It’s full steam ahead for ambitious plans for a new station to serve the Devizes community.

The Department for Transport is funding a study into the potential for a new rail station called Devizes Gateway, about 3.4 miles from Devizes Market Place, close to Lydeway, to serve the Devizes area.

A new survey has been launched to garner people's opinions.

Noël Woolrych, Devizes Development Partnership Director, said: “It is expected that there would be an hourly service: east to Pewsey, Newbury, Reading and London and west to Westbury, for connections to the South West, Bath, Bristol and Salisbury etc.

“This work is being led by the Devizes Development Partnership (DDP) and Wiltshire Council, in conjunction with Danny Kruger MP, who are keen to hear the views of local people. Please complete the survey below - noting that Devizes Gateway is unlikely to be open before 2025 so please answer on the basis of how you would travel if COVID-19 did not exist.”

The survey can be found at www.devizes.org.uk.

Why does Devizes need a railway station?

The Devizes area with a population of around 31,000 is the largest town in Wiltshire not to be serviced by rail.

According to the DDP, Significant employers within Wiltshire have said that having a railway station would significantly help them to both conduct business and attract new talent.  It would also help local  students access courses at universities and colleges in Bristol, Bath, Reading and Newbury. 

This Is Wiltshire: Devizes Station's last day of service on April 16, 1966. A diesel motor unit pulls the last train. Wiltshire Photographers Archive collated by Colin Kearley...Devizes Station's last day of service on April 16, 1966. A diesel motor unit pulls the last train. Wiltshire Photographers Archive collated by Colin Kearley...

The group says a railway station would help boost connectivity, enhance tourism, and reduce the impact on roads.

Who is leading the project?

In 2018, the Devizes Development Partnership (DDP) developed a proposal for a station at Lydeway.  Early in 2020 a bid, sponsored by Danny Kruger MP was made by the DDP and Wiltshire Council to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) “Restoring Your Railway” (RyR) programme for funding to develop an initial business case.  Everyone was delighted when in May 2020 the Devizes Gateway project was selected as one of 10 successful RyR schemes for initial business case funding.  

Why Devizes Gateway?

In 1900 most railway stations were in the centre of a town. Today, the DDP say, this adds to congestion and the site of the former Devizes Station has been developed and is no longer accessible. 

This Is Wiltshire: New station bid Devizes. Members of Devizes Development Partnership Peter Evan, Chair Iain Wallis, cclr Richard Gamble Simon Fisher Devizes Town Council and Noel Woolrych who are trying to et a new railway station for the town. Photo Trevor Porter 66New station bid Devizes. Members of Devizes Development Partnership Peter Evan, Chair Iain Wallis, cclr Richard Gamble Simon Fisher Devizes Town Council and Noel Woolrych who are trying to et a new railway station for the town. Photo Trevor Porter 66

However, the main line between Paddington and the West runs just three miles from Devizes, and a review of potential sites along the route identified a location close to the Clock Inn Park, near Lydeway, where the track is flat and straight. 

When will it happen?

DDP are targeting 2025 for the construction work to be completed and Devizes Gateway to open.