The Devizes Development Partnership (DDP) has claimed “all the boxes are ticked” to move forward with plans for a Devizes railway station.

Devizes is currently the largest town in Wiltshire without a rail service, but this could be set to change. The project proposes an unmanned Gateway Railway Station just 3.4 miles from the Market Place, on the line connecting London to the west of England.

DDP’s Noel Woolrych, who is a former mayor of Devizes, said: “The government think it’s a good idea, the council and the town council think it’s a good idea and the project has the backing of MP Danny Kruger.

“We effectively have all the boxes ticked to progress the project but there is a huge amount to work out and there’s a whole lot of infrastructure to change.

“We’re quietly excited. I’m over the moon because I’ve been looking at this project for 30 years and this is the first time it has been deliverable and economically viable.”

Network Rail are currently leading on a £400,000 study, with Wiltshire Council and other local partners, to investigate the infrastructure requirements of a potential station.

This is part of the £15 million Restoring Your Railway scheme and is also looking into alterations to timetable planning at Westbury station to alleviate congestion.

The study is set to be submitted by spring, 2023, and will support the strategic outline business case for the Gateway Station, which was submitted to the Department of Transport in 2021.

This laid out the justifications for the station, which were recently outlined by Town Clerk Simon Fisher.

He said: “The station will support the local economy and local employment, traffic management plans, railway scheduling implications and the impact on the local environment, as it will be placed within the local area of outstanding beauty, amongst other factors.”

The town council have backed the project and believe it will play an important role in developing the area’s economy and serving locals.

Cllr Peter Corbett, the mayor of Devizes, said: “Devizes Town Council still enthusiastically supports the project and continues to provide funding towards the work that is being done to prepare a business case for Devizes Parkway Station.

“A rail station to serve Devizes will bring significant commercial and community benefits to the town.” 

The DDP are in consultation with several organisations about reducing the environmental impact of the potential station by introducing cycle routes and an electric bus shuttle.

They are not putting a timeline on the scheme but will reveal further details at their AGM on February 8.