Towns and cities could see new stations constructed and disused
links restored to their former glory, the Rail Minister has
confirmed today (28 February), thanks to a £20m fund to boost
rail connections across the country.
This forms just one part of the Government’s £500m drive to
reopen former routes and stations closed during the Beeching
cuts, and marks our commitment to levelling up transport
infrastructure across the country to improve links between
communities and unlock economic growth for towns, cities and
regions, so that everyone is able to access to opportunities
they need to thrive.
Passengers have already benefited from funding to build new
stations, including in Wales, Derbyshire, Exeter, Warrington
and Warwickshire, with more new stations soon to be built in
Durham, Reading and Bristol.
Local authorities can bid for the funding, with communities
across the country encouraged to apply.
Rail Minister said:
“Disused railway stations have been emblematic of left behind
towns for too long.
“The vast number of passengers already using new stations
funded by government is proof of the importance of investing
in new connections.
“This new funding will both restore local stations to their
former glory, and build even more new ones, establishing
vital links for communities and levelling up the country for
everyone.”
The new £20m funding is the third round of the ‘New Stations
Fund’, and follows the launch of the £500m ‘Reversing Beeching
Fund’, which aims to bring back the rail connections needed to
level up access to opportunity and support local economies to
flourish.
£40m of funding has already been invested in building ten new
stations across the country, attracting over a million
passenger journeys.
In 2017 a new station was opened at Ilkeston in Derbyshire, the
largest town in England to have an active passenger railway
line passing through it without any railway station to service
it. All three of its previous railway stations, Ilkeston
North, Ilkeston Town, and Ilkeston Junction and Cossall, had
been closed during the 1950s and 1960s.
The announcement follows two rounds of funding so far, which
has been invested in ten new stations across the country:
New Stations Fund 1
Pye Corner- Wales- 18/19 footfall is 125,692
Single platform station with 62 space car park.
Newcourt- Exeter- 18/19 footfall is 129,380
Single platform station
Lea Bridge- London- 18/19 footfall is 414,504
Two platform station with a footbridge with 2 lifts.
Supports large local housing developments being built next to
the station, as well as large sport venues at Lea Valley.
Ilkeston- Derby- 18/19 footfall is 130,398
Two platform station with lifts and ramps, 92 space car park.
Project provided the town with a brand new station, after the
town’s previous three stations were all closed between 1950-67.
Kenilworth- Warwickshire- 18/19 footfall is
170,912
Single platform with 103 space car park.
Previously the largest town in the UK without a dedicated train
station.
New Stations Fund 2
Warrington West- Warrington
2 platform station with 268 space car park, footbridge with 2
lifts.
Station opened on 17 December 2019. Supports large housing
development which has recently been built.
Reading Green Park- Reading
Two platform station, covered footbridge with 2 lifts.
Supports massive ongoing development surrounding Reading
football ground, including large housing development.
Horden Peterlee- Durham
Two-platform station, 100 space car park, footbridge with
ramps.
The station provides increased accessibility to rail services
for a large population in a deprived area with low
unemployment, currently with no station over a stretch of over
20km.
Bow Street- Wales
Single platform station with 103 space car park
Station will help reduce car traffic congestion into
Aberystwyth
Portway Parkway- Bristol
Single platform station with 270 space car park with links to
existing 580 space bus park and ride.
Station will help reduce congestion on inner Bristol roads.
