Nationalisation and station closures

[Rescars]

In terms of crude overall numbers, private railway companies tend to open stations whilst nationalised networks have a history of closing them. As the "new dawn for rail" breaks and SWT becomes the first operator in the UK to be nationalised (again), any thoughts about which station on the network is at the greatest risk of closure?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

...any thoughts about which station on the network is at the greatest risk of closure?

One at which all services are currently "temporarily" suspended? So, somewhere like Teesside Airport in the North East, perhaps?

 

[The exile]

One at which all services are currently "temporarily" suspended? So, somewhere like Teesside Airport in the North East, perhaps?

It’s not going to be good for the headlines for the newly nationalised railway to be closing anything at all - so it’ll either be a case of dotting the “i’s” or a result of improvements (eg Bordesley). Incidentally, I was intrigued to see that the Saltburn line timetable posters carefully note that services to British Steel Redcar are currently suspended - but make no reference to the state of Teesside Airport - nor of South Bank eastbound. All three are included on the timetable with no services - the South Bank situation is at least referenced on the screens.

 

[Magdalia]

In terms of crude overall numbers, private railway companies tend to open stations whilst nationalised networks have a history of closing them. As the "new dawn for rail" breaks and SWT becomes the first operator in the UK to be nationalised (again), any thoughts about which station on the network is at the greatest risk of closure?

The Marston Vale stations proposed for closure in the East West Rail consolidated stations option.

However, I would expect there to be more new stations than closures overall.

 

[Gloster]

In terms of crude overall numbers, private railway companies tend to open stations whilst nationalised networks have a history of closing them. As the "new dawn for rail" breaks and SWT becomes the first operator in the UK to be nationalised (again), any thoughts about which station on the network is at the greatest risk of closure?

But surely this is due to largely external historical factors. Private railways existed during the heyday of the railways: the network was developing and so opening stations (although I suspect that from around 1930 more stations closed than opened). Nationalised railways took over just as the motor car started its ascendancy and policy followed this. By the time that private companies came back the bottom had been passed: I suspect that from the early 1980s more stations were once again opening than closing.

I don’t think you can deduce a nationalisation=closure future on the basis of the past. We do seem to have a slightly better understanding of the pros and cons of closure.

 

[The exile]

But surely this is due to largely external historical factors. Private railways existed during the heyday of the railways: the network was developing and so opening stations (although I suspect that from around 1930 more stations closed than opened). Nationalised railways took over just as the motor car started its ascendancy and policy followed this. By the time that private companies came back the bottom had been passed: I suspect that from the early 1980s more stations were once again opening than closing.

I don’t think you can deduce a nationalisation=closure future on the basis of the past. We do seem to have a slightly better understanding of the pros and cons of closure.

The one situation where this will hold true (and probably rightly so) is the rationalisation that becomes easier with nationalisation. Though Beeching’s definition of “duplicate services” ignored the needs of local travellers, having three companies operating separate lines from town A to town E via towns B,C and D - with three similarly sited stations in each is crying out for the pruning knife (obviously not applicable to 2025 renationalisation - but very much the case at Grouping and in 1948).

 

[fishwomp]

In terms of crude overall numbers, private railway companies tend to open stations whilst nationalised networks have a history of closing them.

That's not right in any relevant sense ..

Pre-1948, (largely - I'll exclude random things like military railways..) only private railway companies existed. They therefore opened stations because stations didn't exist, and if you were building a railway with neither stations nor goods depots, you wouldn't have a railway you would have 'tracks'..

Between 1994 and 2025, which railway stations have the private sector opened?

Railtrack did some - but find one that private sector actually funded?

After them.. Network Rail is a government owned body - it owns and builds stations, except where another government or public sector body such as a council, have funded or directly built it (such as Ebbw Vale reopening). I'm struggling to think of a single station opened by the private sector - perhaps a shopping centre (oh, no, didn't quite get White Rose opened.. council money ran out to link up the private shopping centre)., or perhaps HS1 Ebbsfleet - but that was government backed too.

If there was a station opened by the private sector, it's perhaps something Chiltern... they did some big work funded privately on Chiltern Mainline/Evergreen project to redouble to Banbury from Princes Risborough.

 

[LittleAH]

But surely this is due to largely external historical factors. Private railways existed during the heyday of the railways: the network was developing and so opening stations (although I suspect that from around 1930 more stations closed than opened). Nationalised railways took over just as the motor car started its ascendancy and policy followed this. By the time that private companies came back the bottom had been passed: I suspect that from the early 1980s more stations were once again opening than closing.

I don’t think you can deduce a nationalisation=closure future on the basis of the past. We do seem to have a slightly better understanding of the pros and cons of closure.

Indeed, station openings in the last two decades have been delivered by the nationalised Network Rail.

 

[SynthD]

If there was a station opened by the private sector, it's perhaps something Chiltern...

Warwick Parkway?

The lengthy process to close a station, leading to Parliamentary trains, will surely remain. The process could be streamlined a little?

 

[yorksrob]

In terms of crude overall numbers, private railway companies tend to open stations whilst nationalised networks have a history of closing them. As the "new dawn for rail" breaks and SWT becomes the first operator in the UK to be nationalised (again), any thoughts about which station on the network is at the greatest risk of closure?

I'm not sure that really works as an observation.

Certainly BR closed a lot of stations between its inception and the mid 1980's - but in the late 1980's, early 90's they opened quite a few.

