Campaigning to re-open Magor station

[magorstation]

Hi all,

I am a member of a group trying to open a new station (where once two existed), on the main London to South Wales line, to serve our communities of Magor and Undy. We are making good progress (see http://magorstation.co.uk) but any advice gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

MAGOR (Magor Action Group on Rail)

PS - I'm not familiar with forum use, so please excuse any errors.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You certainly have a notable landmark to refer to as this year, it was 50 years ago since both the two stations of Magor and Undy Halt were closed

 

[magorstation]

Can't believe we hadn't twigged that! Many thanks Paul

 

[deltic08]

Hi all,

I am a member of a group trying to open a new station (where once two existed), on the main London to South Wales line, to serve our communities of Magor and Undy. We are making good progress (see http://magorstation.co.uk) but any advice gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

MAGOR (Magor Action Group on Rail)

PS - I'm not familiar with forum use, so please excuse any errors.

As Chairman of a group trying to reinstate a line it is an uphill struggle. Almost vertical.
Firstly you need your local authority onside. I assume that is Monmouthshire?
Secondly you need funds for a demand forecast, environmental impact study followed by Benefit/Cost analysis because if a BCR is below 2.0 the Government will not consider it. You are probably looking at £25-£30,000 for a study.
There is a new station grant of £25m annually introduced in the 2012 Autumn Statement so there is money available for about 4 new stations each year but you are competing with other groups who could have a BCR better than you. I don't think one has opened yet.

Platforms would only be allowed on the slow lines. Isn't there a problem with passenger trains on Bishton flyover?
Additionally I understand the slow lines are not being wired in the GWML electrification that means a new station would only be served by Gloucester-Cardiff trains.

Good luck anyway.

 

[magorstation]

Many thanks for the advice Deltic08.

We do have Monmouthshire County Council on board (along with our local MP and Assembly Member) and we now sit on its Strategic Transport Group (STG). Yesterday it agreed to push our project higher up the priority list in the Transport Plan when they realised how much progress we have made.

Funding - we are currently developing a 'Crowd Funding' campaign which we will launch very soon - but timing is all important in this to maximise the income. Our target will be £20k plus. Incidentally an early preliminary evaluation by Southampton University suggested that our station had a BCR of in excess of 2.0 so that was encouraging.

We have met with Network Rail (at the STG) where they presented the Electrification Project's impact with regard to Monmouthshire. They confirmed that electrification of the 'relief lines' is currently in the plans (but with a caveat that plans can change). Certainly the necessary bridge remediation and track work covers all 4 lines.

Good point about the fly-over. It's not something that's been flagged so we will check that out.

Is there a forum or network for 'new station groups' to share best practice or ideas do you know?

Thanks again

MAGOR

http://magorstation.co.uk

 

[The Planner]

Platforms would only be allowed on the slow lines. Isn't there a problem with passenger trains on Bishton flyover?

What is the problem with the flyover? certainly nothing that jumps out that I know of, and a variety of DMUs are cleared on the route (which implies the flyover is fine). There is no reason why you couldn't have platforms on the fasts either, infact you would probably be better off doing that.

 

[Llanigraham]

I would suggest also keeping in touch with the Carno Station Re-opening group up here in Powys.
http://carnostation.org.uk/case-for-re-opening/

 

[magorstation]

Will do. Thanks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think I have found the answer to my earlier question! Railfuture has collated an A-Z list that can be downloaded from this page - http://www.railfuture.org.uk/Rail+User+Groups

70 plus of them but not many in Wales!

MAGOR
http://magorstation.co.uk

 

[magorstation]

Our campaign has made some significant progress and had good news in recent weeks - see http://magorstation.co.uk. Also pleased to hear that the 'valleys lines electrification, who pays?' issue has been resolved!

 

[Starmill]

Best of luck to you One of those real no-brainers IMO

 

[magorstation]

Best of luck to you One of those real no-brainers IMO

I think it was my dad who said to me 'you have to make your own luck' and the 'harder you work the luckier you will get'.

So here we are - working on the Crowdfunder approach to getting the GRIP1/2 study completed. Our local County Council (Monmouthshire) is getting increasingly interested in the approach. One of our team is meeting the CEO tomorrow and another senior officer, Kellie Beirne (Chief Officer for Regeneration and Culture) is meeting me on site later in the month.

