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Henbury Station
A 2003 study found there was no economic case to reopen the line in the long term but potential new housing development in the area could increase passenger demand and may help improve the case for new services on this line.
The British Railways Board Property Review Group sold the former goods yard at Henbury for £0.75m at auction on 30 October 2008.
Guidance issued by the Department for Transport in July 2007 on the disposal of former rail sites states that the Board “is expected to achieve the best consideration reasonably obtainable including when disposing of sites to other public bodies.” Even when sites are disposed of for sustainable transport use the guidance advises that valuation “takes full account of any alternative sources of funding and secures values for money.” For more details see the British Railways Board website.
The sale of Henbury Station is not believed to prevent the possible longer-term objective to re-open the line.
The West of England Partnership will liaise with the councils to help ensure that any developer gives full consideration to a financial contribution towards a new station at either an alternative site or, if safety guidance allows, at the former station site.
An alternative site may be required as the Office of Rail Regulation’s Railway Safety Principles state new platforms should be straight. The curved nature of the track at Henbury prevents this and leaves a gap, increasing the stepping distance between trains and the platform.
For more on health and safety and new platforms see the Office of Rail Regulation web site or the Department for Transport information.
A report on the sale of the former goods yard at Henbury and the background behind proposals and campaigns for reopening the Henbury passenger line was presented to the West of England Partnership Joint Scrutiny Committee on 12 December 2008.
Reopening the Henbury Loop is included under ‘Future Ideas to 2026’ in the Joint Local Transport Plan 3