Wantage Road railway station
Encyclopedia
Wantage Road railway station was on the Great Western Main Line
in the Vale of White Horse
. The station was actually at the village of Grove, Oxfordshire
, more than two miles north of Wantage
, and was sometimes referred to as Grove railway station
In 1873 the independent Wantage Tramway
was formed to link Wantage Road station with its terminus at Mill Street, Wantage; it was built parallel to what was then the Besselsleigh Turnpike (now the A338). This short line was opened for goods on 1 October 1875, and to passengers on 11 October. The tramway junction was to the east of Wantage Road station; interchange passengers walked under the bridge to reach the tramway yard, where the westernmost siding (parallel to the road) was reserved for passenger tramcars.
The tramway closed to passengers on 1 August 1925, and to goods on 22 December 1945.
On 7 December 1964 British Rail
ways withdrew passenger services from Wantage Road and all other intermediate stations between Didcot
and Swindon
; the goods yard survived a little longer, closing on 29 March 1965.
The station buildings have been demolished but the platforms survive.
In June 2009 the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) produced a report called 'Connecting Communities' in which it was suggested that Wantage Road Station would be a viable station to re-open during any expansion of the rail network. If a proposed service from Oxford to Westbury is given the green light, it is hoped that a new station
entitled either Wantage & Grove or Wantage Parkway can be built as part of the introduction of this service which would also increase traffic to Melksham station.
served Wantage Road.
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
in the Vale of White Horse
Vale of White Horse
The Vale of White Horse is a local government district of Oxfordshire in England. The main town is Abingdon, other places include Faringdon and Wantage. There are 68 parishes within the district...
. The station was actually at the village of Grove, Oxfordshire
Grove, Oxfordshire
Grove is a village and civil parish on Letcombe Brook about north of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Parish churches:...
, more than two miles north of Wantage
Wantage
Wantage is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. The town is on Letcombe Brook, about south-west of Abingdon and a similar distance west of Didcot....
, and was sometimes referred to as Grove railway station
History
Wantage Road station was opened in 1846, six years after the section of the GWR main line that served it.In 1873 the independent Wantage Tramway
Wantage Tramway
The Wantage Tramway was a two mile tram way that carried passengers and freight between the Oxfordshire town of Wantage, and Wantage Road Station on the Great Western Main Line.-History:...
was formed to link Wantage Road station with its terminus at Mill Street, Wantage; it was built parallel to what was then the Besselsleigh Turnpike (now the A338). This short line was opened for goods on 1 October 1875, and to passengers on 11 October. The tramway junction was to the east of Wantage Road station; interchange passengers walked under the bridge to reach the tramway yard, where the westernmost siding (parallel to the road) was reserved for passenger tramcars.
The tramway closed to passengers on 1 August 1925, and to goods on 22 December 1945.
On 7 December 1964 British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways withdrew passenger services from Wantage Road and all other intermediate stations between Didcot
Didcot Parkway railway station
Didcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
and Swindon
Swindon railway station
Swindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
; the goods yard survived a little longer, closing on 29 March 1965.
The station buildings have been demolished but the platforms survive.
In June 2009 the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) produced a report called 'Connecting Communities' in which it was suggested that Wantage Road Station would be a viable station to re-open during any expansion of the rail network. If a proposed service from Oxford to Westbury is given the green light, it is hoped that a new station
Proposed railway stations in England
Proposed railway stations in England. This page lists proposed railway stations which do not have their own articles.-Great Western Main Line:Proposed new stations on the Great Western Main LineThames Valley Park railway station...
entitled either Wantage & Grove or Wantage Parkway can be built as part of the introduction of this service which would also increase traffic to Melksham station.
Services
Services running between Paddington and Bristol Temple MeadsBristol Temple Meads railway station
Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
served Wantage Road.