Paignton station relocation / modernisation / expansion & regeneration of the area?

[Ashley Hill]

Moderator note: Split from

Paignton station footbridge on fire 21/07/26

Bit of a silver lining with this one that most services use platform 2 so the loss of the footbridge won't cause the issues it would cause at other locations, that and the easy access from the street to both platforms.. Is it possible the footbridge will have to be demolished before any trains...

www.railforums.co.uk

https://www.paigntonneighbourhoodplan.org.uk/PDF/Documents/2015-06-01%20PTC-Masterplan-As%20Adopted%20SPD.pdf

The relationship of the square with the railway station will also be improved with a new kiosk sitting at the corner of the existing taxi rank. A new entrance lobby for the railway station will greatly enhance the arrival experience into the town as wellas dramatically improving the appearance of transport hub in the area and connection to the library. This section of the street could also be home to be new cycle hub with storage facilities at the heart of the town.

Torbay Council has long desired to modernise the area by the Paignton station. Their 2015 master plan shows a modern station building closer to North crossing whilst a later design shows a pedestrian area with trees and a new building on the existing site. Looking at those plans none appear to have come to fruition, although the Victoria Square scheme appears to have some movement.

The local council has also wished to demolish the long closed former hotel, bar, nightclub etc opposite the station despite a campaign by local historians to save it. Well the council got their way by declaring it unsafe and started demolition a few weeks ago.

Depending on the severity of the damage caused by the fire, could this and the demolition opposite kick-start a regeneration?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Torbay Council has long desired to modernise the area by the Paignton station. Their 2015 master plan shows a modern station building closer to North crossing whilst a later design shows a pedestrian area with trees and a new building on the existing site. Looking at those plans none appear to have come to fruition. Although the Victoria Square scheme appears to have some movement.
The local council have also wished to demolish the long closed former hotel, bar, nightclub etc opposite the station despite a campaign by local historians to save it. Well the council got their way by declaring it unsafe and started demolition a few weeks ago.
Depending on the severity of the damage caused by the fire, could this and the demolition opposite kick start a regeneration?

Could the station be relocated north of the level crossing, which would eliminate the disruption from the barriers, or is the gradient not suitable? I gather the horrid multi-storey car park north of the crossing is coming down.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Could the station be relocated north of the level crossing, which would eliminate the disruption from the barriers

It has been suggested many times, but closing the crossing would mean no access to Goodrington sidings which are used daily. Also, the through connection to the steam railway would be lost unless a Sheringham agreement put into use.

 

[The exile]

It has been suggested many times, but closing the crossing would mean no access to Goodrington sidings which are used daily. Also the through connection to the steam railway would be lost unless a Sherringham agreement put into use.

You wouldn’t have to close the crossing - merely reduce its use massively.

 

[Ashley Hill]

You wouldn’t have to close the crossing - merely reduce its use massively.

True, but putting it that side would involve moving the signals and crossover around.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Torbay Council has long desired to modernise the area by the Paignton station. Their 2015 master plan shows a modern station building closer to North crossing whilst a later design shows a pedestrian area with trees and a new building on the existing site. Looking at those plans none appear to have come to fruition. Although the Victoria Square scheme appears to have some movement.
The local council have also wished to demolish the long closed former hotel, bar, nightclub etc opposite the station despite a campaign by local historians to save it. Well the council got their way by declaring it unsafe and started demolition a few weeks ago.
Depending on the severity of the damage caused by the fire, could this and the demolition opposite kick start a regeneration?

That'll go some way towards explaining some of the conspiracy theories I've seen bouncing about!

 

[Russel]

Torbay Council has long desired to modernise the area by the Paignton station. Their 2015 master plan shows a modern station building closer to North crossing whilst a later design shows a pedestrian area with trees and a new building on the existing site. Looking at those plans none appear to have come to fruition. Although the Victoria Square scheme appears to have some movement.
The local council have also wished to demolish the long closed former hotel, bar, nightclub etc opposite the station despite a campaign by local historians to save it. Well the council got their way by declaring it unsafe and started demolition a few weeks ago.
Depending on the severity of the damage caused by the fire, could this and the demolition opposite kick start a regeneration?

