Country Park Halt railway station
Encyclopedia
Country Park Halt is an unstaffed request stop
on the Severn Valley Railway
heritage line in Shropshire
, situated near the west bank of the River Severn
, about 300 yards north of the footbridge between Highley
and Alveley
in the Severn Valley
.
The halt was built in the 1990s as part of an initiative by Bridgnorth district council
(who paid for it) to serve the Severn Valley Country Park. The halt opened on 4 April 1996 and now features a red-brick shelter. The halt has replaced Alveley Halt, which was axed in the 60s and not reopened by the SVR. The halt is built on what was formerly the site of the "Alveley sidings", where coal from nearby mines was loaded onto freight trains.
The halt, like much of the Country Park, is on National Cycle Route
45 and has a purpose-built low-incline cycle path from the nearby bridge (which also forms part of the cycle route). The cycle path is also convenient for wheelchair access. The cycle route and associated footpaths lead through the numerous glades, picnic areas and nature reserves of the Country Park. The nearest public toilets are located about a kilometre away, on the east side of the river (Alveley), uphill at the Country Park Visitors' Centre, which also hosts a café at peak periods.
There is no highway access to Country Park Halt, and trains stop there only on request during hours of daylight. Passengers wishing to board should hold up their hand (any polite hand signal will do, although the traditional one is an open palm held aloft). Passengers wishing to alight should alert the driver or guard when boarding the train. The train driver will be aware that the stop is by request only, and will slow down through the halt looking for passengers.
Request stop
In public transport, a request stop or flag stop describes a stopping point at which trains or buses stop only on an as-need or request basis; that is, only if there are passengers to be picked up or dropped off. In this way, infrequently used stopping points can be served efficiently.Trains save...
on the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
heritage line in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, situated near the west bank of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
, about 300 yards north of the footbridge between Highley
Highley
Highley is a large village in Shropshire, England, on the west bank of the River Severn and on the B4555 road. Highley has a population of approximately 3,100, but is beset by transport problems due to the lack of a road bridge, resulting in a high unemployment rate.-History:Highley began as a...
and Alveley
Alveley
Alveley is a village and civil parish in south east Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley on the east side of the River Severn. It has appeared in records dating back to AD50....
in the Severn Valley
Severn Valley (England)
The Severn Valley is a rural area of mid-western England, through which the River Severn runs and the Severn Valley Railway steam heritage line operates, starting at its northernmost point in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and running south for 16 miles to Bewdley, Worcestershire in the Wyre...
.
The halt was built in the 1990s as part of an initiative by Bridgnorth district council
Bridgnorth (district)
Bridgnorth District was, between 1974 and 2009, a local government district in Shropshire, England. Its main town was Bridgnorth and other towns in its area were Much Wenlock, Shifnal and Broseley. The villages of Albrighton and Sheriffhales as well as RAF Cosford were also in the district.The...
(who paid for it) to serve the Severn Valley Country Park. The halt opened on 4 April 1996 and now features a red-brick shelter. The halt has replaced Alveley Halt, which was axed in the 60s and not reopened by the SVR. The halt is built on what was formerly the site of the "Alveley sidings", where coal from nearby mines was loaded onto freight trains.
The halt, like much of the Country Park, is on National Cycle Route
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
45 and has a purpose-built low-incline cycle path from the nearby bridge (which also forms part of the cycle route). The cycle path is also convenient for wheelchair access. The cycle route and associated footpaths lead through the numerous glades, picnic areas and nature reserves of the Country Park. The nearest public toilets are located about a kilometre away, on the east side of the river (Alveley), uphill at the Country Park Visitors' Centre, which also hosts a café at peak periods.
There is no highway access to Country Park Halt, and trains stop there only on request during hours of daylight. Passengers wishing to board should hold up their hand (any polite hand signal will do, although the traditional one is an open palm held aloft). Passengers wishing to alight should alert the driver or guard when boarding the train. The train driver will be aware that the stop is by request only, and will slow down through the halt looking for passengers.