Villages that could have a Railway Station

[Gwenllian2001]

St Clears seems to be the best case presented so far - but how far would the station be from the village

Following its decline as port, the town developed around the railway. The site of the staion is about two to three hundred yards from the centre of things.

 

[HSTEd]

What about Royal Wooton Basset, doesn't the line go straight through it? 11,000 population is probably quite a good case as well.

 

[Ivo]

Not quite; it just misses. Certainly one to consider though, especially considering it is on the junction of the two routes and could thus relieve some of the pressure on Swindon.

It's not a village though.

 

[class26]

Helpringham[Lincolnshire] is on the Joint Line [Lincoln-Sleaford to Spalding and Peterborough].

It used to have a station until the 1960s, and could be a possible contender for re-opening. It has a population of some 700 people, and is approx. 7 miles from Sleaford. There are 4 buses per day into Sleaford from there.

The present service is worked mainly by 153s, and as I think there is a 55mph speed limit on the double-tracked line, and at best an hourly service with little or no freight at present, calls at a reopened station could easily be made.

If the money, and the will, was available.

i would agree with that. I live in the next village, Heckington on the Boston line and often there are more getting on the train there than come in from the much, much larger towns of Skegness and Boston. Helpringham would work into Sleaford and Lincoln but its the cost of building a new station.

Incidentally, a little further south on the Joint Line Hull Trains have proposed building a station at Donington to be called "BOSTON PARKWAY" and stop their once proposed through trains to London via Sleaford and Spalding. That would be a winner I have no doubt as there are large amounts of people from all over the area that currently drive to Peterborough rather than endure the appauling connection times at Grantham or risk being left abandonded at Grantham afetr the last connection has gone.

Hull Trains did say it wouldn`t start until after the Joint Line upgrade which is presently being worked on but I have no idea if they still intend to carry this idea through. I do hope so.

Does anyone out there have any idea if Hull Trains still intend to seek permission for this service, say from 2014 ?

 

[Gathursty]

Often repeated on this forum, Wrea Green, and I'll add in Gisburn between Clitheroe and Hellifield. Gisburn is on an important crossroads in that part of Lancashire with Barnoldswick and Earby not too far away and it could help build the case for the Clitheroe line service to be extended towards Hellifield on a more regular basis.

PS: Has Gisburn ever had a station?

 

[Alan1310]

I see Barlow boy with cherry Hinton and raise him fulbourn

 

[IanXC]

My suggestion would be Haxby, which is north of York on the line to Scarborough. I think the idea is supported by the City Council and given the service level on the line pathing it shouldn't be a problem.

Probably more viable if the proposed Scarborough shuttle was implemented, otherwise it'd only get 1tph.

 

[michael769]

It apparently has a population of 1,500, and as you say is just 3 miles from the nearest station. Therefore, I think your chances of getting a station are approximately zero.

Blackridge with a population of only 1,600 and only 3.5 miles from Armadale had a station built, following a local campaign, as an add on to the Airdrie to Bathgate re-opening.

For the OPs info: in Scotland although NR would probably contracted to build any new station the decision to do so would be made by Transport Scotland, from whom the financing would come, so any campaign you might decide to launch should be directed at The Scottish Government not Network rail or Scotrail.

 

[LexyBoy]

I agree with DaveNewcastle's post; local stations on IC routes tend to suffer for the benefit of expresses except where the line is quadrupled.

This can be seen on the GWML too: there's an abundance of local stations (and services) between Paddington and Didcot, where it's 4-track, but little west of there, where the line goes down to 2-track.

Just looking locally, between Didcot and Swindon there could be stations (and were in the past) at Wantage (Road/Parkway), Steventon, Shrivenham and possibly Milton Park (not that I'm biased there). Wooton Basset is an obvious case, fairly big in itself and well placed for a parkway station. Chalford and Brimscombe near Stroud would be nice too.

As an example of such campaigns working, Cam and Dursley station was opened in 1994, and is only about 5 miles from Stonehouse station (although they are on different lines).

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Is there any prospect of Baschurch station on the Shrewsbury to Chester line being reopened? All that would need doing is to slap down two platforms. There is a campaign to get it reopened, but apparently it will cost a few million pounds (really that much to put in two platforms?)

Also Kenilworth on the Coventry to Leamington Spa line should be reopened (although that's a town rather than a village; I think there would be a market for commuters to Birmingham from Kenilworth).