Similarly there seemed to be a lull in station openings in the early privatised era, but this was reversed with the excellent reversing Beeching policy.

And of course, the private companies were closing stations from peak network in the early twentieth century up until nationalisation.

We need to make sure that closures remain politically toxic regardless of the ownership

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Unless there any wholesale line closures (highly unlikely, too toxic) I can't see any station closures (savings paltry, too much hassle).

There may be some where 'new, improved' stations are opened nearby - e.g Cottingley / White Rose or some of the parliamentary ones e.g. I don't see any point in keeping Lelant Saltings P + R open when it has been superseded by St. Erth.

We will see the government's attitude to new stations in a few weeks time with the spending review - Wellington (Som.) and / or Cullompton are awaiting the nod.

What I can see is the 'tidying-up' (aka cutting) of services that are perceived duplicates - I can't see XC lasting north of Edinburgh or west of Plymouth or running to Paignton. I see that in the new timetable Penzance has lost its early morning XC service north - that is probably when you are most likely want to start off from there!

The strong rumours are that the new GBR structure will be regional - aka BR 1948.

 

[yorksrob]

The strong rumours are that the new GBR structure will be regional - aka BR 1948.

Open up the tin of green paint on the Southern !

 

[The Planner]

The strong rumours are that the new GBR structure will be regional - aka BR 1948.

Is NR that far off that anyway?

 

[Zomboid]

Between 1994 and 2025, which railway stations have the private sector opened?

Railtrack did some - but find one that private sector actually funded?

Southend Airport? I was under the impression that that was paid for by the airport.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 May 2025 ==

Is NR that far off that anyway?

Not at the moment

 

[fishwomp]

Southend Airport? I was under the impression that that was paid for by the airport.

Possibly - and then Heathrow Airport - the entire line and stations, hence the premium to use. 80% funded by BAA - private then, and 20% by BR. This was started in 1993

Warwick Parkway?

Good one. I think that's right.

So, we've gotten a total of 5 stations opened privately over the course of 30 years!

Meanwhile... those opened by public money is at least one a year, on average, probably higher than that!

 

[Dr Hoo]

I think that Prestwick Airport was the first ‘private’ station after the Railways Act 1993 came into effect.

Chafford Hundred was another early one that was privately funded.

 

[The Planner]

Good one. I think that's right.

So, we've gotten a total of 5 stations opened privately over the course of 30 years!

Meanwhile... those opened by public money is at least one a year, on average, probably higher than that!

Coleshill Parkway.

 

[fishwomp]

Coleshill Parkway.

'The scheme is funded jointly by the Department for Transport, Warwickshire County Council, Laing Rail, and developer contributions secured by North Warwickshire Borough Council.' (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6152678.stm) - it doesn't say what proportions.

However - https://democracy.warwickshire.gov....1345/Agenda/3uojDh2fefFlLS3SYOVYXueSRQmGi.pdf - Warwickshire council capital programme docs - says (page 10) - shows £1.7M developer funding in this £7M (at the time) project, and the other categories of LTP Integrated Transport Funding (£1.1M), WCC Central Capital Fund, LTP Major Scheme Funding (£4.1M) which are all grant-like names.. Looks like private contributions were not much - although Laing Rail isn't listed - but it looks unlikely that is anything like a majority of the money if it's additional to that £7M..

 

[The Planner]

'The scheme is funded jointly by the Department for Transport, Warwickshire County Council, Laing Rail, and developer contributions secured by North Warwickshire Borough Council.' (source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6152678.stm) - it doesn't say what proportions.

However - https://democracy.warwickshire.gov....1345/Agenda/3uojDh2fefFlLS3SYOVYXueSRQmGi.pdf - Warwickshire council capital programme docs - says (page 10) - shows £1.7M developer funding in this £7M (at the time) project, and the other categories of LTP Integrated Transport Funding (£1.1M), WCC Central Capital Fund, LTP Major Scheme Funding (£4.1M) which are all grant-like names.. Looks like private contributions were not much - although Laing Rail isn't listed - but it looks unlikely that is anything like a majority of the money if it's additional to that £7M..

Pretty sure its not a "NR" station though.

 

[fishwomp]

Pretty sure its not a "NR" station though.

[Coleshill Parkway] - interestingly it can be found in Companies House: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05608780/filing-history
The last set of accounts (to Dec 2024) states:

Principal activities The principal activity of the Company is to construct and operate the Coleshill Parkway Station in accordance with an agreement with Warwickshire County Council and under a guarantee provided by the Department for Transport. Construction was completed in August 2007 and the concession period commenced at this time. The concession period extends until 2087, but has a break clause at August 2027 and the financial modelling for the concession has been carried out to this date. The train operating company franchise changed from London & Birmingham Railway to West Midlands Trains in December 2017. Financial close was achieved on 10 March 2006. There have not been any significant changes in the Company's principal activities in the year under review.

and ..

Ultimate controlling party

• The Company's immediate parent company is JLIF Holdings (AVP&C) Limited, a company incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales, with a registered address 3rd Floor, South Building, 200 Aldersgate Street, London, England, EC1A 4HD. The company's ultimate parent and controlling entity is Fenton Holdco Limited (registered address: 3rd Floor, South Building, 200 Aldersgate Street, London, England, EC1A 4HD).

(JLIF - John Laing Infrastructure)

Revenue - defined as the 'operating fee' is £400k pa.

So, this is a concession now - the station was constructed under government guarantees, and the ownership would seem to be governmental (local, national, or network rail - can't tell).