Shotton

Context
Shotton Rail Station is located in Flintshire where the Borderlands Line crosses the North Wales Coast Line. All passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales, who manage the station. The station is on the lines between Manchester and Llandudno, and between Wrexham and Bidston.

The station plays a significant local role with regard to public transport accessibility, not only through the destinations served from the station and its (largely unfulfilled) interchange facilities, but also through the close links to some key employment centres for the region. Shotton rail station is the closest station to Broughton (BAE Systems) and Deeside Industrial Estate (Corus Steel, Toyota, etc), both major employers in the area.
 

Need for a Travel Plan
Pedestrian access to the station is good with a puffin crossing on Chester Road West, allowing pedestrians to access the station from both sides of the High Street, although the walkways linking the two lines are aesthetically unattractive, and may raise fears of security.

The station has parking facilities for just two bicycles, provided in the form of bike bins, which at time of carrying out a station audit were not available on demand, and access is gained by contacting the Local Authority. Surrounding the station, there are no on-highway cycle provisions on Chester Road West surrounding the station, which may reflect the poor facilities at the station for cyclists.

The nearest bus stop is visible from the station entrance on Chester Road West, and there is a small map in the station which highlights where the bus stop locations are. Signage indicating where the bus stops are from the North Wales line is limited. The station has a free car park for 20 spaces, often full, and there is also a free car park on the opposite side of the Chester Road West, which serves as a free town centre car park. This has spaces for 50 cars and was only half full at time of audit.

The car park is advertised as a park and ride, but only outside the station car park and not from Chester Road West, which is the main road running through Shotton. The station is located within a residential area, with free parking on the surrounding roads. There are currently no issues between station users and local residents.
 

Description of the process
The stakeholders leading on this project have been Flintshire County Council, the Borderlands Community Rail Partnership, Arriva Trains Wales, Arriva North West and Sustrans. There is also interest in the project from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The client group commissioned Faber Maunsell to conduct site audit, consult with other key stakeholders, produce both the high level and the smart objectives for the travel plan and develop the action plan for delivering these objectives.

Following this, the Local Authority and Community Rail Officer, together with the regional representative from Sustrans worked together to deliver some of the initial actions in the plan.
 

Action Plan highlights
Develop a station user group. This group could meet quarterly to discuss issues/improvements/ticketing options at the station.

Provide more outlets for integrated ticketing. For example; ATW ticket vending machines which are to be installed on Shotton Station could sell Arriva bus weekly/daily tickets.

Introduce a Demand Responsive Transport shuttle with the station. The current DRT service would utilise the small one way system on Alexandra Street.

Promotion of the new Taith Car Sharing website operated by lift share

Install new public highway directional signs at Shotton station. As the station has multiple padestrian and cycle way entrance points in addition to the main street entrance.
 

Key lessons learned
An important learning curve to date is organising effective team work. Difficulties have arisen with our lead officer leaving for a post in another organisation and additionally the travel planning officer leaving for maternity leave.  This has created delays, and highlighted that a project leader is essential and regular meetings required to keep momentum. With so many different partner organisations and private sector companies required to input and contribute, to effectively achieve the key improvement objectives.

The immediate area surrounding Shotton station suffers from road congestion. So we hope to publicise the work currently being undertaken, once work is complete we plan to actively sell the destinations that can be accessed effortlessly from local residents in both Shotton and the surrounding communities.

Survey Results and Key Documents

Shotton Station Travel Plan Report - click here

Survey results - click here