Funding hope for new Haxby station (From York Press)
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Funding hope for new Haxby station
9:30am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News
By Mark Stead, Political Reporter
Christopher Hyomas, chairman of Railfuture Yorkshire, centre, with York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, left, and the chairman of the meeting, David Wells
A LONG-AWAITED new railway station for Haxby could get the go-ahead next month after city leaders bid for a share of £20 million.
City of York Council will find out next month whether it has succeeded in securing support from Network Rail towards the station, which would provide better rail links for more than 22,000 people within a three-miles radius. Haxby has been without its own station since the 1930s.
The proposed station would cost between £5.3 million and £7.4 million, with the council providing about 25 per cent of the funding. Network Rail has a national pot to help pay for new stations. The Haxby proposals focus on a site south of the existing level crossing on Station Road and include a 90-space car park.
If the bid succeeds, construction could start in 2015, with services running to the centre of York, Scarborough, Leeds, Manchester and other stations. Residents who have campaigned for better rail links were last night attending a meeting at Wigginton Recreation Hall about the latest developments.
Coun Dave Merrett, the city council’s cabinet member for transport and planning issues, said: “It has been our vision to build a new station at Haxby for many years, so we are excited to announce we are developing our business case which we hope will place York in the best position to be selected for this funding.
“There is a relatively limited pot of money, so there are no guarantees we will be successful on this, but it would make a big difference in travel terms for the large number of York residents in the Haxby and Wigginton area.”
Last night’s meeting, chaired by David Wells of campaign group Railfuture, was also attended by York Outer MP Julian Sturdy, who has held a series of round-table meetings, from which recommendations include improved rail links for York villages. He said: “I welcome the council’s announcement and am really pleased the tireless efforts of the campaigners are beginning to pay off.
“I will be making representations to the Government in support of the bid to outline the hugely beneficial effect a new station could have on my constituents’ quality of life.”
Haxby Town Council member David Rice said the local population was larger than Malton, which has a station, and said: “The town council has always been in favour of a new station, and hopefully this will be a positive step towards giving Haxby and Wigginton residents another form of transport.”
Comments(34)
pedalling paul
says...
10:55am Wed 20 Feb 13
The proposed site should be well within walking and cycling distance for many, and hopefully the local bus service can be adjusted to serve it.
At present, Transpennine trains have around a 30 min turnround after terminating at Scarboorough. In that time the incoming train must be cleaned, seat reservation labels added etc. Additional Haxby stops could repercuss right across the northern part of the rail network. We'll have to see what Transpennine can offer service-wise, and whether another TOC eg Northern would be prepared to operate a turnback service if associated track/signalling facilities are added on to the scheme.
eeoodares
says...
11:46am Wed 20 Feb 13
eeoodares
says...
11:46am Wed 20 Feb 13
the original Homer
says...
12:31pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Prob
says...
12:48pm Wed 20 Feb 13
the original Homer wrote:There used to be.
I don't know the history behind the street name, but it is somewhat ironic that there isn't a station there already.
Jim
says...
12:49pm Wed 20 Feb 13
For much of Haxby and Wigginton, the time taken to get to the station and wait for a train will be longer than going directly to York so for local travel I can't see it being much of a success for that.
Fat Harry
says...
1:11pm Wed 20 Feb 13
I don't see it being longer than waiting for a bus into town, unless First are working on a fiendish plan to level down their rail services to the level of their bus services.
Good to see Mr S turdy will be at tonight's meeting; I should think he'll be keener than most to establish a direct link to Leeds.
bolero
says...
2:39pm Wed 20 Feb 13
roobarb85
says...
3:14pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Haxby is now hugely a commuter village.
Are people really saying that the current ring road/A64 chaos is preferable to a station with fast and regular links to York, Leeds, Manchester et al??? If an express bus service was viable don't you thiink National Express/First Bus would have tried it already?
Of course there will be some disruption - but the proverb about omlettes and eggs surely applies.
Also can't believe the huge proposed cost...surely all that's needed is something like East Garforth's simple but satisfactory facilities.
yorkshirelad
says...
