Hereford MP backs railway stations reopening

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Thursday, 14 September 2023 20:31

By Gavin McEwan - Local Democracy Reporter

Hereford and South Herefordshire MP and transport minister Jesse Norman has given his support to the idea of reopening Herefordshire’s closed railway stations.

Local transport campaign group Here for Hereford tweeted that, following the unexpectedly high number of passengers using the recently opened Worcestershire Parkway station, “this could be the case on many more rail stations and would certainly justify reopening existing railway stations in Herefordshire such as Pontrilas, Tram Inn & Moreton-on-Lugg”.

Mr Norman, who since last October has served as a minister of state at the Department for Transport, replied: “Excellent point. Copying in @HuwMerriman [his colleague the minister for rail] for info.”

Here for Hereford responded: “When we did consultations with the public in High Town, a lot of people had to come into Hereford for hospital & other appointments near the station.

“A lot said they would prefer to have caught a bus/train into the city rather than travel by car.”

Mr Norman’s support for reopening Pontrilas station on the Hereford-Abergavenny line, which closed in 1958, predates his transport appointment.

Earlier this year, Herefordshire’s Big Economic Plan, published by the previous council administration, proposed that the county should “explore the case” for reopening the station, which retains much of its infrastructure.

The local Ewyas Harold Parish Council has previously said it believes the station could serve up to 500 passengers a day.

Tram Inn, nearer to Hereford on the same stretch of railway, also closed to passengers in 1958, as did Moreton-on-Lugg between Hereford and Leominster.