Cheltenham could lose its railway station

[AJR]

Ref: thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... K=12739380

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HANDS OFF OUR RAILWAY STATION - IT HAS TO STAY


10:30 - 01 July 2005
Cheltenham could lose its railway station if plans to build a Parkway station between Cheltenham and Gloucester get the go-ahead.

The scheme is part of the county council's long-term transport plans and has the backing of Gloucester MP Parmjit Dhanda But Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood fears the plans could leave the town's station out of the loop.

Currently Virgin's cross country services stop at Cheltenham and Gloucester.

But two years ago the company axed 18 of its 20 cross country services into Gloucester.

Virgin has already said its preference would be to serve only one station in the area.

So if Gloucester Parkway is built at Elmbridge Court all services could be transferred there.

First Great Western's franchise for trains to London is also up for grabs.

Any decision on the Parkway could affect those routes running in and out of Cheltenham.

Elmbridge Court, at the Gloucester end of the A40 Golden Valley bypass, has already been identified by the Strategic Rail Authority as the best location for a new station.

The SRA says there is a positive case for the project, following an assessment carried out last year.

However, Mr Horwood says he will fight tooth and nail to defend the town's station.

He said: "It's vital for Cheltenham's economic future that the town retains its own railway station with an extensive range of intercity services.

"I'm certainly not giving unqualified support to the parkway station because there's the potential that it might take services away from Cheltenham Spa." He has written to the SRA and Virgin asking for a commitment to maintain services to Cheltenham.

"If that can be done and we can have a parkway station as well, that's fine," said Mr Horwood.

"If the impact is to negatively impact services in Cheltenham I'll be opposing it."

Cheltenham borough councillor John Morris is also concerned.

He said: "The main thing we've to look at in relation to the parkway is to make sure the transport structures that are already there aren't impeded or cancelled.

"Cheltenham station is vital to the town. If it was taken out of the frame it could be at worst the death knell for any growth in Cheltenham."

[madhattie]

Virgin has already said its preference would be to serve only one station in the area.

It must be galling to run a train service and have to keep stopping for passengers.... why can't they all simply get on at the beginning and get off at the end?

[Graham]

Although Cheltenham Spa has all the Virgin trains stopping there, Gloucester does have some services that don't call at Cheltenham: Most of the services to Swindon terminate at Gloucester, as do the local Arriva Trains Wales ones from Cardiff Central. If it happened, the only services Cheltenham Spa would have would be Central Trains hourly Cardiff Central-Nottingham, a hourly local Wessex service from Bristol Temple Meads, and one or two FGW services to London Paddington - this simply isn't enough for Cheltenham.

If all Virgin trains stopped at "Gloucester Parkway" and bypassed Cheltenham Spa, it would have a devestating effect on me and my friend who's thinking of going to the Uni of Glous in a few years

[madhattie]

I can't see how calling at a parkway station outside Cheltenham, rather than the current station, is going to help Virgin's business, especially as the roads into Cheltenham are gridlocked every day during the rush hour, while the town centre itself has a truly dreadful one way system such is the (in)capacity of the road network.

Given the choice between building a brand new station right in the heart of a city, or several miles away in some farmers field, I know which I'd choose, but then I would want to earn my living from carrying passengers around the country rather than screwing the british tax payer for as much money as possible.

[AJR]

Update from thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... K=12937197

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PARKWAY STATION - BID MADE

10:30 - 02 August 2005

The future of Cheltenham Spa railway station is in doubt as Gloucestershire Parkway comes a step closer to reality. Gloucestershire County Council has submitted a bid to the Government for funding.

Private companies have also supported the new station at Elmbridge Court.

The council is confident of securing a partner for the ú25 million project.

But the implications for Cheltenham's station are unclear.

The town's MP Martin Horwood has been asking for reassurances that all the services will remain and the station is not under threat.

But he says neither the Strategic Rail Authority, Virgin or First Great Western have made any promises.

Mr Horwood said: "I remain concerned that the Parkway station may mean a degradation of services to Cheltenham and possibly even a long-term threat to its future."

A feasibility study by the Strategic Rail Authority has shown there is an economic case for a new station.

The Parkway project forms part of the county council's major scheme bid, which was submitted to the Department of Transport for consideration last week. It will learn the outcome in December.

Coun Stan Waddington (Con, Nailsworth and Minchinhampton), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "This will have a crucial impact on the economic development of the whole of Gloucestershire."

[AJR]

Ref.: thisisgloucestershire

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... erPk=80413

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STATION 'NO'

09:30 - 25 November 2005

County Green campaigners claim people do not want a new Parkway train station in Gloucester. Gloucestershire Green Party says it conducted a survey of rail passengers at Gloucester railway station with the majority of people opposing the idea.

Members of the party leafleted rail travellers about the proposed new station during their survey.

Greens also claim that the majority of people they spoke to about the issue had not heard of the plans.

Katy Nixon, press officer for the Gloucester Green Party said: "This is very worrying as it will have huge implications."