Needham from 1956 (formerly station master at Lancaster Green Ayre) Services Cheltenham Spa station is served by approx 8 to 12 trains every hour during the daytime on Mondays to Saturdays (less frequent on Sundays). Great Western Railway operate approx hourly Cheltenham Spa – via services. Some (operated by Class 800s) extend through to , and London Paddington. Great Western Railway also operates local services on the Bristol (Temple Meads/Parkway) to Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa and Worcester Shrub Hill route. These serve Cheltenham every two hours each way, with some southbound services continuing onwards to and Weymouth. CrossCountry trains serve Cheltenham Spa on three routes, the to Birmingham New Street/ service, the longer-distance / – Cheltenham Spa – , with extensions to , and the Bristol Temple Meads – routes. All three of these services run hourly each way, giving a net half-hourly service to Bristol Temple Meads and three departures per hour to/from Birmingham New Street. CrossCountry also operate a morning service to as well as summer Saturday trains to . Transport for Wales operate approximately hourly with a Maesteg via , Cardiff Central, and Chepstow to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa service. Redevelopment proposals In early 2012 Cheltenham Council released a Railway Station concept statement, promoting various enhancements at the station. In March 2013 the Gloucestershire Local Transport Body (LTB) asked for bids from the local area for transport projects which could be funded in the period 2015 to 2019. A proposal to significantly enhance the station, with new passenger facilities and install a new south-facing bay platform enabling trains to reverse was put forward. During the development and optioneering phase of the submission, it was that two new bay platforms were required. This configuration formed the basis of a station regeneration proposal that was submitted to the Gloucestershire Local Transport Body for consideration in early March 2013. Following short listing to stage 2, a second funding proposal was submitted on 10 May 2013. Cheltenham Spa Station and the other various transport scheme proposals were all published for public consultation on the LTB website on 13 May 2013. In February 2014 the scheme was shelved after both Network Rail and train operator First Great Western refused to back the portion of the proposals relating to the additional platforms, though they were supportive of the need to upgrade other passenger facilities (station building & taxi/bus interchange improvements and better car parking).