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Train operators call for £4m reopening of Grove station (From Herald Series)
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Train operators call for £4m reopening of Grove station
3:33pm Wednesday 24th June 2009
GROVE train station should be one of seven reopened in England, according to a new report by the body representing Britain’s rail franchises.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) believes that £4m should be spent on reopening Grove station on the line from Didcot to Swindon, although local residents remain pessimistic.
It estimates that the benefits of reconnecting the village would far outweigh the cost of reinstatement.
The report has been welcomed by campaigners for better train services in the county, but met with pessimism by Grove residents after repeated attempts to reopen the station, which was closed in 1965.
The report also states that the reopening of Witney railway station at a cost of £95m should be “evaluated” for Government assistance with the capital costs, because once reopened, it could operate profitably.
A spokesman for Railfuture in Oxfordshire, Hugh Jaeger, said: “Railfuture has long campaigned for the reopening of the former station at Grove and former railway to Witney.
“We welcome ATOC’s report as proof that there is now a serious business case for considering both proposals.”
In October 2007, Oxford-shire County Council was granted outline planning permission for a new station at Grove by the Vale of White Horse District Council.
However, the Department for Transport said it would not make money available for new rail links until 2014. The county council’s rail development officer, Adrian Saunders, said: “We haven’t taken a view on the report as such.
“It only came out last week and we still need to know from ATOC the basis of their assumptions.”
Transport Minister Chris Mole said: “The Government’s priority is to bring about changes, such as capacity improvements, which will deliver benefits for rail passengers now.
“For the longer term, we will work with local authorities who want to improve links to the rail network, and will plan to make funding available from 2014 for successful schemes which demonstrate value for money.”
Don Summers, a retired atomic energy worker from Hawthorne Crescent, Grove said: ““My feeling is that if it made commercial sense, the train operator would have pursued it already.”
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Your Say YourOxfordshire
Gunslinger, Abingdon says...
5:37pm Wed 24 Jun 09
One of the reasons these local stations were closed down in the 1960's was to free up capacity for 'fast' services between London & Bristol. Has that problem gone away?
dgriffin959, Oxford says...
6:06pm Wed 24 Jun 09
Scheduling some stopping services between Didcot and Swindon is certainly viable, but requires some investment.
Gunslinger, Abingdon says...
7:53pm Wed 24 Jun 09
Are they expecting to get a half-hourly or hourly regular service to Swindon, Reading and London, or even a direct link to Oxford? More likely just a couple of peak hour services, as is currently 'enjoyed' at other surviving local stations like Appleford and Culham.
Hugh Jaeger, Oxford says...
3:06pm Fri 26 Jun 09
Gunslinger wrote:"A half-hourly or hourly regular service to Swindon, Reading and London" seems to be what ATOC has in mind. 10,000 people live in Grove and another 10,000 live in Wantage: a complete contrast with the few hundred each who live in Appleford and Culham.
I think it needs to be made a bit clearer what people would be getting for spending £4m of our money on this. Are they expecting to get a half-hourly or hourly regular service to Swindon, Reading and London, or even a direct link to Oxford? More likely just a couple of peak hour services, as is currently 'enjoyed' at other surviving local stations like Appleford and Culham.
Swindon Borough Council wants a new parkway station to be built on the northern outskirts of Swindon, on the line towards Kemble and Gloucester. Swindon BC would like FGW to run two trains per hour between the new parkway station and Paddington. Either half or all of these could stop at Grove.
A rail service between Grove and Oxford could be more difficult. When Thames Trains existed they ran an Oxford-Bristol service that could have stoped at Grove. The service was popular but it was withdrawn a few years ago to make more room in the timetable for other services!
The train operating companies and Oxfordshire County Council want Grove station, but Network Rail is more pessimistic. I imagine the casting vote lies with the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis. If you live in Grove or Wantage and want a rail station, please tell young Mr Vaizey!
Mouseman, Oxford says...
6:13pm Fri 26 Jun 09
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dgriffin959, Oxford says...
4:14pm Wed 24 Jun 09
Oh come on Herald this is just your usual nonsense of quoting from a sample of just one person! I know there are many people who want to see this and other transport links. We are impatient rather than pessimistic.