3:37pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Caecilius
says...
4:41pm Wed 20 Feb 13
pedalling paul wrote:I think you overestimate the repercussions. Paul. Transpennine (and other TOCs) build vast amounts of slack into their timetable so their performance against punctuality targets looks good. I was on a train from Huddersfield to York last Sunday that made a scheduled stopover of no less than 20 minutes at Leeds. Rail service providers in other countries set themselves challenging targets and deliver a good service. Typically, ours set themselves pathetically undemanding targets and crow about meeting them, ignoring the fact that it takes customers far longer than it should to get from a. to b. Even on days when, unlike today, a kilometre of overhead wires hasn't been pulled down (not spontaneously "collapsed", as the rail industry would have it) yet AGAIN on the ECML, probably due to chronic skimping on maintenance.
A big chunk of any new station costs come from the need to comply, quite rightly, with the Disability Discrimination Act.
The proposed site should be well within walking and cycling distance for many, and hopefully the local bus service can be adjusted to serve it.
At present, Transpennine trains have around a 30 min turnround after terminating at Scarboorough. In that time the incoming train must be cleaned, seat reservation labels added etc. Additional Haxby stops could repercuss right across the northern part of the rail network. We'll have to see what Transpennine can offer service-wise, and whether another TOC eg Northern would be prepared to operate a turnback service if associated track/signalling facilities are added on to the scheme.
neutral observer 2
says...
4:41pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Theyd much prefer to moan about the council not building a 3 lane motorway directly to the city center carparks
Eric Bartholomew
says...
5:11pm Wed 20 Feb 13
bolero wrote:And why do you think it takes 50 minutes for a bus to get into York from Haxby?
The £20m is as I understand it a nationwide pot of money for transport improvements throughout the country. So don't let's kid ourselves, this one is a non-starter. This would not be an asset to Haxby/Wigginton anyway. There would be cars piling in from Strensall and other outlying villages to add to the already car saturated village of Haxby. What we really need is a sensible bus service into York which would not take 50 minutes plus for a 4 to 5 mile journey.This is a complete nonsense when a faster service could easily be provided and be of benefit to the people who really need it and that is the people of Haxby and Wigginton. No we don't need a station and don't want a station in Haxby village thank you.
For a minute I thought it might be due to to all the cars on our roads,many of who's occupants are probably heading for trains from York Station... Oh...!
You need to get into the real world and see what is happening elsewhere, small stations being opened up to help ease congestion in City centres.
If you want an example take the Aire Valley line into Leeds,where new stations are about to be built.
I'll also bet you a bus fare into York that you are in a very small minority of people who think that Haxby and Wiggington shouldn't have a rail station.
For a place of it's size not to have one is a disgrace,and the sooner one is built to replace the one lost in 1930,the better.
growthorgreed
says...
5:47pm Wed 20 Feb 13
I'm sure that in a very few years when many of the York satelite communities are gridlocked by unsustainable quantities of private cars, the residents of Haxby will find themselves in an enviable situation. From the financial viewpoint, this project ought to be very achievable, since the new platform and track at Whitby station has just been given the go ahead with funding totalling £1.4 million. Well done to all those positive people who are making a reopened Haxby station happen.
Magicman!
says...
1:31am Thu 21 Feb 13
Also, somebody made a comment up thread about First possibly altering their service to run by the station - is that a joke? The number 13, being outside of core services 1-9, is an utterly contemptable joke of a service just like the other non-high-frequency services run by First, so I doubt that would have its frequency increased; and the 1 after it has served Eastfield and Holly Tree Lane runs up the main road and goes to haxby shops, there is a cat in hells chance of them diverting the bus up Station Road to West Nooks just to serve the station - there are local roads that go as far as the level crossing that might be suitable for a one way loop, but that would add time to journeys for those using the bus from Wigginton to New Earswick and beyond for example. I'm not saying there shouldn't be a regular bus service from Wiggington to Haxby station, far from it, I just don't think it's likely. A minibus running from Strensall or even flaxton via strensall village and towthorpe past the station and then direct to wigginton might be more along the lines of what might happen. But if it did I doubt First would be interested in running it.
