Wantage Road
Disused up platform of the former Wantage Road station, between Didcot Parkway and Swindon, seen from passing UK Railtours' excursion from Stevenage to Hereford, on the morning of Saturday, 26th February 2022. It was the one-time junction for the roadside Wantage Tramway that opened to goods on 1st October 1875 with passenger services (horse-drawn at first) beginning 10 days later. Passenger services, however, were withdrawn on 1st August 1925, an early example of bus competition, but the tramway remained open for freight until 22nd December 1945. Wantage Road station remained open to passengers until 7th December 1964 and for freight four months later. There have been several proposals to reopen a station here as a railhead for Wantage, the latest suggesting Grove as a name but this is neither here nor there, Wantage Parkway would be much better. But as with many such ideas, this seems to be another case of all talk, no action.
Location: Wantage Road (former)
Original line: Great Western Railway
Photographer: David Bosher
Contact photographer: David Bosher
Photosets: Disused stations (or sites of) in England and Wales (excluding London)
Date: 26/02/2022
Image number: 80212
