There is growing support in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire for reinstating a rail link between Gloucester and Hereford to accommodate a surge in new housing developments. The Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway, which was closed and dismantled in 1964 during the Beeching cuts, could see a revival after decades.
Herefordshire Council recently agreed to initiate talks with Gloucestershire County Council to explore the viability of a joint feasibility study into re-establishing the rail connection. They plan to seek funding from transport ministers and are also testing private sector interest in backing the study.
The proposal has received positive responses from leaders in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. Gloucestershire’s sustainable transport cabinet member Roger Whyborn expressed openness to discussions but noted that the council has yet to form a formal stance. He added that plans already exist for a new station on the line between Gloucester and Lydney, potentially near Churcham. This aligns with the Forest of Dean District Council’s plans for a new garden town with approximately 2,500 homes, alongside further housing developments in Highnam, Tewkesbury Borough, set to unfold over the next two decades.
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Substantial housing growth is anticipated, with the Forest of Dean District Council revising its local plan to accommodate 13,200 new homes and Herefordshire targeting more than 27,200. These expansions intensify the need for improved transport infrastructure.
Forest of Dean’s climate emergency cabinet member Chris McFarling emphasized the environmental benefits of a new rail line. “The goal behind the Churcham settlement is to address transport problems and cut emissions,” he explained. “Building homes where car dependence is minimized and creating enough foot traffic to fund a new station makes clear sense. It would offer a transport hub that reduces road congestion and if everyone commutes into Gloucester by train, that would be a significant win.”
McFarling also highlighted the broader benefits of rail investment, including easing motorway freight traffic by shifting goods transport from road to rail.
Herefordshire Councillor Louis Stark, who spearheaded the motion for the rail link, highlighted the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure to complement expected housing growth near the border. “Plans for 3,600 houses along the A40 near the M50 would heavily strain the road network and represent an unsustainable future,” he said. “Ross-on-Wye is set to grow by 60%, dramatically changing the town’s dynamics. We must look 20 years ahead and explore if rail can provide wider transport options, shaping rather than reacting to inevitable change.”
Stark noted the new rail route might diverge from the original line due to development on parts of the old track and suggested the project could proceed incrementally, starting with the Gloucester to Ross section.
Gloucester City Councillor Jeremy Hilton also welcomed the initiative and reflected on the lasting impact of the Beeching cuts. “I’m very supportive of railways,” he said. “Reconnecting Gloucester, Ross, and Hereford would be fantastic, but a feasibility study is essential. The costs exceed local authorities’ resources and require government backing. Given plans for extensive housing in the Churcham area, a new station there is definitely necessary. It’s a proposal worthy of serious investigation.”
With coordinated planning and investment, revitalizing the rail link between Gloucester and Hereford could play a pivotal role in supporting sustainable growth and easing transport pressures for years to come.