The big question is, do the council have the funds to actually push any of these grand plans forward?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jul 2026 ==

Do we know which part of the station building had it's roof removed by the demolition crew, was it the flat roofed part of the older part?

 

[SwindonManor]

Could the station be relocated north of the level crossing, which would eliminate the disruption from the barriers, or is the gradient not suitable? I gather the horrid multi-storey car park north of the crossing is coming down.

Already half gone. New one is in place, but the building isn't fully gone for the car park. There are a lot of bad sites in need of sorting in the town currently, the multistorey, the former "Queen Victoria" pub building, and now the station. The area around Lidl is as well is trashed with stone debris, in need of demolition.

 

[Russel]

Already half gone. New one is in place but the building isn't fully gone for the car park. There's a lot of bad sites in need of sorting in the town currently, the multistorey, the former "Queen Victoria" pub building, and now the station. The area around Lidls as well is trashed with stone debris, in need of demolition.

Going off topic I know, but I visited Paignton earlier this year, I couldn't believe how slow the Victoria Square/Lidl development is taking, it feels like Lidl has been closed for so long.

 

[REVUpminster]

I hope they can preserve the station where possible but this will likely be very hard or impossible.

One of the worst stations having a goods shed for a Booking Hall, Ticket Office, and I didn't know "signal box". The cafe been closed for years. The main doors to the platform and forecourt were replaced last year.
The fire was on the footbridge and newspaper stand which has been closed for years.


The 2015 masterplan for the station envisaged a new forecourt, but that also included no cars in the Torbay Road and an open crossing for pedestrians a la continent. These ideas has all gone. The council now envisage a new station with flats above set back into the station car park. A new multi-story carpark in station lane on railway and council land behind the library to replace Victoria Square car park which is closed partially knocked down replaced with a temporary ground level car park. The temporary car park in Hyde Road on the site of Crossways shopping centre closes in September for extra care housing.


The short term car park opposite the station is ear marked for flats and possibly a small supermarket and even the bus station could be gone in a few years as no buses are stored there overnight any more since they went electric.

 

[SwindonManor]

One of the worst stations having a goods shed for a Booking Hall, Ticket Office, and I didn't know "signal box". The cafe been closed for years. The main doors to the platform and forecourt were replaced last year.
The fire was on the footbridge and newspaper stand which has been closed for years.
View attachment 208067

The 2015 masterplan for the station envisaged a new forecourt, but that also included no cars in the Torbay Road and an open crossing for pedestrians a la continent. These ideas has all gone. The council now envisage a new station with flats above set back into the station car park. A new multi-story carpark in station lane on railway and council land behind the library to replace Victoria Square car park which is closed partially knocked down replaced with a temporary ground level car park. The temporary car park in Hyde Road on the site of Crossways shopping centre closes in September for extra care housing.

View attachment 208068
The short term car park opposite the station is ear marked for flats and possibly a small supermarket and even the bus station could be gone in a few years as no buses are stored there overnight any more since they went electric.

That car park on the former crossways is short term? Didn't know. Would be nice but this is very ambitious. Thankfully for Platform 1 the original canopy remains undamaged and the steam railway is safe from the fire.

 

[REVUpminster]

That car park on the former crossways is short term? Didn't know. Would be nice but this is very ambitious. Thankfully for Platform 1 the original canopy remains undamaged and the steam railway is safe from the fire.

The development received planning permission December 2025 but the £43m cost needed guarantees from various government agencies which they have apparently got and the full council authorised the go ahead last night. Below is a site I contribute too.
Torbay council expect to lose 50% of retail in both Torquay and Paignton; all replaced by residential.

Paignton, Crossways | Residential | 5fl | Approved

The proposal is to demolish the existing buildings and replace them with a mixed use scheme comprising of some commercial/retail space on the ground floor and a mix of sheltered and extra care affordable homes for local people on the upper floors. Depending on configuration up to 6 retail...

www.skyscrapercity.com

 

[MarkyT]

One of the worst stations having a goods shed for a Booking Hall, Ticket Office, and I didn't know "signal box". The cafe been closed for years. The main doors to the platform and forecourt were replaced last year.
The fire was on the footbridge and newspaper stand which has been closed for years.

