Reopen small Bath train stations, resident urges
A campaign is calling for the revamp of old stations in Twerton, Bathampton and Saltford
A Bath antiques dealer is calling for several old railway stations in the city to reopen, saying it would help tackle the climate emergency.
Sean Dudden is campaigning to get those in Twerton and Bathampton back up and running arguing residents need more alternatives to cars now the Clean Air Zone has come in.
He started campaigning on the idea in 2017 but now says it is more relevant than ever.
“Millions use Bath and Oldfield Park," he said.
"Now the government and the council have brought in the clean air zone, they have to give us some solutions."
Twerton's station closed more than 100 years ago during the First World War, while Bathampton's shut in the 1960s.
“There’s nothing sensible being done," Sean added.
"Open Bathampton and Twerton station.
"Open Saltford station, open Box station, open Corsham station.
"Why haven’t all those been done?
“How long is it going to take to open Saltford station? This has been going on for 15 years.
“No one was interested five years ago. Now they are because they have to pay £9 to drive a non-compliant van, taxi or private hire vehicle into the clean air zone. It feels more relevant.”
Sean, who's 51, has previously been told Twerton is not worth reopening because the trains are too long, no one would use it and it was simply not viable.
The old Twerton station is only 700 metres from Oldfield Park, less than half the distance from Oldfield Park to Bath Spa, a four-minute ride on the Great Western main line to London.
But Mr Dudden, who lives in Twerton, says that is exactly how the network was originally designed and questioned why Bristol and London can have stations close together, but not Bath.
“We would definitely benefit from a railway station down here," he said.
“Probably if we were in a richer suburb that station would be open before you can say ‘station’."
After years of campaigning, proposals to reopen Saltford’s station is included in a list of projects that could be delivered between 2020 and 2030 subject to further assessment and successful bids.
But Twerton and Bathampton look less likely.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “While we welcome proposals to open new stations and improve services for passengers and communities in the Bath area, the reopening of Twerton station does not currently feature in any future plans.
“As with all proposals, a feasibility study would first need to be undertaken and the relevant funding approved before a final decision is made.”
A spokesperson for the West of England Combined Authority said it plans to transform travel by rail over the next 10 years, with new rail routes, step-free access at stations and more frequent services.
By 2025 it plans to reopen the Portishead line, upgrade the Henbury line, increase services on the Westbury line, improve various stations and create a new new eastern entrance at Bristol Temple Meads.