--
Also, when the Transpennine franchise ends in a couple of years or so, the new franchise will be shaped differently and will not have the Scarborough line on it. This route will pass to the new Northern franchise operator who will bolt it on to the blackpool service (which currently has a 50 minute dwell time at York - journeys to scarborough take 48 minutes on average and so only 1 extra train would be needed). This service will run non stop to Leeds, but will then go via bradford and halifax to burnley, preston and blackpool, not manchester.
As it stands, York hasn't really got very good orbital rail connections. This is due to a mixture of things such as the selby coalfield diversion getting rid of the original ECML that had stations in Bishopthorpe and Naburn, the new route ading extra lines at Copmanthorpe with their line allocation and lack of space between lines ruling out a station at Copmanthorpe, the ECML north of central York doesn't really go past anywhere big enough to merit a station, and the Beverley line was shut wich got rid of the stations at Huntington (called 'earswick' station, now the Flag and Whistle pub) and another near Stockton on the Forest. Unlike cities such as Nottingham where the bulk of the suburbs go out in a line radiating from the railways, York's suburbs stretch out in all directions - most of these directions are out towards places where there is no need for a railway (whilst it'd be nice for Osbaldwick, Dunnington, Elvington Airfield and Wheldrake to get a rail service returned, that route is unlikely to ever happen - at the very best you could hope for trams to go out there, and then from Tang Hall they go via the old rail route for a while and curve off at James Street to serve Morrisons and then go over the Foss into Hungate and terminate there for the city centre.)... so where there is the ability to restore a connection onto the rail network, it should be grabbed with both hands.
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
11:31am Thu 21 Feb 13
pedalling paul wrote:Look for Northern and Transpennine to be merged in the next franchise renewal.
A big chunk of any new station costs come from the need to comply, quite rightly, with the Disability Discrimination Act.
The proposed site should be well within walking and cycling distance for many, and hopefully the local bus service can be adjusted to serve it.
At present, Transpennine trains have around a 30 min turnround after terminating at Scarboorough. In that time the incoming train must be cleaned, seat reservation labels added etc. Additional Haxby stops could repercuss right across the northern part of the rail network. We'll have to see what Transpennine can offer service-wise, and whether another TOC eg Northern would be prepared to operate a turnback service if associated track/signalling facilities are added on to the scheme.
Jackanory2
says...
12:27pm Thu 21 Feb 13
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
12:34pm Thu 21 Feb 13
What kills everything in this country is debate and red-tape. There's way too much of it, it in turn is expensive and then at the end of the day, nothing gets done. Look at Julian's mate and his commissioned Leveson enquiry, the recommendations of which are set to be ignored by David Murdoch Cameron. A total waste of time, money and resources then. Life is random. Too much planning is a bad thing (I bet the mayor of Chelyabinsk didn't plan for the meteorite knocking on his door and saying 'Hello comrade' last week).
Privatisation of the railways has been an utter disaster leaving us with overcrowded trains and the most expensive rail fairs in europe. In fact, privatisation of most UK infrastructure has been an utter disaster. Regulated by any OFjoke 'regulator' (they all impose small fines and are staffed by ex-employees of those they are supposed to police), they are embraced in a sycophantically structured relationship with their masters.
Renationalise the railways, reopen stations and create an efficient railway system which removes commuter and freight traffic from the roads. It isn't a hard thing to do once you take control away from the private sector and I would happily pay higher taxes for a better railway system.
Personally, I don't think Haxby Station will reopen while the rail network is in private hands. I'd use it of course i it did but the bus service isn't too bad as it stands. For sure, there will be local residents who will use it to commute into York but it's viability would I think be driven by connection to the rest of the rail network. Haxby/Wigginton has residents which commute all over the country as well as to other Yorkshire cities on a daily basis.