Given that they reopened Fishguard & Goodwick, I don't see why Baschurch and Kenilworth can't be reopened.

 

[142094]

As for villages that could do with a station, I give you Copmanthorpe. Is all.

You could add on Haxby and Strensall to that. All been mentioned in the last few years, but no further progress.

Bringing back Foss Islands would have been very useful to me last year...

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I don't think this is practical.

Tickhill's old station is on the A60 a mile north of the village; a potential new station is well to the west of the village; not sure about Maltby but the track certainly goes to the pit (yes, there is still one open in Britain) which is almost a mile east of the town centre. In any case, most people from Maltby head to Rotherham for their extra shopping rather than Doncaster.

Both these places have a half-hourly bus service to Doncaster (hourly from Maltby Sats), and from observation they are not exactly full.

Added to the problem is the pathing on single-line sections with coal trains.

Shame, but this would be well down the list.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Sorry to be raining on parades tonight, but its population is only 2500. Yes there are a few settlements around but they could use Newark and Retford.

St Clears seems to be the best case presented so far - but how far would the station be from the village, is the bus service adequate anyway, I don't know.

Ilkeston is a town, but which line is it on? Sorry, just about to go to bed so too tired to look up google maps.

Whilst in that general area, how about Bawtry? Over 3,000 population and right on the ECML.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Soham - though the line doesn't go to the right places for villagers to use a station.

 

[route:oxford]

Clackmannan
Kincardine
Longannet
Low/High Valleyfield
Cairneyhill

Menstrie/Dollar/Tillicoultry could do with a seperate service too. The roads in the "wee countie" are dreadful.

 

[trentside]

A couple of people have suggested Tuxford, but I can't see that being a viable proposition - certainly not on the ECML anyway, as that section has no local service - or the capacity for a local service. There is also one bus an hour to Newark, and 2 or 3 an hour heading to Retford, some of which serve the station directly.

There has been some discussion on here previously about the line through Tuxford (now a test track) and a possible re-opening as part of the Robin Hood line. Were this to happen, I think Market Warsop, Edwinstowe and Ollerton would be deserving of stations - not sure about Tuxford though.

 

[cuccir]

The most efficient way to serve such communities is to have (locally run) bus services to nearby towns, or if there are multiple villages, to a single central station, with guaranteed connections for late trains, or indeed late buses, and through pricing for tickets.

However, due to the complexities of conflicting business and political interests, there are very few (if any?) places in the UK where this has been achieved!

 

[matchmaker]

Clackmannan
Kincardine
Longannet
Low/High Valleyfield
Cairneyhill

Menstrie/Dollar/Tillicoultry could do with a seperate service too. The roads in the "wee countie" are dreadful.

Not Longannet - all that is there is the power station and the line is mostly within Scottish Power property. There isn't *that* big a staff and many are shift workers so unless the service was 24/7 they wouldn't benefit.

Culross, maybe.

As for Menstrie, Tillicoultry and Dollar - no chance. They have a pretty good bus service and weren't even on the same railway line when they had stations!

 

[SprinterMan]

In East Anglia I can think of:

Soham (Between Kennett & Ely)
Fulbourn (Between Cambridge & Dullingham)
Great Cornard (Between Bures & Sudbury)

 

[reb0118]

Clackmannan
Kincardine
Longannet
Low/High Valleyfield
Cairneyhill

Menstrie/Dollar/Tillicoultry could do with a seperate service too. The roads in the "wee countie" are dreadful.

What about the Royal Burgh of Culross? Could implement a wee ferry from there across the Forth to West Lothian's premier seaside resort to connect with the B & K railway

Culross, maybe.

Ah, you got there before me.

 

[route:oxford]

Not Longannet - all that is there is the power station and the line is mostly within Scottish Power property. There isn't *that* big a staff and many are shift workers so unless the service was 24/7 they wouldn't benefit.

Culross, maybe.

As for Menstrie, Tillicoultry and Dollar - no chance. They have a pretty good bus service and weren't even on the same railway line when they had stations!

Oops, yes. I looked at the map to check what was at Longannet - then forgot to edit my post before posting.

Also yes. Menstrie, Alva - Tillicoultry & Dollar aren't on the same former route. But there is only a kilometre of absolutely new embankment/infrastructure in it.

 

[steamybrian]

Can I suggest Wootton Bassett.. sorry.. Royal Wootton Bassett

and

Corsham

Both have a population of around 11,000

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I don't think that population is always the key factor. Re-opening Harringworth could open up the tourist potential of the area.

