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New Stations Fund

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YorkshireBear

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Not entirely clear in the articles but the new station fund round two has just been announced and appears to be a new 20 million pound fund for people to bid for.

Any early guesses/knowledge on who the likely bidders will be.

Rail minister Paul Maynard has announced funding for new stations to deliver better journeys, boost local economies and link communities in England and Wales.

The £20 million worth of funding would, said the Department for Transport (DfT), provide up to 75 per cent of the cost of construction for new stations or to reopen previously closed stations.
It aims to improve access to the rail network and create new travel, employment and housing opportunities.
This forms the second round of funding, with the first helping to build new stations and Newcourt, Devon, Pye Corner, Wales and Lea Bridge, London. Stations are currently being delivered in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and Kenilworth near Coventry.
Norrie Courts, director of stations, Network Rail, said: “These are important stations for passengers who rely on the railway every day, and the announcement of additional investment to undertake a further round of new stations is welcomed.”
The DfT said the schemes already completed have seen homes built and towns connected, boosting the economy.
Maynard said: “Through this fund, passengers will benefit from new connections and faster journeys, making it easier to get to work and visit friends and family. It will also provide a major boost for local economies and support the delivery of local housing developments.”
Organisations, including local authorities and train operating companies are being encouraged to bid by the DfT.
The deadline for bidders is 18 November, 2016. Successful projects are expected to be announced early next year.
http://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/%C2%A320m-fund-for-new-railway-stations-announced
 
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snowball

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Here's the press release on which the above is probably based:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-20-million-fund-for-new-railway-stations

Rail passengers across England and Wales are set for better journeys thanks to a £20 million pot to fund new stations, announced today (26 August 2016) by the Department for Transport.

The next round of the new stations fund will provide up to 75% of the cost for construction of new stations or to reopen previously closed stations. The funding will improve access to the rail network and create new travel, employment and housing opportunities.

It follows on from an initial round of funding, which has already made a major difference to passengers’ journeys, with new stations at Newcourt in Devon, Pye Corner in Wales and Lea Bridge in London, and stations at Ilkeston near Derby and Kenilworth near Coventry in the process of being delivered.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard said:

The new stations fund is a great example of how our record investment in the railways and work with local authorities and industry is delivering better journeys for passengers.

Through this fund, passengers will benefit from new connections and faster journeys, making it easier to get to work and visit friends and family. It will also provide a major boost for local economies and support the delivery of local housing developments.

Norrie Courts, Director of Stations at Network Rail said:

The new station funding stream represents an important part of our railway upgrade plan to improve Britain’s railways, delivering real and visible improvements for passengers. The first round of the new stations fund helped deliver Pye Corner, Newcourt and Lea Bridge and is in the process of delivering Ilkeston and Kenilworth.

These are important stations for passengers who rely on the railway every day, and the announcement of additional investment to undertake a further round of new stations is welcomed.

Organisations such as local authorities, and train operating companies keen to boost local growth are all being encouraged to submit bids.

The schemes already completed as part of the first round have made a major difference to the local area, allowing homes to be built, connecting towns and boosting the economy. Just last month, construction began at Kenilworth - one of the largest towns in England without a railway station. The re-opening of the Kenilworth station, which closed in 1965, will allow residents easier access to Coventry and Birmingham but also help bring in shoppers and visitors to this historic town.

The deadline for bidders for the second round of funding is 18 November 2016 with an announcement of successful projects expected to be made early next year.

If you are interested in bidding for this funding, visit the Network Rail website.
 

fgwrich

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Is Reading Green Park already funded? If not fully, then that could be one to watch out for. If yes, then I reckon some of the proposed Devon stations may be in for a shout at this round.

(Although it's use at weekend may be about to somewhat diminish if London Irish make their move from the Madjeski to Hounslow/Brentford)
 

cuccir

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It'd be great to see Durham County Council get themselves organised and bid for Peterlee/Horden
 

bluenoxid

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The likely contenders! (All 20 odd of them).

Helpful links can be sourced here

The second round of the New Stations Fund sees up to £20m allocated to projects to open railway stations on the national rail network in England and Wales. The first round supported the opening of five railway stations. Three have been opened and the other two are due to open shortly.

There are a number of contenders for this funding. The first round saw thirteen applications for funding and a number of groups organisations have progressed campaigns and studies into other candidates.

So who are the contenders!

Haxby

Located on the York to Scarborough railway line, this station did not receive funding during the first round of the New Stations Fund. Regardless, the proposal remains a strong candidate, having been pushed as a likely station project in the Leeds City Region.

