Background and Route

Honeybourne Line Extension - Providing a link between Cheltenham Spa Railway Station and A40 Lansdown Road

Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan (2020-2041) identifies both the B4063 / A40 corridor and the existing Honeybourne Line as key cycle desire lines and green corridors for Cheltenham, connecting the Cheltenham Spa Rail Station with the town centre, employment sites and surrounding residences.

To access the Cheltenham Spa station from the A40, or vice versa, cyclists currently have to cycle on-carriageway along a busy section of the B4633 Gloucester Road, or take a non-direct on-carriageway route via Glencairn Park Road and Queens Road. Both routes require cyclists to join the carriageway, with the risk of conflict with passing and turning vehicles.

The Honeybourne Line Extension seeks to address connectivity issues between these routes by providing a safe off-carriageway cycle and pedestrian link.

The scheme will extend the existing Honeybourne Line cycle and pedestrian path, which currently terminates to the south-east of the existing Cheltenham Spa station car park and will provide a high-quality, safe, off-carriageway cycle and pedestrian link to many Cheltenham areas including the Town Centre. The shared use cycle and pedestrian path will extend along the eastern edge of the car park, underneath the A40 Lansdown Road Bridge before joining Shelburne Road via a ramp where it will link into the A40 Lansdown Road cycle and pedestrian paths and the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine.

Improving access to Cheltenham Spa Station, for those using sustainable methods of travel, reduces the demand to travel to the station by car. In turn, this reduces pressure on parking and the surrounding local road network.

Linking into the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine

Map of Gloucestershire Cycle Spine route

The Honeybourne Line extension will link directly into the Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, Which will extend across the county from Stroud in the south to Bishop's Cleeve in the north, incorporating both Gloucester and Cheltenham. It will contribute to a significant cycling and walking network across the Gloucestershire, improving quality and connectivity.

The Honeybourne Line extension will provide full access to the 26-mile cycle spine at both A40 Lansdown Road and where the Honeybourne Line joins the A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve cycleway section at it's northern end. The scheme will support a greener Gloucestershire, help reduce carbon emissions, support improvements to public health and make it easier for people to cycle and walk to work, homes and transport hubs.