Cheltenham Spa railway station

Cheltenham Spa
Cheltenham Spa
	Platforms at Cheltenham Spa station (2018)
Location	Cheltenham, Cheltenham; England
Coordinates	51°53′49″N 2°06′00″W / 51.897°N 2.100°WCoordinates: 51°53′49″N 2°06′00″W / 51.897°N 2.100°W
Grid reference	SO931220
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	CNM
Classification	DfT category C1
History
Original company	Birmingham and Gloucester Railway
Pre-grouping	Midland Railway
Post-grouping	LMS
Key dates
24 June 1840	Opened as Cheltenham
1 February 1925	Renamed Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown)
1 January 1948	Renamed Cheltenham Spa
Passengers
2015/16	2.179 million
Interchange	0.177 million
2016/17	2.353 million
Interchange	0.191 million
2017/18	2.400 million
Interchange	0.191 million
2018/19	2.468 million
Interchange	0.202 million
2019/20	2.591 million
Interchange	0.241 million
Location
	Wikimedia \| © OpenStreetMap
Notes
	Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

Cheltenham Spa railway station is a railway station serving Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England. Situated on the Bristol-Birmingham main line, it is managed by Great Western Railway (despite most services being operated by CrossCountry, which does not manage any stations) and is about one mile from the town centre. The official name of the town is simply Cheltenham, but, when the station was renamed in 1925, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway chose to add Spa to the station name. ^[1] The station is a key regional interchange and is the fifth busiest rail station in South West England.

History[]

A 1910 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Cheltenham Spa (shown here as Queen's Road, Lansdown)

Former MR Johnson 1P 2-4-0 20216 at Cheltenham Lansdown Station in 1949

The first railway to Cheltenham was the broad-gauge Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (C&GWUR), authorised by Act of Parliament in 1836, and opened between Cheltenham and Gloucester in 1840. In the same year, the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway (B&GR) opened its line between Cheltenham and Bromsgrove, whence trains ran on mixed-gauge tracks to Gloucester. Both railways had their own stations, but the B&GR station, which was then on the edge of the town and was named Lansdown after a housing development in that area,^[2] is the only one remaining. The buildings were designed by the architect Samuel Daukes and the station was opened by the B&GR on 24 June 1840 as Lansdown.^[1]

The C&GWUR was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1844, and the B&GR by the Midland Railway in 1846. Within the town, there were three other passenger railway stations: Malvern Road, St James's and Cheltenham South and Leckhampton; there was also High Street Halt and the Racecourse Platform, open only on race days.

From 1892 there was a route from Cheltenham to the docks at Southampton, via Andoversford and the Midland and South Western Junction Railway.

The station was renamed Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown) on 1 February 1925 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and renamed again as Cheltenham Spa by British Railways at some point after 1 January 1948.^[3]

Stationmasters[]

William Turnbull 1844–1872^[4] (discharged for failing to report his ticket collector for fraud)^[5]
Joseph Vizard Bendall 1872^[4]–1900^[6]
Henry Ward 1900–1907^[6] (afterwards station master at Bedford)
Horace E. Horne 1907^[6]–1909 (formerly station master at Harpenden)
Charles Williams 1910–1913 (formerly station master at Hay)
G.Preston Heggs 1913–1914 (afterwards station master at Sheffield)
Arthur Ernest Chandler 1918–1928^[7] (afterwards station master at Burton upon Trent)

Services[]

Cheltenham Spa Railway Station

show Railways around Cheltenham

Cheltenham Spa station is served by approx 8 to 12 trains every hour during the daytime on Mondays to Saturdays (less frequent on Sundays).

Great Western Railway operate approx hourly Cheltenham Spa – Swindon via Gloucester services. Some (operated by Class 800s) extend through to Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington.^[8]

Great Western Railway also operates local services on the Bristol (Temple Meads/Parkway) to Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa and Worcester Shrub Hill route.^[9] These serve Cheltenham every two hours each way, with some southbound services continuing onwards to Westbury, Weymouth or Brighton.

CrossCountry trains serve Cheltenham Spa on three routes, the Cardiff Central to Birmingham New Street/Nottingham service, the longer-distance Penzance/Plymouth – Cheltenham Spa – Glasgow Central, with extensions to Aberdeen, and the Bristol Temple Meads – Manchester Piccadilly routes.^[10] All three of these services run hourly each way, giving a net half-hourly service to Bristol Temple Meads and three departures per hour to/from Birmingham New Street. CrossCountry also operate a morning service to Stansted Airport as well as summer Saturday trains to Newquay.

