Rebecca Pow MP has today welcomed the Government’s new Strategic Plan for Rail. With a promise to look at opening disused railway lines there are increased hopes that the Wellington Railway station could re-open with Government support.
The Government’s new Strategic Plan for Rail sets out a new vision to end the operational divide between track and train and an evolution of the franchising system alongside a commitment to provide a more reliable and efficient service for passengers by no longer using a one size fits all approach.
On a more local level, within the Strategic Plan is a pledge to explore the opportunities to restore capacity lost under the Beeching and British Rail cuts of the 1960s and 1970s by identifying new rail schemes that unlock new housing or economic growth and offer good value for money. Wellington Railway station was closed under the Beeching cuts and should be a suitable candidate for this new scheme.
Rebecca is keen to make a strong case for a Wellington Rail Station to be considered, having worked closely with the working group and relevant stakeholders including Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset County Council, Neil Parish MP, Network Rail and Great Western Rail.
There is strong public support for a new station, as demonstrated through Rebecca’s hugely successful public forum held alongside the Parliamentary Petition that attracted thousands of signatures from the local community. Rebecca has followed this up in Westminster meeting Ministers from the Department for Transport who have offered their initial support.
Commenting on the announcement Rebecca Pow said:
“I welcome news that the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling has today announced plans to potentially reopen rail lines that were closed in 60s.
"This provides a new opportunity to get a Metro-style Rail Station in Wellington on the agenda. This is a project I have championed, both as the Conservative candidate for Taunton Deane, before my election and as the Member of Parliament, raising the issue with Ministers, local stakeholders and of course local people to whom this project means so much. This was demonstrated by the 100’s of people who turned up for the public meeting I held at Wellington School to gauge interest in this project and by the 1000’s of people that signed the petition that I submitted to the House of Commons.
"Wellington is a thriving local hub and increased connectivity would only help move the town forward as well as being part of a wider push to get people out of their cars and onto public transport. Our working group has established that engineering wise the project is possible and now it’s important to establish the business case and how much a Rail Station might benefit the local economy.
"I have worked hard to raise the profile of the need for a station here, and it seems the Government is listening. There is still a long way to go, but I will be pushing the cause.”