Plans for Devizes and Corsham Railway Stations dealt blow

On Monday, July 29, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the previous government’s Restoring Your Railway programme would be scrapped to save £85 million.

The move comes amidst claims the Treasury must find £5.5 billion in savings this year.

Multiple projects in Wiltshire benefitted from the fund, including an unmanned Gateway Railway Station in Devizes and a new Corsham Station.

Devizes remains one of the biggest towns in Wiltshire without a station while Corsham has been without rail services for decades.

The business cases for these projects were financed by the axed programme but schemes around the country have reportedly now been paused.

The site of the proposed Devizes Station

Cllr Tamara Reay, cabinet member for transport, said the news was a blow.

She said: “We are extremely disappointed that the government has decided to end the Restoring Your Railways programme, as we have benefitted from the fund to further business cases for Devizes Gateway station, a station in Corsham and wider rail improvements across Wiltshire, including at Westbury station.”

Despite the setback, the council is determined to progress the projects and remains hopeful they will be considered for Department for Transport funding individually.

Cllr Reay added: “It was anticipated that the infrastructure build for these improvements would be funded from other capital sources, and we are aware that although the overall Restoring your Railways programme has been cancelled, the Secretary of State has been invited to reconsider individual projects as part of Department for Transport’s review of their wider transport infrastructure portfolio.

“We will ensure that the Secretary of State is aware of the high level of support and significant benefits of the above projects, and lobby for their retention.

“We are currently preparing our latest Local Transport Plan, which will set out a vision for the future of sustainable and affordable transport in Wiltshire until 2038.

The proposed Corsham Station (Image: Corsham Railway Station project team)

“Rail improvements, along with a wider rail strategy, will form a key part of this, with priorities for investment, such as at Westbury and Devizes Gateway, to encourage economic growth and improve access to sustainable transport.

“We remain committed to all of these projects and will continue to work with both local and national partners to take them forward.”

Last year a study into the feasibility of a standalone Devizes station found the cost would outweigh the benefits.

But Wiltshire Council plans to move ahead with a new stopping service for residents by extending the London to Newbury service to Westbury, via Devizes.