 

[142094]

The most efficient way to serve such communities is to have (locally run) bus services to nearby towns, or if there are multiple villages, to a single central station, with guaranteed connections for late trains, or indeed late buses, and through pricing for tickets.

However, due to the complexities of conflicting business and political interests, there are very few (if any?) places in the UK where this has been achieved!

Locally run bus services in rural areas are usually very few and far between, unless there are larger towns nearby and there are services passing through, or the areas have high visitor levels (like the Yorkshire Dales etc). At one time you could find Postbuses across the country who would carry passengers from the small villages to the major town, which would probably have a railway station or at least an onward connection to it. However I remember reading that the annual subsidy per passenger could run into the £000s due to the low patronage. The only real cost-effective solution is some sort of demand-responsive travel, where the bus has no fixed route but rather has an origin and destination, and picks up on route.

 

[LE Greys]

Offord & Buckden, Holme and Yaxley are possibilities, with a half-hourly service to London and Peterborough expected. The last would rely on full quadrupling to Peterborough, but would probably have the most passengers, since people from south Peterborough might drive there, including those from new housing, to avoid higher ticket prices and for better parking.

 

[cuccir]

Locally run bus services in rural areas are usually very few and far between, unless there are larger towns nearby and there are services passing through, or the areas have high visitor levels (like the Yorkshire Dales etc). At one time you could find Postbuses across the country who would carry passengers from the small villages to the major town, which would probably have a railway station or at least an onward connection to it. However I remember reading that the annual subsidy per passenger could run into the £000s due to the low patronage. The only real cost-effective solution is some sort of demand-responsive travel, where the bus has no fixed route but rather has an origin and destination, and picks up on route.

Going slightly off topic I know, but in the small part of County Durham where I work (Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe) there's Weardale Motor Services, Scarlet Band, JSB Travel and Eden Motors, as well as the council's demand-responsive travel and one or two 'taxi-bus' services. Maybe this area isn't representative but locally-run bus transport is certainly alive here, and it's hardly a major tourist area.

 

[LE Greys]

Can I suggest Wootton Bassett.. sorry.. Royal Wootton Bassett

and

Corsham

Both have a population of around 11,000

Agree with both of those, following electrification of course. Better acceleration should offset the time lost. I'd hope to see a revival of the Oxford-Bristol service with 125 mph stock as well.

 

[Scotty]

i would agree with that. I live in the next village, Heckington on the Boston line and often there are more getting on the train there than come in from the much, much larger towns of Skegness and Boston. Helpringham would work into Sleaford and Lincoln but its the cost of building a new station.

Incidentally, a little further south on the Joint Line Hull Trains have proposed building a station at Donington to be called "BOSTON PARKWAY" and stop their once proposed through trains to London via Sleaford and Spalding. That would be a winner I have no doubt as there are large amounts of people from all over the area that currently drive to Peterborough rather than endure the appauling connection times at Grantham or risk being left abandonded at Grantham afetr the last connection has gone.

Hull Trains did say it wouldn't start until after the Joint Line upgrade which is presently being worked on but I have no idea if they still intend to carry this idea through. I do hope so.

Does anyone out there have any idea if Hull Trains still intend to seek permission for this service, say from 2014 ?

They'd call it Donington Parkway, and is a great idea. Any potential in then linking this line to the Poacher line, somewhere around Swineshead. We could then have Boston-Peterborough services.

 

[6Gman]

Well you know what BANES stands for Ivo, and so do I - but how many others on here do ?

Crewe - Shrewsbbury reopened / new stations at Willaston , Tilstock, Hadnall, Farlescott / Ditherington (one or the other, not both)

Not Willaston! Too near Crewe, and housebuilding has made access virtually impossible.

Beeston Castle on the other hand ......

[Yes, I realise that's on the Crewe-Chester line ]

 

[Jordy]

Reinstate the west curve at Chippenham Junction (Newmarket) and you could have a Cambridge - Cherry Hinton - Fulbourn - Dullingham - Newmarket - Soham - Ely service, covers 3 of the suggestions put in here! Would make it much easier to get out of here to the north too!

 

[Helvellyn]

Porton, which used to have a station, would probably be a good one now that the science lab is there. Some people suggested it but Network Rail said it would cost too much and mess up timetables, which is a shame. Perhaps if it gets a little bigger they would reconsider.

I'd add Oakley too.