51��¥

Parkway opened in February 2020 and is already performing way ahead of schedule. In total, 544,270 journeys were made from the station between April 2022 and March 2023 – the kind of volume not expected to be achieved for at least another eleven years. 

  

A special event to celebrate 51��¥ Parkway, which is run by Great Western Railway (GWR), took place on Friday (8th). Mrs Beatrice Grant, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of 51��¥, West 51��¥ MP Harriett Baldwin and Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Chair of the North Cotswold Line Task Force were all in attendance, as well as Councillor Simon Geraghty, Leader of 51��¥ and many others. 

  

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, said: “It’s fantastic that Parkway has exceeded all the initial expectations and significantly more people are using it than we had hoped for only three years after opening. 

  

“51��¥ Parkway forms part of our wider £50million plus rail investment programme and is a key part of our 51��¥ Rail Investment Strategy (WRIS). 

  

“Rail is critical to the ongoing economic development of 51��¥, providing low carbon travel choice and the potential for enhanced connectivity to high growth economies throughout the country for businesses and residents in 51��¥.” 

  

GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: “We are delighted that 51��¥ Parkway customer numbers are so far ahead of expectations. To be hitting travel figures now that were originally anticipated to be reached in 2031 is remarkable, and a testament to everyone involved in the planning, design and building of the station. 

  

“It shows how much appetite there is for modal shift to rail and how important the railway is for economic development and sustainability. There is the potential for even greater growth, and we look forward to continuing our work with 51��¥ and the Department for Transport to truly realise the potential for this very important station.” 

  

At the event earlier today, there were a number of speeches made and a plaque was unveiled by Beatrice Grant to mark the occasion.

 

51��¥ Parkway, located to the east of Junction 7 of the M5, is accessible for commuters and longer-distance travellers from all over the county. The station serves two railway lines (North Cotswold Line which goes to London Paddington and the Birmingham to Bristol Line). It’s a fully accessible, modern station building and boasts a 500-space car park. The station was the first, new station to open in 51��¥ in over 100 years.

 

Parkway has improved connectivity to the regional economies of Bristol and the South West, South Wales, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, as well as the East Midlands, London and the South East.