City in line for second station

Virgin Cross Country cut almost all its services to Gloucester

Gloucester could get a second railway station to fill a gap in cross-country services.

Virgin Trains almost entirely cut the city from its schedules because it added too much to journey times.

Trains were having to come off the main north-south rail route to get into the current station.

But the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is considering building a £10m Parkway station on the outskirts at Elmbridge which Virgi would use.

Best site

The SRA has compiled a "pre-feasibility study" following pressure from county planners and local MPs.

Elmbridge is thought to be the best site, because it is close to the M5 and is already earmarked for a park-and-ride area.

Early estimates suggest that a second station could bring in a further £2m a year in passenger revenue.

It is thought that operators other than Virgin may also use it.

The SRA said while it supports the idea of a second station, it would not fund the development.

That burden could fall on the county council and rivate investment.