GREATER Anglia has ‘snubbed Colchester’ and ‘disregarded the wishes of our late Queen’, by not renaming Colchester Town Station, the High Steward of Colchester has said.

Although Colchester received its city status last year, Greater Anglia is reluctant to recognise the status, advising there are ‘no plans’ to rename Colchester Town Station as it is a ‘very costly exercise’.

Sir Bob Russell, the High Steward of Colchester, has lobbied for Greater Anglia to rename the station in Colchester city centre, to reflect Colchester’s modern city status.

Sir Bob spent time trying to convince Greater Anglia to reconsider the station's name earlier in the year, to no avail. He now has plans to continue his lobbying further down the line.

Speaking on the rail company’s decision, Sir Bob said: “The Dutch-owned company have made their decision and if they want to insult Colchester and not take accord of the wishes of our late Queen, to make Colchester a city, then there’s nothing I can do about it.

“They say it will cost a lot of money, but it wasn’t a bother when they changed it from St Botolph’s to Colchester town.

“They haven’t yet sorted the disabled access at Colchester North Station, so renaming Town Station is not the priority.”

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Speaking on the decision to not change the station’s name, a Greater Anglia spokesperson said: “We are very pleased that Colchester has city status.

“However, it is not a simple or cheap proposition to change the name of Colchester Town station to Colchester City station, as it involves changing all ticketing and journey planner systems across the whole country which is a very costly exercise.

“It is also the case that the use of the word “city” in UK rail station names is extremely rare and is not seen as a factor in, or an indicator of, the status or success of a city.  

“There are therefore no plans to rename the station. ‘Colchester Town’ continues to aptly describe it as the station in Colchester’s central shopping, business and tourism district”.