If you look back to Beeching closures, how many times did stations receive a full maintenance and repaint job, just before closure was announced .....

It seems to be more about the current stations proximity to the road which will likely need to be replaced with a bridge.

Fenny Stratford closure could perhaps be mitigated by a new entrance on the east side of Bletchley station, which may even be planned anyway; when I was last there a few months ago walking to the only entrance involved a depressing trek under the entire West Coast main line (one of those bridges that always seems to be dripping even during a drought), then doubling back up an unpleasant staircase and past a couple of staff car parks.

Following further analysis of future passenger demand at Bletchley station and taking account of the consultation feedback, we’ve developed our design proposals to improve the station and increase its capacity. The proposed station upgrade now includes:

    A new accessible footbridge at the south end of the station, with lifts and stairs to all platforms.
    Extended platforms and improved emergency exits for platforms 6, 7 and 8.
    An expanded western ticket hall and gate line, along with upgrades to the station forecourt.

In addition to these improvements, we’re now considering including an eastern entrance to the station within our design, although the construction of this entrance would be subject to securing third-party funding.

If delivered, the eastern entrance would benefit users of the station and the wider area, especially travellers accessing the station from the town centre. It would support a longstanding priority for Milton Keynes City Council and the wider community. It would:

    Improve connectivity through the town, providing a gateway to destinations like Bletchley Park and Stadium MK enabling access to rail services for residents affected by the closure of Fenny Stratford station.
    Support wider regeneration plans, including road network upgrades and redevelopment of the Brunel Shopping Centre.
    Reduce walking distance between EWR platforms and the town centre by approximately 600 metres.

Whilst this entrance is not required to accommodate EWR passenger demand, it is being included in our proposals because of the potential to secure third-party funding for this, and due to the additional benefits and connectivity it could bring. If third-party funding is not secured then the inclusion of an entrance in our plans would be reviewed.

More details will be provided when we consult in 2026.

The opening of a new £7billion railway line has been delayed after a row between trade unions over who should operate the trains' doors.

East West Rail (EWR) is one of the Government's leading rail schemes, reopening a disused rail route since the 1960s and will eventually link Oxford and Cambridge.

It has been unavailable for public use despite the Government saying it would open this year and empty passenger trains running up and down the new lines for several months.

The Telegraph reported that an insider said some of the delays were due to "our trade union colleagues ... holding us up on opening the doors".

The dispute between the unions and the train company is believed to be focused on who should open the train doors - the guard or the driver.

Unions are against drivers operating the doors because it would delete the guard's job, reducing union membership and income in the long-term, but also meaning the driver could be accountable for any so-called "trap and drag" accidents with passengers.

Google "satellite" view shows that there's a fair amount of housing in the surrounding area with potential for even more close to the Bow Brickhill Station site.  A case for mothballing rather than closure perhaps?  Do NR do station mothballing?

At Bow Brickhill, we’re determining whether we need to provide a new road bridge which would split the existing station in half. While we’ve explored how the station could be relocated around this bridge, we’ve found that it would not be possible to expand the station without impacting neighbouring properties, businesses and developments. The overbridge itself could also act as a physical barrier to people trying to reach the station from its opposite side. Without space for essential facilities, like parking and drop-off areas and bus connections, it is likely that passenger numbers would remain low, even with development to the south and south-east of the station.

...  Do NR do station mothballing?

but I do sometimes look at adverts for excellent pubic transport fares and all too often find they have very limited availability.  Have others experienced this?

Any idea why it's taking so long to resolve this one?

New Strawberry Line pathway extension opens



A new bridge and section of a walking and cycling path has opened in Somerset.

The Strawberry Line link, a traffic-free pathway, has been extended from Cheddar reservoir to the Draycott Park estate.

The project team said it is the fifth new bridge built on the former Great Western Railway line, which was used for transporting strawberries in the 1960s, in the past three years with plans to expand the line further across Somerset. Negotiations are ongoing with landowners between Wells and Shepton Mallet which may lead to the line being extended further.

Mick Fletcher, chair of the Strawberry Line Society, said the "important link" will enable people to get from one side of the village "to the other without having to navigate the traffic". He added: "Children will be able to go to school on their bikes or on foot whereas you would be reluctant to let younger children go along the main road."

The railway line was closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts, which saw a reduction of the UK rail network and severed thousands of miles of track.

Somerset Council has been working to upgrade "missing links" across the county with various new sections at Shepton Mallet, Wells and Sandford opened in the past few years. It wants to encourage people to walk and cycle more to reduce congestion and pollution levels.


The Kings Academy Strawberry Line path bridge crosses the Cheddar Yeo river

"This a large statement, about our intention to make active travel more of a possibility for people in Somerset," he added.

A spokesperson for the Strawberry Line project said the extension of the route, which begins at Yatton railway station, will also be a "vital link" in efforts to close the remaining gaps of the path between Cheddar and Shepton Mallet.

We are working with Network Rail ...

14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:00
15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59

15:15 Swindon to Westbury due 15:59 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

Further Information

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay

Last Updated:19/11/2025 14:17