Stratford-upon-Avon railway station

The first line to reach Stratford was the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway branch from Honeybourne to the south, which opened a station at Sanctus Street on 12 July 1859.[1] This was soon followed by the Stratford on Avon Railway's branch from Hatton from the north, which opened on 9 October 1860. Both branches initially had separate termini, but they soon agreed to join the two branches and open a single station at the present site, which was opened on 24 July 1861. Both branches later came under the control of the Great Western Railway (GWR).

Map of railways in the area of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1908.

In 1908 the GWR opened the North Warwickshire Line, which incorporated parts of the two original branch lines into a new main line from Birmingham to Cheltenham. This put Stratford on a main line, and at this date, the station was expanded, and a third platform added.[2]

Through services to Gloucester were withdrawn in 1968,[3] and passenger services south of Stratford ceased altogether on 5 May 1969, when the service to Honeybourne, Evesham and Worcester Foregate Street was withdrawn. However the line remained open for freight until 1976, when a serious freight train derailment led to British Rail closing the line entirely, leaving Stratford as the southern terminus of the lines from Birmingham and Hatton.[4][5]

Between 1873 and 1952 Stratford was also served by Stratford Old Town railway station on the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway (SMJR).

A new Stratford Parkway railway station north of the town, next to the A46 road was opened on 19 May 2013. It is intended to ease congestion, as passengers from outside Stratford will no longer need to drive into the town to catch a train. Rail services between Birmingham and Stratford have been increased from hourly to half-hourly in conjunction with the opening of the new parkway station.[6][7]

On 26 November 2015 it was announced that a second footbridge and lifts had been completed, meaning people with limited mobility would be able to use all the platforms. It was also announced that a new café, waiting room and retail area are planned.[8]

On 18 March 2019 a refurbishment of the station was started, funded by the Department for Transport and Warwickshire County Council. This refurbishment would include the rebuild of the ticket hall and improved seating areas on the platforms alongside better toilet facilities and bike racks.[9]

The Shakespeare Line Promotion Group is promoting a scheme to reopen the 6 miles (10 km) of line to the south of Stratford-upon-Avon, where it would link to the Cotswold Line at Honeybourne. The scheme (supported as a freight diversionary route by DB Schenker)[11] would make Stratford a through station once again, with improved connections to the south of the region. It would open up the possibility of direct services towards London Paddington, via Oxford, and also significantly faster services to Worcester, via Evesham.[12]

The scheme has been deemed economically beneficial in the long-term, being supported by former Prime Minister David Cameron and Network Rail.[13][14] It has also been overwhelmingly supported by the local community, consisting of rail users and local businesses;[15] however, the district council have opposed the scheme due to financial costs.[16]

In November 2020, it was announced that the scheme had been approved for up to £50,000 funding by the Department for Transport (DfT) under the second round of the Restoring your Railway Fund.[17]

The station has often been criticised for having slow and infrequent connections. In particular, Chiltern Railways has faced criticism for their lack of services to London Marylebone and Leamington Spa,[18] with the RSC describing services provided by the company as “woefully inadequate” for an international tourist destination.[19] The absence of services running directly to Coventry and Birmingham International has also been noted.[20] Stratford-upon-Avon suffers from road congestion, which is worsened by poor connections in the area and below average usage of rail by visitors in the area.[21]

• Snow Hill lines
• Honeybourne Line

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stratford-upon-Avon railway station.

• Train times and station information for Stratford-upon-Avon railway station from National Rail
• Stratford Upon Avon railway station website
• History and photographs at www.warwickshirerailways.com