Transport for Wales operate approximately hourly with a Maesteg via Bridgend, Cardiff Central, Newport and Chepstow to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa service.^[11]

Preceding station	National Rail		Following station
Gloucester		Transport for Wales Maesteg – Cheltenham	Terminus
Gloucester		CrossCountry Cardiff – Nottingham	Worcestershire Parkway or Ashchurch for Tewkesbury
Bristol Parkway		CrossCountry South West – North East and Scotland	Birmingham New Street
Bristol Parkway		CrossCountry Bristol – Manchester	Birmingham New Street
Gloucester		Great Western Railway Cheltenham – London/Swindon	Terminus
Gloucester		Great Western Railway Great Malvern – Westbury	Ashchurch for Tewkesbury
	Historical railways
Churchdown Line open, station closed		Midland Railway Birmingham and Gloucester Railway	Cheltenham High Street Line open, station closed
	Disused railways
Terminus		Great Western Railway Midland and South Western Junction Railway	Leckhampton Line and station closed
	Proposed Heritage railways
Cheltenham Malvern Road Line and station closed		Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway	Terminus

Redevelopment proposals[]

In early 2012 Cheltenham Council released a Railway Station concept statement, promoting various enhancements at the station.^[12] In March 2013 the Gloucestershire Local Transport Body (LTB) asked for bids from the local area for transport projects which could be funded in the period 2015 to 2019. A proposal to significantly enhance the station, with new passenger facilities and install a new south-facing bay platform enabling trains to reverse was put forward.

During the development and optioneering phase of the submission, it was that two new bay platforms were required. This configuration formed the basis of a station regeneration proposal that was submitted to the Gloucestershire Local Transport Body for consideration in early March 2013. Following short listing to stage 2, a second funding proposal was submitted on 10 May 2013. Cheltenham Spa Station and the other various transport scheme proposals were all published for public consultation on the LTB website on 13 May 2013.^[13]

In February 2014 the scheme was shelved after both Network Rail and train operator First Great Western refused to back the portion of the proposals relating to the additional platforms, though they were supportive of the need to upgrade other passenger facilities (station building & taxi/bus interchange improvements and better car parking).^[14]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Cheltonia: The curiosities of Cheltenham Spa, past and present". Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ "Cheltonia: The curiosities of Cheltenham Spa, past and present". Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
^ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 59. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "1871–1879 Coaching". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 338. 1871. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
^ "Mr. Turnbull and the Midland Railway". Cheltenham Chronicle. England. 27 February 1872. Retrieved 31 May 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "1899-1908 Coaching; Piece 1027". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 135. 1899. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
^ "Stationmaster leaving Cheltenham". Cheltenham Chronicle. England. 1 September 1928. Retrieved 31 May 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ GB National Rail Timetable 2014–15, Table 125
^ GB National Rail Timetable 2014–15, Tables 57, 123 & 134
^ GB National Rail Timetable 2014–15, Tables 51 & 57
^ GB Rail Timetable 2014–15, Tables 128 & 134
^ Cheltenham Spa railway station concept statement Archived 3 September 2012 at the Wayback MachineCheltenham Borough Council website; Retrieved 21 March 2015
^ http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=55015 Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine "Cheltenham Spa Station – A Transformational Ambition" Gloucestershire LTB; Retrieved 21 March 2015
^ Plans for two new platforms at Cheltenham Spa railway station controversially shelved Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Maidment, J.R ; Gloucestershire Echo 4 February 2014; Retrieved 21 March 2015,

