Polesworth

[JJTRN2024]

Polesworth a station that could soon be no longer

Im looking to visit this station this week and with the reduced service I thought I would come on and ask for some advice on this.

Has anybody been there recently - The last video I can find on YouTube with any real context is Geoff Marshall's 5 years ago.

and is the walk back to Tamworth worth the journey .

JJ

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@JJTRN2024. You on some mission to visit all the little used or no longer served stations on the GB network?

Can't really add much about Polesworth, which I've only ever passed through non stop on fast trains. As regards Tamworth, the only train that serves Polesworth is the early morning 0648 train to Crewe which then calls at Tamworth afterwards (next stop) at 0653 unless, of course, you are perhaps planning on walking from Tamworth station to Polesworth station and then back again (which looks like over four+ miles each way).

Anyhoo, whatever you do decide to do, good luck!

 

[JJTRN2024]

@JJTRN2024. You on some mission to visit all the little used or no longer served stations on the GB network?

Can't really add much about Polesworth, which I've only ever passed through non stop on fast trains. As regards Tamworth, the only train that serves Polesworth is the early morning 0648 train to Crewe which then calls at Tamworth afterwards (next stop) at 0653 unless, of course, you are perhaps planning on walking from Tamworth station to Polesworth station and then back again (which looks like over four+ miles each way).

Anyhoo, whatever you do decide to do, good luck!

You're Not far off with that comment I've already visited a few of the least used stations on the GB network.
There is just something enjoyable about visiting them knowing at any moment in the next 12 months they may no longer have a service at all.

Ive found a train to drop me off there at 06:48 but as you can imagine I don't want to make the mistake of being half way there and finding out its closed or no longer getting a service at all,
Ive not found anything online in regards to that being the case but then as far as I was aware Teeside airport was still accessible until yesterday.

 

[The exile]

It's now pre-COVID, but I parked at Polesworth and caught the bus back from Tamworth. Don't remember the bus route as looking like a very interesting walk - but it should be possible to walk back along the canal towpath (at the cost of it being a longer walk!)

 

[SuspectUsual]

It’s a nicer walk to Atherstone than to Tamworth, and only maybe half a mile or so further.

 

[Kite159]

I suspect Polesworth will be one of those zombie-like stations which will carry on being zombie-like for years to come unless something serious happens, like the platform getting deemed unsafe. The cost of doing the paperwork to close the station will likely exceed the cost of serving the station. I suspect even if the lighting fails the timetable could change to something like the middle of the day (or around 9am) so the lights are not needed.

Which is a shame because the station does have potential in my eyes as the village itself is quite sizeable. Even if LNR just served it northbound allowing passengers heading from Tamworth to Polesworth to go via Atherstone/Nuneaton [making sure the timetable allows for a decent connection time]. Just a shame the railway can't do a Breich and build an access path to the southbound platform due to the road bridge being deemed as too narrow.

 

[JJTRN2024]

I suspect Polesworth will be one of those zombie-like stations which will carry on being zombie-like for years to come unless something serious happens, like the platform getting deemed unsafe. The cost of doing the paperwork to close the station will likely exceed the cost of serving the station. I suspect even if the lighting fails the timetable could change to something like the middle of the day (or around 9am) so the lights are not needed.

Which is a shame because the station does have potential in my eyes as the village itself is quite sizeable. Even if LNR just served it northbound allowing passengers heading from Tamworth to Polesworth to go via Atherstone/Nuneaton [making sure the timetable allows for a decent connection time]. Just a shame the railway can't do a Breich and build an access path to the southbound platform due to the road bridge being deemed as too narrow.

Absolutely there is a lot of potential with this station, but as usual it all comes down to money, but I'm of the mind and a lot of people disagree with me, how can you do a sustainability costing on a station that you have reduced to a parliamentary style service, like many stations across the network ,Polesworth , Pilning , Ince & Elton , Denton and I'm sure there is more with a regular hourly service the passenger numbers would naturally pick up.

JJ

 

[Kite159]

It's the same for Pegswood & Widdrington on the ECML. Sizeable centres of population these days (not sure how much they have grown since BR reduced the service levels at those stations). But like you said it's the same with many of the other zombie-like stations which are once/twice a day and hence near useless for the local population which have the potential of growth if they had a decent service.