Something needs to be done anyway. Fuel continues to rise exponentially and according to forecasts this week, the UK will be experiencing blackouts in 2 years because of lack of capacity on the grid. Both factors will immeasurably affect future travel. An interesting future indeed.
Pedro
says...
2:39pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Maquis
says...
2:50pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Well done Julian Sturdy. Keep it up, we need more MP's like you.
bolero
says...
3:44pm Thu 21 Feb 13
johnwill
says...
3:51pm Thu 21 Feb 13
That is why Poppleton station is not busy,apart from for Network Rail season ticket holders who commute from there, the fare is too expensive at about £6 return.
bloodaxe
says...
4:02pm Thu 21 Feb 13
the original Homer wrote:Please tell me that this is a joke. It isn't ironic. Read the article. The station closed to passengers in the 1930s.
I don't know the history behind the street name, but it is somewhat ironic that there isn't a station there already.
bloodaxe
says...
4:07pm Thu 21 Feb 13
As for the relative sizes of places and their eligibility to have stations, there are many places on the rail network bigger than Malton without a station. It's often more by luck than good management that places have kept their stations.
However, all power to Haxby's elbow. The effect on local economies of re-opening stations is well proven.
pedalling paul
says...
5:26pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Maquis wrote:The simple reason for Julian Study's presence and Hugh Bayley's absence, is that the Haxby station site lies in Julian's York Outer Constituency rather than Hugh 's Inner York one.
Its nice to see one of our MP's trying to do something useful for the area, unlike Hugh Bayley who spends all his time jumping in front of the camera for the most mundane things just to look like he is bothered about something.
Well done Julian Sturdy. Keep it up, we need more MP's like you.
But I'm willing to bet that they will have some politically neutral discussions to put pressure in the right places.
Maquis
says...
5:39pm Thu 21 Feb 13
pedalling paul wrote:Paul, I know very well that its in Julian's constitutions.
Maquis wrote:The simple reason for Julian Study's presence and Hugh Bayley's absence, is that the Haxby station site lies in Julian's York Outer Constituency rather than Hugh 's Inner York one.
Its nice to see one of our MP's trying to do something useful for the area, unlike Hugh Bayley who spends all his time jumping in front of the camera for the most mundane things just to look like he is bothered about something.
Well done Julian Sturdy. Keep it up, we need more MP's like you.
But I'm willing to bet that they will have some politically neutral discussions to put pressure in the right places.
In no part of my comment did mention the fact that Hugh was not there, but I did comment on the fact that Hugh jumps in front of a camera, gurning at every possible opportunity for the most trivial of matters to which he has no influence or interest whereas Julian seems to concentrate on things that make a difference, i.e. infrastructure.
Hugh just wants to look like he does something.
Oh and thank you, I am overjoyed to see a post from you, not mentioning bikes.
Micklegate
says...
5:40pm Thu 21 Feb 13
pedalling paul wrote:Yes it's in Julian Sturdy's consituency but the whole point is this is something I for one knew little about before now and yet it says he's been working away, holding meetings and helping bring it about. All Hugh Bayley does (when he is good enough to pop to York) is a shameless end of issue photo and normally totally hypocritical (e.g. photo to save Post Offices then vote to close them etc). What has Hugh Bayley ever achieved in his 16 long years being an MP for York?
Maquis wrote:The simple reason for Julian Study's presence and Hugh Bayley's absence, is that the Haxby station site lies in Julian's York Outer Constituency rather than Hugh 's Inner York one.
Its nice to see one of our MP's trying to do something useful for the area, unlike Hugh Bayley who spends all his time jumping in front of the camera for the most mundane things just to look like he is bothered about something.
Well done Julian Sturdy. Keep it up, we need more MP's like you.
But I'm willing to bet that they will have some politically neutral discussions to put pressure in the right places.
Maquis
says...