That the booking hall was once a goods shed doesn't make it poor intrinsically, though the interior layout and decor are dated. The 'goods shed' is in exactly the right spot for access across the road to the bus station and was going spare.

View attachment 208067

The 2015 masterplan for the station envisaged a new forecourt, but that also included no cars in the Torbay Road and an open crossing for pedestrians a la continent.

Note retention of the goods shed building with a new canopy to replace the existing tired structures there today.

These ideas has all gone. The council now envisage a new station with flats above set back into the station car park. A new multi-story carpark in station lane on railway and council land behind the library to replace Victoria Square car park.

Have you any maps or illustrations of the latest proposals.

The short term car park opposite the station is ear marked for flats and possibly a small supermarket and even the bus station could be gone in a few years as no buses are stored there overnight any more since they went electric.

I hope they consider removing the gyratory that speeds half of Paignton's traffic urban grand prix style between the station and bus station and town centre. I say restore calmed two-way traffic in Torquay Road and Hyde Road and reconfigure the bus station so vehicles entering and leaving don't have to go round in circles so much.

 

[REVUpminster]

That the booking hall was once a goods shed doesn't make it poor intrinsically, though the interior layout and decor are dated. The 'goods shed' is in exactly the right spot for access across the road to the bus station and was going spare.

Note retention of the goods shed building with a new canopy to replace the existing tired structures there today.

Have you any maps or illustrations of the latest proposals.

I hope they consider removing the gyratory that speeds half of Paignton's traffic urban grand prix style between the station and bus station and town centre. I say restore calmed two-way traffic in Torquay Road and Hyde Road and reconfigure the bus station so vehicles entering and leaving don't have to go round in circles so much.

This is the current plan for the forecourt. It was meant to start early this year but emergency road works, a huge sink hole and gas pipe laying, in nearby Sands Road ironically meant they couldn't close Station Square. The station buildings were left untouched in the plan, but now the fire and demolition of the two buildings directly opposite which don't directly affect the new road layout but will delay it.

There are no plans for any of the other schemes at the station car park or the other sites but the council have designated them opportunity zones. The council are looking for as many brownfield sites as possible because the government says Torbay has a huge land supply shortage.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2026 ==


These are the opportunity zones at the station and nearby.

 

[QueensCurve]

View attachment 208097
This is the current plan for the forecourt. It was meant to start early this year but emergency road works, a huge sink hole and gas pipe laying, in nearby Sands Road ironically meant they couldn't close Station Square. The station buildings were left untouched in the plan, but now the fire and demolition of the two buildings directly opposite which don't directly affect the new road layout but will delay it.

There are no plans for any of the other schemes at the station car park or the other sites but the council have designated them opportunity zones. The council are looking for as many brownfield sites as possible because the government says Torbay has a huge land supply shortage.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jul 2026 ==

View attachment 208102
These are the opportunity zones at the station and nearby.

If the station could be moved to the other side of the street the level crossing could be obviated.

 

[dk1]

If the station could be moved to the other side of the street the level crossing could be obviated.

Easier said than done and would mean some expensive signalling alterations too.

 

[edwin_m]

If the station could be moved to the other side of the street the level crossing could be obviated.

Easier said than done and would mean some expensive signalling alterations too.

Also there would only be space for a two-platform station similar to today's, and that doesn't work unless some trains are sent to Goodrington. So the crossing would have to stay, although it would be used less.

 

[REVUpminster]

If the station could be moved to the other side of the street the level crossing could be obviated.

It was mooted years ago and a modern station opening on to Victoria Square could have been quite impressive. Victoria Square is no more and is a temporary car park. There is but one shop left that will go next year when it's lease runs out and by then detailed plans for flats would have been drawn up.
Above; March 2026. One shop left in the corner. Lidl to the left of this picture was closed 2 years ago.
Below; car park in July 2026.

The future

 

[greatkingrat]

Also there would only be space for a two-platform station similar to today's, and that doesn't work unless some trains are sent to Goodrington. So the crossing would have to stay, although it would be used less.

