Devon Metro station obtains government funding
Four new railway stations will be delivered using money from the government's £20m New Stations Fund with Newcourt in Devon benefiting along with the three sites announced earlier this year (TB 9181).
The successful bids confirmed this week are:
- Newcourt, Devon, where the Department for Transport will pay for around half of the scheme, which is expected to cost in the region of £1.5m
- Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which will receive over £4.5m of DfT funding towards a scheme costing over £6.5m
- Lea Bridge, London Borough of Waltham Forest, which will receive more than £1m towards a scheme worth in excess of £6.5m
- Pye Corner, Newport, which will receive over £2.5m towards a project costing over £3.5m
Newcourt station will be built on the Exmouth branch line between Digby and Sowton and Topsham. The new station will have a single platform and shelter, ticket machine, cycle parking and CCTV. Train frequencies are due to be increased later this month when the summer rail timetable begins with the new station set to be served by a half hourly local service.
Devon County Council approved provisional plans for Newcourt at the end of last year with the station forming part of the wider Devon Metro initiative (TB 8956). However, the new station is likely to increase pressure to find additional rolling stock for the Exmouth line. In recent months local residents using the line have reported being unable to board trains due to overcrowding.
Scheme sponsor Devon County Council will now work with Network Rail to finalise the Newcourt station plans with the new station planned to open before the end of 2014.
Newcourt station will be on the site of the former MOD sidings - has anybody a picture of these please??