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Through services to Gloucester were withdrawn in 1968,[3] and passenger services south of Stratford ceased altogether on 5 May 1969, when the service to Honeybourne, Evesham and Worcester Foregate Street was withdrawn.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]

A West Midlands Railway train at the station.

The following services typically run on weekdays and Saturdays during off-peak hours:

• 1 train per hour running to Birmingham Snow Hill via Whitlocks End, continuing to Stourbridge Junction, operated by West Midlands Trains.
• 1 train per hour running to Birmingham Snow Hill via Solihull, continuing to Stourbridge Junction, operated by West Midlands Trains.
• 1 train per 2 hours running to London Marylebone via Leamington Spa, operated by Chiltern Railways.

A few trains to Birmingham Snow Hill continue to Kidderminster, Worcester Foregate Street, or Great Malvern outside off-peak hours.

The frequency of trains to Birmingham Snow Hill reduces to one per hour late in the evening, with no services running via Solihull. The last service of the day runs directly to Birmingham Moor Street following Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway.

The frequency of trains running to London Marylebone is reduced outside off-peak hours. There is a single nightly service only on weekdays which runs to Oxford via the Chiltern Main Line, operated by Chiltern Railways.

The following services typically run on Sundays during off-peak hours:

• 1 train per hour running to Birmingham Snow Hill via Whitlocks End, continuing to Worcester Foregate Street, or Worcester Shrub Hill in the morning, operated by West Midlands Trains.
• 1 train per 2 to 3 hours running to London Marylebone via Leamington Spa, operated by Chiltern Railways.

All services to Leamington Spa or Birmingham Snow Hill on Sundays stop running later in the evening.

A steam train service to Birmingham Snow Hill, occasionally serving Henley-in-Arden, is operated by Vintage Trains on Sundays between July and September.[10]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway		West Midlands Railway Birmingham–Stratford line		Terminus
Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway		Chiltern Railways Leamington–Stratford line		Terminus
	Heritage railways
Henley-in-Arden		Vintage Trains The Shakespeare Express July–September		Terminus
	Historical railways
Wilmcote		Thames Trains Cherwell Valley line		Terminus
	Disused railways
Wilmcote		Great Western Railway Honeybourne Line		Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse Platform
Terminus		SMJR East and West Junction Railway		Stratford Old Town
	Proposed Heritage railways
Terminus		Honeybourne Line		Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse Line and station closed

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)[16] would make the station 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.[17]

The scheme has been deemed economically beneficial in the long-term, and was supported by former Prime Minister David Cameron and Network Rail.[18][19] It has also been overwhelmingly supported by the local community, consisting of rail users and local businesses,[20] however the district council have opposed the scheme due to financial costs.[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