I really think we are getting up a 'head of steam' (sorry) now and I am now more confident than ever will achieve our objective. Have a look at the latest posting on our website - http://magorstation.co.uk/

Thanks for your support starmill.

 

[The Planner]

GRIP3 is where it starts to cost. You'll need some proper backing if you get to that point.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Are there any planned housing developments in the area or possible sites? Getting some section 106 monies from a developer would be of great help to the scheme.

 

[Quakers Yard]

Another place that needs a station is sh mellons.
If all were to open now it could attract a Cardiff to Bristol slow stopper for example.

 

[Starmill]

Note that the new station down the road from you at Pye Corner opens this Sunday . If it has benefitted from the funding you're chasing, maybe you could send a delegation along to the inaugural train

 

[PHILIPE]

Note that the new station down the road from you at Pye Corner opens this Sunday . If it has benefitted from the funding you're chasing, maybe you could send a delegation along to the inaugural train

Not this Sunday, but 14th which is the start of the new Timetable.

 

[magorstation]

Are there any planned housing developments in the area or possible sites? Getting some section 106 monies from a developer would be of great help to the scheme.

There are indeed significant housing developments planned and we are now working very closely with our local authority. See http://magorstation.co.uk/.

We have made substantial progress this last year in making 'Magor and Undy Walkway' a reality. We aim to kick off our crowdfunder appeal in the next week or so. The begging bowl will be firmly extended! Many thanks everyone for the interest shown.

 

[DaveHarries]

I travel past there on a regular basis when working: best of luck with getting the station reopened.

Dave

 

[magorstation]

It was interesting to find that 'Surveyor - Transport / Network' has picked up on our Crowdfunder approach - http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Crowdfunding-bid-for-new-rail-station/11235.

Only 6 days to go before blast off! - http://magorstation.co.uk/

 

[krus_aragon]

It was interesting to find that 'Surveyor - Transport / Network' has picked up on our Crowdfunder approach - http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Crowdfunding-bid-for-new-rail-station/11235.

Only 6 days to go before blast off! - http://magorstation.co.uk/

Good to see. I'd like to note one small correction: The "Reshaping of Britain's Railways" report was written by Dr Beeching, not Dr Beaching!

 

[magorstation]

Good to see. I'd like to note one small correction: The "Reshaping of Britain's Railways" report was written by Dr Beeching, not Dr Beaching!

Many thanks - I stand corrected. Will make the necessary changes as far as I can.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There are indeed significant housing developments planned and we are now working very closely with our local authority. See http://magorstation.co.uk/.

We have made substantial progress this last year in making 'Magor and Undy Walkway' a reality. We aim to kick off our crowdfunder appeal in the next week or so. The begging bowl will be firmly extended! Many thanks everyone for the interest shown.

After an amazing amount of effort by the MAGOR team, we have gone live today. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated! "Every little helps"!

Many thanks in anticipation.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/magor-and-undy-walkway-railway-station/?

 

[magorstation]

Is this a first? Is it the shape of things to come - to get any new station further than a 'glint in the eye' of its community?
See - http://www.transport-network.co.uk/Crowdfunding-bid-for-new-rail-station/11235

A community in Wales plans to launch a crowdfunding appeal in the New Year to try to raise money for a railway station feasibility study.

Previously such work was conducted by the South East Wales Transport Alliance but the consortium of 10 local authorities was abolished this year by Welsh transport minister Edwina Hart. In response, the community of Magor, east of Newport, decided to raise the £40,000 required for a formal study itself.
The Magor Action Group on Rail hopes its appeal through Crowdfunder.co.uk will raise £20,000. It aims to secure the remainder from other bodies. Crowd-funding donors could receive rewards ranging from commemorative fridge magnets to having their names displayed at the new station.
To avoid generating further car traffic in the villages of Magor and Undy, the group proposes a “walkway” station, as opposed to a parkway, with good access for pedestrians and cyclists.
Retired railway engineer Phil Inskip, a local member of campaign group Railfuture, said the station was estimated to cost about £5m,