Kemble railway station

Disused Cirencester platform
Gloucestershire, England UK [map], Photo/article Aug 2011/Apr 2012

The disused platform on the east side of Kemble station used to be the terminus for the five mile branch line to Cirencester.

Opening in 1841, the line had two intermediate stations; Park Leaze Halt, and Chesterton Lane Halt, and boasted the highest rail crossing point on the River Thames.

Although passenger services on the branch ceased in April 1964, the platform remains intact, flanked byh a short 140 metre long section of track occasionally employed for stabling track maintenance machines.



Looking down at the remains of the Cirencester branch line platform from the footbridge.



Victorian view of the station, showing the Cirencester branch line platform to the right, complete with canopies.



Looking along the platform from close to the junction with the main line.



View showing the gentle curve of the platform.



Branchline junction with the main line.



Although it's clearly seen better days, the garden between the main line and Cirencester platforms still exists.





Leaflet advertising the introduction of railbus services in 1959 - read more on the excellent Railbus site.



Car park following the line of the old trackbed towards Cirencester.



Buffer stops at the end of the platform.

There has been some talk of reopening the branch line to Cirencester - such a scheme would certainly help take the load of the congested roads - but there's been no concrete proposals as yet.



Looking down the platform. A canopy used to project out from the building on the left.





View towards the main line junction.



Considering it hasn't seen passenger use for nearly half a century, the old platform appears in remarkably good condition.





View showing the windows of the waiting room.






Old entrance to the Cirencester branch platform from the main station entrance. You can see the other side of this door on the main Kemble station page.



Old tyre across the track.



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