5:47pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Micklegate wrote:He managed to become one of the most expensive MP's we have, while loosing the rail industry, decimating the confectionery industry, and allow other areas downstream to build flood defenses causing York to flood more often and for longer.
pedalling paul wrote:Yes it's in Julian Sturdy's consituency but the whole point is this is something I for one knew little about before now and yet it says he's been working away, holding meetings and helping bring it about. All Hugh Bayley does (when he is good enough to pop to York) is a shameless end of issue photo and normally totally hypocritical (e.g. photo to save Post Offices then vote to close them etc). What has Hugh Bayley ever achieved in his 16 long years being an MP for York?
Maquis wrote:The simple reason for Julian Study's presence and Hugh Bayley's absence, is that the Haxby station site lies in Julian's York Outer Constituency rather than Hugh 's Inner York one.
Its nice to see one of our MP's trying to do something useful for the area, unlike Hugh Bayley who spends all his time jumping in front of the camera for the most mundane things just to look like he is bothered about something.
Well done Julian Sturdy. Keep it up, we need more MP's like you.
But I'm willing to bet that they will have some politically neutral discussions to put pressure in the right places.
A pretty good record for a Labour MP I suppose.
York Shire
says...
6:28pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Why did the chicken cross the road?
says...
8:35pm Thu 21 Feb 13
dweezil
says...
11:23pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Even AndyD
says...
4:07pm Fri 22 Feb 13
johnwill wrote:It is £3.30 or £3.40 return (depending on time of travel). If you think that is 'about £6' then I'm wondering if you might be the Chancellor?
Usage of the Haxby to York route will be dependent on one thing and one thing alone, the price of a return ticket.
That is why Poppleton station is not busy,apart from for Network Rail season ticket holders who commute from there, the fare is too expensive at about £6 return.
Having lived in Poppleton for years and used the train, I can tell you the main reason its not used much. It only runs every hour (in each direction) and the reliability is somewhat hit and miss. The bus service isn't bad meanwhile and I guess most Poppleton folk have cars. Me - I like to use the train, but I'm not in the majority!
Back and Beyond
says...
10:54pm Fri 22 Feb 13
Even AndyD wrote:Going by the last figures on Wikipedia Train usage at Poppleton fell on the last reported year to 62,540 journeys.
johnwill wrote:It is £3.30 or £3.40 return (depending on time of travel). If you think that is 'about £6' then I'm wondering if you might be the Chancellor?
Usage of the Haxby to York route will be dependent on one thing and one thing alone, the price of a return ticket.
That is why Poppleton station is not busy,apart from for Network Rail season ticket holders who commute from there, the fare is too expensive at about £6 return.
Having lived in Poppleton for years and used the train, I can tell you the main reason its not used much. It only runs every hour (in each direction) and the reliability is somewhat hit and miss. The bus service isn't bad meanwhile and I guess most Poppleton folk have cars. Me - I like to use the train, but I'm not in the majority!
Like Park and Ride the proposed stations only cater for people making journeys into the centre of York.
As has been mentioned we need an orbital route maybe Askham Bar to Clifton Moor and Designer Outlet to Clifton Moor??
Kevin Turvey says...
10:39am Wed 20 Feb 13
So either the allotments, Station garage are gone for this proposed scheme or access down Linley Ave/Millfield court and into the fields to the Southwest side of the line.
Does anybody realise this yet?
I am sure the local residents in the immediate area will be impressed with the extra noise, car parking down their roads etc when the facility is complete and the extra access that Network Rail maintenance will have to put their on track machines on, lots of noise in the middle of the night on a weekend!
Never mind the mess/noise for the building works. NR always choose the most expensive and yet useless/inconsiderat
e to residents contractors to do the work!
If I was a resident this close to the proposed scheme I would be down there to that meeting tonight and lodge my protest!
‘needed to provide a "fast and direct" rail service into York’
Also is the train service only going to be relying on the passing trains from the Scarborough service? Which are already full up by Malton and not that regular or are they going to run a shuttle service from York at peak times and require a turnback facility? If so much more land will be required.
£20 million…. Dream on it will be more like £30 when finished.
However as I live at the other end of the village (10 minute walk away) I will enjoy the new facility/convenience while not being adversely affected!
If the return fare is cheaper than the bus it should do well!