Devizes Town Council and Wiltshire Council have welcomed the news that the Devizes Gateway station project is to be developed further, thanks to an announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT). It’s also good news for Westbury station, as its relationship with Devizes Gateway and its wider interchange role will also be investigated.
The study will be led by Network Rail, working in partnership with Wiltshire Council, GWR and supported by Devizes Town Council and Devizes Development Partnership. The £400,000 study is planned to be completed by March 2023 and will build on the work undertaken for the Devizes Gateway Strategic Outline Business Case, which was submitted to the DfT in November 2021.
The study will be made up of two main elements. The first of these will focus on Devizes Gateway and look at station infrastructure requirements, train services and station transport connections, such as bus services. The second element will focus on Westbury station and look at a strategic vision and timetable planning.
Devizes Town Mayor Cllr Peter Corbett said: “Good access to train services is essential to any town, and therefore the whole Town Council is extremely pleased that the Gateway Project has moved to the next stage.
“The Devizes Town Council is committed to supporting the project as it there are clear economic and mobility benefits to our community, which will support the town to continue to thrive as a great place to live, work and visit.
“We will closely follow the project as it progresses through the study.”