Would two platforms be enough if there was an extra crossover allowing trains to arrive and depart on both platforms without shunting?

 

[zwk500]

Would two platforms be enough if there was an extra crossover allowing trains to arrive and depart on both platforms without shunting?

On the current timetable, no. The XC and GWR London trains have periods where they are both overlapping at Paignton, and in that time a local comes in. If XC are short formed then arguably the local can top-work, but really XC should be looking to avoid single-set working, not embed it...

You'd also likely retain the Level Crossings for access to the heritage railway.

 

[RPI]

On the current timetable, no. The XC and GWR London trains have periods where they are both overlapping at Paignton, and in that time a local comes in. If XC are short formed then arguably the local can top-work, but really XC should be looking to avoid single-set working, not embed it...

You'd also likely retain the Level Crossings for access to the heritage railway.

I don't believe XC run any double sets to Paignton? I know a ten car IET doesn't fit.

 

[zwk500]

I don't believe XC run any double sets to Paignton? I know a ten car IET doesn't fit.

They may not do so now, but given the frequent complaints about crowding on their network, would you really go the expense of moving the station and then embed XC being limited to 5 cars?

 

[RPI]

They may not do so now, but given the frequent complaints about crowding on their network, would you really go the expense of moving the station and then embed XC being limited to 5 cars?

They're not moving the station though, that's cloudy Cuckoo land. Generally the XC services to and from Paignton are pretty quiet anyway west of Taunton.

 

[SwindonManor]

They're not moving the station though, that's cloudy Cuckoo land. Generally the XC services to and from Paignton are pretty quiet anyway west of Taunton.

Sometimes. XC can get very busy though north of here. Bristol and Birmingham are a nightmare on the voyagers and they can be busy until Exeter

 

[davetheguard]

Generally the XC services to and from Paignton are pretty quiet anyway west of Taunton.

However the 10.14 Paignton to Manchester loads well, even though it's usually a five car.

People standing west of (i.e. before) EXETER last week! I was one of them.....

 

[TastyMaltesers]

I assume the platform length is what prevents 10 car trains from calling at Paignton?

 

[REVUpminster]

I assume the platform length is what prevents 10 car trains from calling at Paignton?

It is but they can and do take 9 car IETs which most of them are. Occasionaly a five car comes from Paddington.

The 1012 xc on Saturday is often packed. A lot do get off at Exeter. Maybe if a five car came up from Plymouth then ten cars could go on to the north.

I remember the days when you could get a nine car 159 at Waterloo; three cars would come off at Salisbury and at St David's the train would divide and three cars go to Paignton and three cars to Plymouth. The return journey joined them all up again.

 

[MarkyT]

I assume the platform length is what prevents 10 car trains from calling at Paignton?

10x25m theoretically fits in the ~250m standage available between signals in both platform roads, but platform 2 is about 30m shorter than the standage. I understand individual passenger doors cannot be disabled easily on Voyager stock so the entire second unit must be out of use. A 9-car IET fits happily in either platform and can board at #2 with a few doors isolated at the rear, but a 10-car double set will not fit between the signals.

 

[REVUpminster]

10x25m theoretically fits in the ~250m standage available between signals in both platform roads, but platform 2 is about 30m shorter than the standage. I understand individual passenger doors cannot be disabled easily on Voyager stock so the entire second unit must be out of use. A 9-car IET fits happily in either platform and can board at #2 with a few doors isolated at the rear, but a 10-car double set will not fit between the signals.

Railway track diagrams list platform 1 as 220 metres and platform 2 as 209 metres. Tour trains often have a locomotive at each end and 13 coaches between and foul the level crossing for the time it takes for the train to move to Goodrington sidings or to Kingswear.

 

[MarkyT]

Railway track diagrams list platform 1 as 220 metres and platform 2 as 209 metres. Tour trains often have a locomotive at each end and 13 coaches between and foul the level crossing for the time it takes for the train to move to Goodrington sidings or to Kingswear.

Platform #2 distance between signals measures 255m on Google Earth, while for #1 it is 261m.
The platforms themselves, from north signal to top of south ramp, measure 237m for #1 and 203m for #2