show v t Railway stations served by Transport for Wales
Stations listed in italics are request stops.
A	Aber Abercynon Aberdare Aberdovey Abererch Abergavenny Abergele and Pensarn Aberystwyth Albrighton Alderley Edge Ammanford
B	Baglan Bangor Bargoed Barmouth Barry Barry Docks Barry Island Betws-y-Coed Bidston Bilbrook Birchgrove Birmingham International Birmingham New Street Blaenau Ffestiniog Bodorgan Borth Bow Street Bridgend Brithdir Briton Ferry Broome Buckley Bucknell Builth Road Bynea
C	Cadoxton Caergwrle Caerphilly Caersws Caldicot Cardiff Bay Cardiff Central Cardiff Parkway (from 2023) Cardiff Queen Street Carmarthen Cathays Cefn-y-Bedd Cheltenham Spa Chepstow Chester Chirk Church Stretton Cilmeri Clarbeston Road Clunderwen Codsall Cogan Colwyn Bay Conwy Coryton Cosford Craven Arms Crewe Criccieth Crosskeys Cwmbach Cwmbran Cynghordy
D	Danescourt Deganwy Dinas Powys Dinas Rhondda Dingle Road Dolau Dolgarrog Dolwyddelan Dovey Junction Dyffryn Ardudwy
E	Earlestown Eastbrook East Didsbury Ebbw Vale Parkway Ebbw Vale Town Energlyn and Churchill Park
F	Fairbourne Fairwater Fernhill Ferryside Ffairfach Fishguard and Goodwick Fishguard Harbour Flint Frodsham
G	Garth (Bridgend) Garth (Powys) Gilfach Fargoed Glan Conwy Gloucester Gobowen Gowerton Grangetown Gwersyllt
H	Harlech Haverfordwest Hawarden Hawarden Bridge Heath High Level Heath Low Level Helsby Hengoed Hereford Heswall Holyhead Hope (Flintshire) Hopton Heath
J	Johnston
K	Kidwelly Kilgetty Knighton Knucklas
L	Lamphey Leominster Lisvane and Thornhill Liverpool Lime Street Liverpool South Parkway Llanaber Llanbedr Llanbister Road Llanbradach Llandaf Llandanwg Llandecwyn Llandovery Llandrindod Llandudno Llandudno Junction Llandybie Llanelli Llanfairfechan Llanfairpwll Llangadog Llangammarch Llangennech Llangynllo Llanharan Llanhilleth Llanishen Llanrwst Llansamlet Llantwit Major Llanwrda Llanwrtyd Llwyngwril Llwynypia Ludlow Lydney
M	Machynlleth Maesteg Maesteg (Ewenny Road) Manchester Airport Manchester Oxford Road Manchester Piccadilly Manorbier Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Vale Milford Haven Minffordd Morfa Mawddach Mountain Ash
N	Nantwich Narberth Neath Neston Newbridge Newport Newton-le-Willows Newtown Ninian Park North Llanrwst
O	Oakengates
P	Pantyffynnon Pembrey and Burry Port Pembroke Pembroke Dock Penally Penarth Pencoed Pengam Penhelig Penmaenmawr Penrhiwceiber Penrhyndeudraeth Pensarn Pentre-bach Pen-y-Bont Penychain Penyffordd Pontarddulais Pontlottyn Pontyclun Pont-y-Pant Pontypool and New Inn Pontypridd Porth Porthmadog Port Talbot Parkway Prees Prestatyn Pwllheli Pye Corner Pyle
Q	Quakers Yard
R	Radyr Rhiwbina Rhoose Cardiff International Airport Rhosneigr Rhyl Rhymney Risca and Pontymister Rogerstone Roman Bridge Ruabon Runcorn Runcorn East
S	Sarn Saundersfoot Severn Tunnel Junction Shifnal Shotton Shrewsbury Skewen Smethwick Galton Bridge Stafford Stockport Sugar Loaf Swansea
T	Taffs Well Talsarnau Talybont Tal-y-Cafn Telford Central Tenby Tir-Phil Tondu Tonfanau Ton Pentre Tonypandy Treforest Treforest Estate Trehafod Treherbert Treorchy Troed-y-rhiw Tŷ Croes Ty Glas Tygwyn Tywyn
U	Upton
V	Valley
W	Warrington Bank Quay Waun-gron Park Wellington Welshpool Wem Whitchurch (Cardiff) Whitchurch (Shropshire) Whitland Wildmill Wilmslow Wolverhampton Wrenbury Wrexham Central Wrexham General
Y	Ynyswen Yorton Ystrad Mynach Ystrad Rhondda
Rail transport in the United Kingdom

show v t Railway stations served by CrossCountry
A	Aberdeen Alnmouth for Alnwick Arbroath Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Attenborough Audley End
B	Banbury Basingstoke Bath Spa Beeston Berwick-upon-Tweed Birmingham International Birmingham New Street Bodmin Parkway Bournemouth Bristol Parkway Bristol Temple Meads Brockenhurst Burton-on-Trent
C	Caldicot Camborne Cambridge Cardiff Central Cheltenham Spa Chester-le-Street Chesterfield Coleshill Parkway Congleton Coventry Crewe Cupar
D	Darlington Dawlish Derby Doncaster Dunbar Dundee Durham
E	Edinburgh Waverley Ely Exeter St David's
F	Filton Abbey Wood
G	Glasgow Central Gloucester Guildford
H	Hayle Haymarket Hinckley
I	Inverkeithing
K	Kirkcaldy
L	Ladybank Leamington Spa Leeds Leicester Leuchars Liskeard Long Eaton Lostwithiel Lydney
M	Macclesfield Manchester Piccadilly Manea March Markinch Melton Mowbray Montrose Morpeth Motherwell
N	Narborough Newcastle Newport Newquay Newton Abbot Nottingham Nuneaton
O	Oakham Oxford
P	Paignton Par Patchway Penzance Peterborough Plymouth
R	Reading Redruth
S	St Austell St Erth Severn Tunnel Junction Sheffield South Wigston Southampton Airport Parkway Southampton Central Spondon Stafford Stamford Stansted Airport Stockport Stoke-on-Trent Stonehaven
T	Tamworth Taunton Teignmouth Tiverton Parkway Torquay Totnes Truro
U	University
W	Wakefield Westgate Water Orton Weston-super-Mare Whittlesea Willington Wilmslow Wilnecote Winchester Wolverhampton Worcestershire Parkway
Y	York
Rail transport in the United Kingdom

