Stratford-upon-Avon is relatively well served by public transport, although the level of connectivity varies. Demand is constrained by factors including frequency of services, duration and comfort of journey and high ticket costs as well as the comparative convenience and relative low cost of car travel. Local employers within the leisure and tourism sector have reported that public transport service gaps, particularly to and from Coventry and Birmingham and during the off-peak, impacts on their ability to recruit and retain employees. Two railway lines terminate in Stratford-upon-Avon with regular rail services provided by West Midlands Rail to Birmingham via either Henley-in-Arden (the North Warwickshire Line) or Solihull, and regular but infrequent services by Chiltern Railways to Leamington Spa via Warwick. Connections to the wider rail network can be made via Birmingham, Solihull and Leamington Spa. Stratford Parkway was opened in 2013 on the northern side of Stratford to provide easier access to rail services for people living to the north and west of Stratford and alleviate congestion within Stratford-upon-Avon by reducing car journeys to the town station. The town station is due to be refurbished during 2018 to provide improved passenger facilities and experience with the work being funded by Warwickshire County and the Network Rail National Stations Improvement Fund. Rail service improvements that could benefit current and potential passengers include: Additional peak time direct services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Solihull. This would be particularly beneficial in light of the planned expansion of Solihull town centre, part of the UK Central development. Additional direct services to and from Warwick and Leamington Spa, and improved onward connectivity to Coventry and Birmingham Airport. Direct services to Warwick and Leamington Spa currently operate approximately 1.5 to 2 hours during the day. There are however, more frequent bus services between Stratford, Warwick and Leamington Spa that offer competitive journey times. Improving station facilities and accessibility of rail services on the North Warwickshire Line. The bus infrastructure includes regular commercial services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham, Alcester, Henley-on-Arden, Wellesbourne Warwick and Leamington Spa, all of which have available passenger capacity. Local services around Stratford-upon-Avon and evening services are limited. Feedback from the Stratford Traffic Summits suggested that better bus services were needed particularly to the east and north of the town. It is also important that new developments have regular and frequent bus services to the town centre.
Stratford-upon-Avon is relatively well served by public transport, although the level of connectivity varies. Demand is constrained by factors including frequency of services, duration and comfort of journey and high ticket costs as well as the comparative convenience and relative low cost of car travel. Local employers within the leisure and tourism sector have reported that public transport service gaps, particularly to and from Coventry and Birmingham and during the off-peak, impacts on their ability to recruit and retain employees. Two railway lines terminate in Stratford-upon-Avon with regular rail services provided by West Midlands Rail to Birmingham via either Henley-in-Arden (the North Warwickshire Line) or Solihull, and regular but infrequent services by Chiltern Railways to Leamington Spa via Warwick. Connections to the wider rail network can be made via Birmingham, Solihull and Leamington Spa. Stratford Parkway was opened in 2013 on the northern side of Stratford to provide easier access to rail services for people living to the north and west of Stratford and alleviate congestion within Stratford-upon-Avon by reducing car journeys to the town station. The town station is due to be refurbished during 2018 to provide improved passenger facilities and experience with the work being funded by Warwickshire County and the Network Rail National Stations Improvement Fund. Rail service improvements that could benefit current and potential passengers include: Additional peak time direct services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Solihull. This would be particularly beneficial in light of the planned expansion of Solihull town centre, part of the UK Central development. Additional direct services to and from Warwick and Leamington Spa, and improved onward connectivity to Coventry and Birmingham Airport. Direct services to Warwick and Leamington Spa currently operate approximately 1.5 to 2 hours during the day. There are however, more frequent bus services between Stratford, Warwick and Leamington Spa that offer competitive journey times. Improving station facilities and accessibility of rail services on the North Warwickshire Line. The bus infrastructure includes regular commercial services between Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham, Alcester, Henley-on-Arden, Wellesbourne Warwick and Leamington Spa, all of which have available passenger capacity. Local services around Stratford-upon-Avon and evening services are limited. Feedback from the Stratford Traffic Summits suggested that better bus services were needed particularly to the east and north of the town. It is also important that new developments have regular and frequent bus services to the town centre.
draft-stratford-area-transport-strategy-dec-2017.docx