Cheltenham Spa plans 'derailed'

[Smethwickian]

Plans for a major revamp at Cheltenham Spa station aincluding two bay platforms have stalled, the Gloucestershire Echo reports at http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.u...tform-scheme/story-20551316-detail/story.html

"A £20 million regeneration blueprint was outlined last year which would have seen two new bay platforms as well as better passenger facilities and more car parking spaces. But Network Rail and First Great Western do not believe the new platforms are needed and as a result they have been removed from the plans. And to make matters worse, the uncertainty surrounding the scheme means a pot of cash worth £3.3 million which was awarded to the project last July has been withdrawn."

The paper's political reporter adds: http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.u...atform-plans/story-20556292-detail/story.html

"But after a great deal of digging we now know that the platforms are no longer on the table because Network Rail and First Great Western believe they are not needed. Here’s what a spokesman told me: 'Network Rail and First Great Western has not supported or implied support for additional platforms at Cheltenham. There is no requirement for such an investment.'

I am more than happy to occasionally throw the waffle charge at most of the organisations I deal with on a daily basis – deciphering bewildering and opaque quotes is just part of the job. But that statement is about as clear as it gets.

Unfortunately all it does is pose more difficult questions. If you read the original bid for funding submitted to GLTB by the Task Force it states the plans for two new bay platforms were identified as the preferred option 'following consultation with both Network Rail and train operating companies'. It also states 'no evidence has come forward to suggest that such a scheme would be controversial'. If that was the case how have we ended up here? Either something has got dramatically lost in translation or something has changed behind the scenes."

Now I'm regularly travelling to and from Cheltenham at the moment, and cannot really see how much use extra platforms would get under normal, current scheduling. All it would save is a bit of shunting in and out for terminating trains from Maesteg/Cardiff/Swindon, surely? It would be nice if the facilities were a little bit better but when money's tight, is Cheltenham's need really so great?

 

[cle]

Could they go for one?

It might be useful as a terminus for future Bristol metro-type services which I understand have been suggested, especially with the quadding between Temple Meads and Parkway.

 

[The Planner]

Why build any if you don't need them to run the timetable? A lot cheaper to upgrade Alston carriage sidings I would have thought.

 

[tigerroar]

How long are HST's held in the sidings at Cheltenham? Why is it no viable to turn them around at Ashchurch?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

According to RTT, they arrive at Cheltenham at xx52 and depart at xy20; usually spending 15 mins at Alstone. Services to / ex-Swindon only usually arrive around xx46, but still depart at xy20.

(NB - that's for a weekday off-peak, I presume it will vary in the peaks and on Sundays.)

 

[The Planner]

Varies, around 10-15 minutes. You aren't going to get them to Ashchurch and back in that time and I can't see why FGW would want to.

 

[TheWalrus]

Varies, around 10-15 minutes. You aren't going to get them to Ashchurch and back in that time and I can't see why FGW would want to.

I agree. Ashchurch realistically has low usage I'm not sure what the deal is?

 

[a good off]

A development proposal for the soon to be closed Ashchurch MOD site includes plans for 2,100 new homes, shops, a school, offices and open space.

The station will get a whole lot busier...

 

[edwin_m]

Does the signalling allow passenger trains to turn back at Ashchurch?

If this happened at all frequently a bay platform or turnback siding would be needed, as the line is just as busy as it is at Cheltenham so trains standing on the main running line for any length of time wouldn't be acceptable.

 

[TheWalrus]

A development proposal for the soon to be closed Ashchurch MOD site includes plans for 2,100 new homes, shops, a school, offices and open space.

The station will get a whole lot busier...

That's something I didn't know. In that case it may be a good idea to have some commuter services towards Bristol and London and an hourly local service during the day?

 

[The Planner]

If usage ever shot through the roof, the best you would get is possibly the Cardiff-Notts stopping there more, XC won't stop the long distance trains and FGW won't extend any HSTs.

 

[jimm]

If usage ever shot through the roof, the best you would get is possibly the Cardiff-Notts stopping there more, XC won't stop the long distance trains and FGW won't extend any HSTs.

But FGW could insert stops in the existing HSTs that run through to and from Worcester, only one of which calls currently. And the stop that is made at 05.39 for London-bound passengers is now made at FGW's expense, having initially been funded by the county council until last December.

FGW are also looking at ways to improve services there generally anyway, though it will probably take until a new long-term franchise to sort out the silly gaps in the morning peak period, which render the service useless for many potential passengers, going both north and south.

 

[anthony263]

FGW are not helped by limited amount of rolling stock they have available.

Perhaps once enough units are available we could see an hourly Great Malvern - Bristol - Weymouth service. There are also long been talk of running ATW's Maesteg - Cardiff - Cheltenham services through to Worcester although based on current timings this is likely to give an eractic timetable between Gloucester & Worcester.

London Midland found this when they tried running a Worcester - Gloucester service the timetable was ok-ish between Worcester & Gloucester but the return services sometimes ran only 20 minutes ahaead of the FGW services to Great Malvern.

Another problem with the London Midland services is that they did not run through to Bristol etc which may have put some people off using the service

 

[jimm]

FGW are not helped by limited amount of rolling stock they have available.

Perhaps once enough units are available we could see an hourly Great Malvern - Bristol - Weymouth service. There are also long been talk of running ATW's Maesteg - Cardiff - Cheltenham services through to Worcester although based on current timings this is likely to give an eractic timetable between Gloucester & Worcester.

London Midland found this when they tried running a Worcester - Gloucester service the timetable was ok-ish between Worcester & Gloucester but the return services sometimes ran only 20 minutes ahaead of the FGW services to Great Malvern.

Another problem with the London Midland services is that they did not run through to Bristol etc which may have put some people off using the service

More fundamental problem with LM's experiment was that it did nothing to fill that hole in both directions between Worcester and Cheltenham in the morning peak period. Until someone tackles that fundamental flaw, traffic on that section, including Ashchurch, will always suffer.

 

[Goatboy]

More fundamental problem with LM's experiment was that it did nothing to fill that hole in both directions between Worcester and Cheltenham in the morning peak period. Until someone tackles that fundamental flaw, traffic on that section, including Ashchurch, will always suffer.

The poor service on this route is such a pain when connecting from XC, the slightest delay and the connection is gone, its 2 hours until the next and XC refuse a taxi.

 

[TheWalrus]

Where are Ashchurch passengers going? Bristol? London? Cardiff? Birmingham? Bearing in mind anything calling there is definitely calling at Cheltenham and most likely Worcester.

 

[causton]

The poor service on this route is such a pain when connecting from XC, the slightest delay and the connection is gone, its 2 hours until the next and XC refuse a taxi.

When I was on a Freedom of the South West I decided at the last minute (literally booked the "Advance" on the train as I was sitting on it at Taunton!) that to save hassle it was actually easier to get from Taunton/Bristol to Worcester via Birmingham...!