- Devizes railway station
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Devizes Location Place Devizes Area Wiltshire Operations Line Devizes Branch Line Original company Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway Pre-grouping Great Western Railway Post-grouping Great Western Railway Platforms 3 History 1857 Opened 1966 Closed Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom Closed railway stations in Britain
A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–ZDevizes railway station was the railway station serving Devizes in Wiltshire, England. The station was on the Devizes Branch Line, in between Pans Lane Halt and Bromham & Rowde Station.
Contents
Conception
The idea of having a railway station in Devizes was first conceived in 1830 before the Great Western Railway had begun to construct their main lines. Devizes was regularly considered by GWR as a main stop on its London to Bristol Line but lost out to Swindon due to its lack of population and growth in the previous decade, expansion of only 5000 to 6500 in size. A station in Devizes was needed to support industry and agriculture in the town as the only other way out of the town was the Kennet and Avon Canal, opened in 1810, which has 29 locks and took 6 hours just to leave Devizes.
Although included in several plans for railway lines including the Thingley Junction to Westbury line and the Staverton and Bathampton line, the financial backing required wasn't available and the fact that Devizes is so high above sea level made it impossible and so as a result Devizes was left without a station. In 1846 it was decided the Devizes line would run from Holt Junction to Hungerford. In 1854 work finally commenced on the Devizes Branch. It was built in 1857 by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, an independent company, though they were heavily backed by the Great Western Railway. Its route required a tunnel to be dug directly underneath Devizes Castle.
Opening
Devizes railway station opened on 1 July 1857, 21 years after its initial conception and one week ahead of schedule, much to the annoyance of the locals who were preparing a celebration. After starting with 7 trains a day services were reduced to four a day, most probably due to overinflated claims of traffic before it was built. Although Devizes opened as a branch line it was soon recognised as a stop on the route to London and received all kinds of traffic including passenger, freight goods and express trains. Devizes was later returned to Branch status in 1900 when the GWR opened the Stert and Westbury Railway between Patney and Chirton railway station and Westbury which by-passed the steep gradients of Devizes and got from London to Plymouth faster.
Closure
Devizes Station and the Devizes Branch Line was closed in 1966 under the Beeching Axe. Its failure to gain main line status, which would have saved it, was blamed on its low population, awkward geography and reduced traffic due to competition from the Chirton to Westbury line.
Today there is little trace of a railway station in Devizes. The roadbridge over the old Pans Lane Halt station and the footbridge at Devizes remain. The track was removed many years ago and is now covered by undergrowth. The tunnel built under Devizes Castle has been bricked up at one end and is a commercial property at the other end. And in place of Devizes Station now there is a public car park and a new property development, both located on Station Road.
Although Devizes was denied a railway station due to its stagnant population, today the population has grown to 14,000 which could warrant its re-establishment. However much of the vital land agreements and rights of way were sold off reducing the chances of reinstatement.
References
See also
- Devizes Branch Line
- Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth railways
- Pans Lane Halt station
Coordinates: 51°21′08″N 1°59′57″W / 51.35231°N 1.9991°W
Closed railway stations in Wiltshire Bristol and North Somerset Railway - Midford Halt
- Monkton Combe
- Limpley Stoke
Salisbury Branch Line Devizes Branch Line - Semington Halt
- Seend
- Bromham and Rowde Halt
- Devizes
- Pans Lane Halt
Reading to Taunton line - Patney and Chirton
- Woodborough
- Manningford Halt
- Wootton Rivers Halt
- Savernake Low Level
Chippenham and Calne Line Midland and South Western Junction Railway - Cricklade
- Moredon Platform
- Rushey Platt
- Swindon Town
- Chiseldon
- Chiseldon Camp
- Ogbourne
- Marlborough Low Level
- Marlborough High Level
- Savernake High Level
- Grafton and Burbage
- Collingbourne Kingston Halt
- Collingbourne
- Ludgershall
- Tidworth
Great Western Main Line - Box
- Box (Mill Lane) Halt
- Corsham
- Christian Malford Halt
- Dauntsey
- Wootton Bassett
- Wootton Bassett Road
- Stratton Park Halt
Highworth branch line - Stratton
- Stanton
- Hannington
- Highworth
Golden Valley Line - Oaksey Halt
- Minety and Ashton Keynes
- Purton
Wessex Main Line - Lacock Halt
- Beanacre Halt
- Broughton Gifford Halt
- Holt Junction
- Staverton Halt
Bulford Camp Branch - Bulford
- Amesbury
- Newton Tony
South Wales Main Line - Hullavington
- Little Somerford
- Brinkworth
- Great Somerford
Other lines - Dinton
- Downton
- Edington and Bratton
- Idmiston Halt
- Lavington
- Malmesbury
- Porton
- Semley
- Wilton South
Categories:- Disused railway stations in Wiltshire
- Railway stations opened in 1857
- Railway stations closed in 1966
- Beeching closures in England
- Devizes
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