Wixams

Located on the Midland Mainline, this station is subject to frustration from residents of new build housing estates who were promised a railway station. Developments have not progressed as fast as expected here, so potentially it could miss out. However, stakeholders were meeting to look at ways to cover the £12m funding gap. Is it too much?

Warrington West

Struggling with a shortfall of funding, this proposal could be a likely winner. The station surprised many when it made it on to the map for services of the new Northern Rail franchise. The local authority has been pushing this project through the required studies over the last few years.

Worcestershire Parkway

Following the recent resolution of the land ownership issues, only money stands between this station and an opening date. There are concerns that the station may struggle attract the required train services to ensure that it opens.

Belford

Located north of Chathill, this station was a contender for opening. With an infrequent service and only a single platform, it could be a low cost addition. However, a number of issues have put this proposal on the back burner. Could an injection of government cash unlock the potential of this site.

Horton Sea View/Peterlee

Another station quietly moving through the studies is a proposed station serving Peterlee on the Newcastle to Sunderland Coast line. The council are unlikely to ignore an opportunity like this to invest in this area.

Portway Park and Ride

One of the proposed stations to enhance the MetroWest project is Portway Park and Ride. With the P&R already in place, it could be a relatively low cost addition, although it may struggle with abstraction from existing passenger transport services. It has completed GRIP 2 and funding is in place to deliver GRIP 3.

Cranbrook East

Hot on the heels of Cranbrook is Cranbrook East. The long term developments of this area could bring a demand for a second railway station. Proposals are in an early stage but they are already being considered by the relevant authorities. Unlikely contender with others in a better position in this area.

Edginswell

Very likely with some funding already in place. Whilst the station is desired, the proposed car park has been rejected by local residents and the planning committee. Expected opening date is December 2018.

Reading Green Park

A possibility with the station part funded as part of a local growth deal. Costs have increased when higher passenger forecasts required more facilities to be provided here.

Crosshills and Kildwick

Located on the Airedale line, this station has been a long held ambition for some. It sits awkwardly just over the border from West Yorkshire, which has left it without the required support. However, the inclusion of Craven in the Leeds City region made it a sure fire inclusion in the top four station projects. An outside chance with strong candidates located elsewhere in the region and a ticketing problem being located on the wrong side of the border.

East Leeds Parkway

Where is East Leeds Parkway going to go is a question expected to be answered shortly by a report to the local transport authority. There are two options with one being Thorpe Park and a second being near Micklefield. Potentially the other strong candidates in the region with stronger business cases leaves this one as unlikely

Maghull North

Located on the Merseyrail network, this station should be funded from the local growth fund and the Housing and Communities Agency. It is unlikely to apply.

Bow Street

A project that has been moving through studies recently has been the proposed station serving Bow Street. Outline plans are almost ready to be submitted, putting this station in the ideal position of being virtually shovel ready. If the potential time tabling issues are resolved, this could be the strongest Welsh contender.

Cullompton

With £100k committed by the local councils last month to develop early plans, this station could be a contender to enhance the rail network around Exeter.

Ashington/Bedlington

Added to the Northern Rail franchising bid documents as an option to cost, Ashington and Bedlington are potential candidates. Bedlington lies a few short miles beyond the head shunt that Morpeth trains use between services. Ashington would require the creation of a new rail service up the Blyth and Tyne. An active campaign group could help put the case together for funding.

Ashton Gate

Located on the Portishead line, this station is a strong candidate for funding. It could be constructed as part of the works to open the Portishead line to passenger traffic and be ready for the deadline set by the NSF requirements.

Saltford

Located near Bath, this is one of three stations proposed to serve the MetroWest network that is not fully funded. The station has strong local support from the station action group.

Corsham

Located between Bath and Chippenham, this is one of three stations proposed to serve the MetroWest network that is not fully funded.

Stonehouse (Bristol Road)

With strong support from residents and the local MP, this station would provide a direct link to Bristol and Birmingham for residents of Stonehouse.

Langport and Somerton

Commendable efforts are being made by the local media to drive forward the campaign to open the railway stations serving Somerton and Langport.

Wantage and Grove

There is local support for a station serving here although it does not appear that any outline business cases have recently been completed. Without this, the railway station is an outside chance.

Leeds Bradford Airport

Highly unlikely but with a similar BCR to a direct link to the airport, a railway station near the airport on the Harrogate line could be a potential candidate if the local transport authority performs a U-turn on their conclusions from the recent report into surface access to Leeds Bradford Airport.