show v Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg
Cheltenham to Cardiff Central	Cheltenham Spa Gloucester Lydney Chepstow Caldicot Severn Tunnel Junction Newport Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central to Maesteg	Cardiff Central Pontyclun Llanharan Pencoed Bridgend Wildmill Sarn Tondu Garth Maesteg (Ewenny Road) Maesteg

show v t Cheltenham
Areas	Alstone Arle Benhall Charlton Kings Fairview Hesters Way Lansdown Leckhampton Montpellier Pittville Prestbury Rowanfield St. Pauls Up Hatherley Swindon Village Whaddon Wyman's Brook
Buildings and structures	Grade I listed buildings in Cheltenham Grade II* listed buildings in Cheltenham 153–159 Fairview Road All Saints' Church The Bacon Theatre Cavendish House Le Champignon Sauvage Cheltenham Masonic Hall Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's Cheltenham Racecourse Heliport Cheltenham Synagogue Cheltenham Town Hall The Doughnut Ellenborough Park Hotel Everyman Theatre Montpellier Rotunda Pittville Pump Room The Playhouse St Philip and St James Church, Leckhampton St Gregory's Church Cheltenham High Street Halt railway station Cheltenham Spa railway station Thirlestaine House Trinity Cheltenham
Culture	The Bacon Theatre Cheltenham Town Hall Everyman Theatre Pittville Pump Room The Playhouse Spy Booth The Cheltenham Ghost The Wilson (Cheltenham)
Education	Gloucestershire College University of Gloucestershire National Star College Westminster Theological Centre All Saints' Academy Balcarras School Cheltenham Bournside School Cheltenham College Cheltenham Ladies' College Dean Close School Pate's Grammar School Pittville School St Edward's School University of Gloucestershire Hereford College of Arts Urban Learning Foundation
Politics	Cheltenham Agreement Cheltenham (UK Parliament constituency) Cheltenham Borough Council Cheltenham Borough Council elections Cheltenham by-election, 1911 Cheltenham by-election, 1928 Cheltenham by-election, 1937 GCHQ trade union ban John Taylor, Baron Taylor of Warwick
Sport	Cheltenham Association Football League Cheltenham Cricket Club Cheltenham Rugby Festival Cheltenham Saracens F.C. Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Festival Cheltenham Gold Cup Old Patesians R.F.C. College Ground, Cheltenham Dowty Arle Court East Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club Ground Cheltenham Racecourse Sandford Parks Lido The Victoria Ground Whaddon Road
Transport	Cheltenham and District Light Railway Cheltenham High Street Halt railway station Cheltenham Racecourse Heliport Cheltenham Racecourse railway station Cheltenham Spa Express Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road railway station Cheltenham Spa railway station Cheltenham Spa St. James railway station Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Stagecoach West
Category

Cheltenham Spa railway station

Contents

History[]

Stationmasters[]

Services[]

Redevelopment proposals[]

References[]

Further reading[]

Cheltenham Spa
Platforms at Cheltenham Spa station (2018)
Location	Cheltenham, Cheltenham England
Coordinates	51°53′49″N 2°06′00″W / 51.897°N 2.100°W / 51.897; -2.100Coordinates: 51°53′49″N 2°06′00″W / 51.897°N 2.100°W / 51.897; -2.100
Grid reference	SO931220
Managed by	Great Western Railway
Platforms	2
Other information
Station code	CNM
Classification	DfT category C1
History
Original company	Birmingham and Gloucester Railway
Pre-grouping	Midland Railway
Post-grouping	LMS
Key dates
24 June 1840	Opened as Cheltenham
1 February 1925	Renamed Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown)
1 January 1948	Renamed Cheltenham Spa
Passengers
2015/16	2.179 million
Interchange	0.177 million
2016/17	2.353 million
Interchange	0.191 million
2017/18	2.400 million
Interchange	0.191 million
2018/19	2.468 million
Interchange	0.202 million
2019/20	2.591 million
Interchange	0.241 million

Location
Wikimedia \| © OpenStreetMap
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road