Could housing developer re-open historic Harrogate railway station?

Flaxby Park Limited Ltd has said that Goldsborough Railway Station would become a new park and ride station and renamed Flaxby Parkway Station if its plans for a new settlement at the former Flaxby golf course are given the green light by Harrogate Borough Council in a statement issued today.

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Direct rail services to Harrogate, Leeds and York would be available from the station, according to the company, who added Network Rail have so far found 'no significant technical obstacles to the provision of a new station” at Flaxby.'

Owner Chris Musgrave said: “We’re delighted to announce our plans for the former Goldsborough Railway Station. It will be a key feature of Flaxby Park, as well as significantly benefitting Flaxby Green Park, by making the science park much more accessible for its employees.

"We’re now working closely with Network Rail to ensure that the station’s timetabling requirements can be accommodated, in order to maximise connections for the two-way traffic that the station will attract throughout the day. This will provide opportunities for residents who live at Flaxby Park to commute by rail to nearby towns and cities in the morning, before returning home in the evening, at the same time as employees at Flaxby Green Park are travelling in the opposite directions.

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“When this is combined with the park and ride scheme, that will serve commuters, shoppers, tourists and all other visitors who travel to Harrogate and Knaresborough, it will make the new Parkway Station highly sustainable, as well as significantly reducing traffic on the A59.”

Originally opened in 1850 the station was noted for use by the Royal family when visiting nearby Goldsborough Hall, the marital home of Princess Mary, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. It was closed to passengers in 1958 and freight services ceased in 1965.

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Looking at the potential for a park and ride station in the district consultants, Fore Consulting, have said bus services to Harrogate and Knaresborough could offer a boost for the economy.

Nigel Foster, a director of Fore Consulting, said: “A parkway station at Flaxby Park creates a real opportunity to provide a fully integrated strategic park and ride facility, with planned enhanced bus services from Harrogate and Knaresborough. In addition to serving the proposed new settlement and Flaxby Green Park employment site, the improved bus services would further strengthen the local economy by improving accessibility for convenience shopping and business trips to Knaresborough and Harrogate.”