Elland

Long proposed since the line through Brighouse opened in the year 2000. It managed to make the top four proposals with the main difficulties being the delivery of a railway station at an elevated site and the provision of step free access. This is another of the four candidates in the Leeds City Region that could get funding.

Middlewich

Just weeks away from publishing a business case, this candidate sits closed as Virgin Voyagers crawl past during weekend diversions. If the infrastructure concerns (mainly line speed) can be mitigated and trains sourced to run the additional service required, Middlewich could be a candidate.

Halton Chord

The new service could bring a new railway station to serve the area due to be transformed by the new bridge over the Mersey. Without a service already in place it will be difficult to model likely demands particularly with so many transport changes due in this area.
 
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yorksrob

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No Wellington Somerset ?

Overall good news, but if one of them needs £12m, that's not a lot left to go round.
 

bluenoxid

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It made it on to the shortlist but not the final post. I've just realised Soham is missing too.
 
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swt_passenger

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was the last round not limited to schemes that had reached a certain GRIP level?

Shovel ready was the term used by DfT in the first competition. Aimed at sorting out local authorities with a plan from those that just shouted a lot.
 

Mintona

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Stonehouse with its population of 7000 wants a second station? Whilst Quedgeley 5 miles up the road with its population of 17000 (plus another 7000 in Hardwicke and Kingsway next door) doesn't get a look in :(
 
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backontrack

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In reply to the suggestion made regarding the Cranbrook area, is it really deserving of another new station when it received one not so long ago?

Let other areas with no railway station be given priority.

Agreed.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Has Newtonhill (Aberdeenshire) been planned at all?
 

sciisfun

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In reply to the suggestion made regarding the Cranbrook area, is it really deserving of another new station when it received one not so long ago?

Let other areas with no railway station be given priority.

the first one was in the wrong place entirely, right at the edge of the estate, with a journey through rather off putting road, especially at night, also with another 500-1000 houses currently being prepared it is something that is required really, also a more frequent service would boost passenger numbers
 

backontrack

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I see. Well, anyway, come on Haxby! This station is really needed - hopefully it will do a lot to shift cars off the road - if it goes ahead.
 

HowardGWR

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Is it just me or others find this competition very cynical. Either these things need doing or they don't. Where are the Regional Transport Plans and allied funding? (Oh, forgot, we haven't got Regions any more). City-centered plans are one thing and needed, but many of the places cited above are on inter-urban links.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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the first one was in the wrong place entirely, right at the edge of the estate, with a journey through rather off putting road, especially at night, also with another 500-1000 houses currently being prepared it is something that is required really, also a more frequent service would boost passenger numbers

That in no way gives any sort of right to demand another station. How much in the way of preliminary decision making was involved and what parties were involved in these meetings, and also, how much money was spent on the first station?

You just cannot draw any sort of comparisons to a faulty product that you want to return and to replace.
 

pemma

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how many of those on the list above meet that criteria?

Wording this time is

Network Rail said:
The aim of the NSF2 is to fund New Station projects to improve access to the rail network
and to generate new rail journeys without material revenue abstraction from other Train
Operating Company (TOC) services or from public transport alternatives. The proposed New
Station must fit with the needs of the existing network and not substantially increase existing
passenger journey times.

A proposed station which would be located on a new or reopened line can only be
considered for NSF2 funding if the funds have already separately been committed for the
construction of the new or reopened railway line itself.

I can't make out if that would allow Middlewich to qualify or not. The track is there and the line is part of the NR network but there are no regular passenger services on it and really it needs upgrading if it is to carry regular traffic, while some minor work needs doing to reopen platform 3 at Northwich (a fence needs to be removed.)
 

sciisfun

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That in no way gives any sort of right to demand another station. How much in the way of preliminary decision making was involved and what parties were involved in these meetings, and also, how much money was spent on the first station?

You just cannot draw any sort of comparisons to a faulty product that you want to return and to replace.

no, but looking at this map https://planning.eastdevon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=map&keyVal=NHSU92GH01D00 with the west expansion as planned, and the current east expansion, which goes up to almost to southbrook house it's a big expansion, and a long walk to the station (which is the loop of road at the top of this map) also don't forget this is Devon we're talking about, we don't walk 200 yards to the corner shop!
 

The Ham

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the first one was in the wrong place entirely, right at the edge of the estate, with a journey through rather off putting road, especially at night, also with another 500-1000 houses currently being prepared it is something that is required really, also a more frequent service would boost passenger numbers

A further 1250 to 2500 people (2.5 people per house) with rail usage of a high 10% would give you an annual station usage of 30,000 to 70,000. Hardly enough to justify a new station.
 
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