from Exeter this could be done in between the hourly services, ie reversing at Cranbrook.  So any future half hourly service on the line further east would have to be assessed on its own merits, and presumably Devon CC would have to stump up more cash.
Another point in the article is the 'freight terminal'.  The Cranbrook plans describe this as an intermodal terminal and place it just west of the new town, and if it is rail connected, and on the current single track it could also be a timetabling issue.  Would they be seriously thinking about running freight along the West of England line, or bringing it from the Exeter direction?

Paul

[Btline]

Further track enhancements would be a good idea - you could then have an Axminster - St Davids stopping service and accelerate the Waterloo - Exeter services by removing all the stops west of Honiton.

Surely any extra stock magiced in* to run this new service would be put to better use running SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to Plymouth and Paignton again?

*and the other issue, where from?

[FlyingDutchman]

exeter new intermodal known as Exeter Gateway

http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/intermodal_facility

http://www.exetersciencepark.co.uk/overview.php

Guy

[paul7575]

Surely any extra stock magiced in* to run this new service would be put to better use running SWT^▸ (South West Trains) to Plymouth and Paignton again?

*and the other issue, where from?

West of Exeter won't be reinstated, now that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are funded to provide the services.

SWT though, they'd only need one unit for a potential Exeter to Cranbrook extra service, it's only about 10 minutes running time.

That could come from quite a few different sources, in no particular order:
return of the EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) loan unit,
return of the FGW loan unit,
An EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vice the Lymington DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit),
An EMU vice various Hants local services,
Higher utilisation of the 158 fleet.

Paul

[Btline]

I'll pick:

EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vice DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) on Lymington please! And I don't care if it is a Desiro vice slammer!

[paul7575]

I'll pick:

EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) vice DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) on Lymington please! And I don't care if it is a Desiro vice slammer!

I concur...

Paul