 

[satisnek]

My last visit was in September 2021:




Disused Platform 2:



The LNW lady could even be found here - I don't know who she was but more tasteful than a novelty scatter cushion or a slightly creepy doll I think:



It's fascinating to compare the station with my previous visit in 2013 - the wonky lamp post existed back then:



London Midland even put signage on Platform 2:

 

[Hadders]

Back in December I took the train from Northampton to Crewe which calls at Polesworth (06:01 ex-NMP iirc).

A passenger actually boarded at Polesworth!

 

[Noseygit]

The issue at Polesworth lies with a farmer who is unwilling to sell his field so as to make a accessible path to the disused platform, although that may have changed from when I worked on the platforms at Tamworth

 

[birchesgreen]

I guess if i was going to do it i'd park at Rugby then get the 6:25. Then get the bus either back to Rugby or to Atherstone/Tamworth and get the train back.

Problem with parking at Polesworth is that there isn't a huge amount of parking available from memory.

 

[P Binnersley]

There is space to park at Polesworth station, but it isn't a formal car park. The 785/786 bus runs from Polesworth to/from Tamworth.

If you are coming from Rugby by train there is an 07:17 bus from the end of Orchard Close (the road to the station) to Tamworth.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The issue at Polesworth lies with a farmer who is unwilling to sell his field so as to make a accessible path to the disused platform, although that may have changed from when I worked on the platforms at Tamworth

Never knew that - it would explain why the obvious easy option wasn't taken!

 

[satisnek]

It does now have an Amazon Locker (visible on Google Earth) so more people will be using the station if not actually travelling by train!

 

[The exile]

Never knew that - it would explain why the obvious easy option wasn't taken!

Can’t imagine that there would have been much of an issue with compulsory purchase if the will had really been there. As the land required would presumably be right next to the railway, he could hardly argue that the loss of the land would cause any serious access issues etc.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

and is the walk back to Tamworth worth the journey .

Most of the walk is really nice as the canal passes through a country park, a beautiful nature reserve with lakes and even the bit of the canal through Tamworth is interesting. When you leave the canal, it's boring: suburbs, main roads, roundabouts.

One thing to note: Google maps shows a convenient short cut by crossing the river Anker from the housing estate adjacent to Polesworth station. I assumed this would be by a delightful rickety old wooden footbridge or suchlike. No: it's a massive metal pipe which was very sketchy to walk over given the water was rushing underneath and looked quite deep. I still crossed it as was under time pressure!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Most of the walk is really nice as the canal passes through a country park, a beautiful nature reserve with lakes and even the bit of the canal through Tamworth is interesting. When you leave the canal, it's boring: suburbs, main roads, roundabouts.

One thing to note: Google maps shows a convenient short cut by crossing the river Anker from the housing estate adjacent to Polesworth station. I assumed this would be by a delightful rickety old wooden footbridge or suchlike. No: it's a massive metal pipe which was very sketchy to walk over given the water was rushing underneath and looked quite deep. I still crossed it as was under time pressure!

From Rowland Avenue? Just wiggle and slide across it - might take 5min, but it's time you'll save elsewhere.

I am a little surprised, however, that Polesworth isn't mentioned on the M42 J10 signposts.

 

[Andy Pacer]

There is space to park at Polesworth station, but it isn't a formal car park. The 785/786 bus runs from Polesworth to/from Tamworth.

If you are coming from Rugby by train there is an 07:17 bus from the end of Orchard Close (the road to the station) to Tamworth.

I'd advise using bus 65 rather than the 785/6 which also gives options of Atherstone or Nuneaton.

 

[The Planner]

From Rowland Avenue? Just wiggle and slide across it - might take 5min, but it's time you'll save elsewhere.

I am a little surprised, however, that Polesworth isn't mentioned on the M42 J10 signposts.

Why? Its just a village.

 

[6Gman]

Cycle?

I once visited Twycross Zoo (notoriously difficult by public transport) by train and bike using Atherstone and Polesworth.

Though I was a lot younger!

(And I'm not suggesting you go via Twycross!)