RAIL bosses have said there are no plans to change the name of Colchester Town train station following the bestowing of city status despite pleas from the High Steward.

Sir Bob Russell said Greater Anglia is "insulting" the newly-proclaimed city and even showing "a lack of respect to the Queen" by declining to rename the station.

"I was told it would cost thousands of pounds and there are no funds available," he said.

"Was it costly to change the original station name from St Botolph’s to Colchester Town?

"It is not just a puzzle that Greater Anglia should make the excuse they have, but the company is insulting the city of Colchester and showing a lack of respect to her majesty The Queen, who has given Colchester this great honour.”

The station was opened in 1866 by the Tendring Hundred Railway, a subsidiary of the Great Eastern Railway, with the name St. Botolph's.

It was renamed Colchester Town in 1991 and is currently operated by Greater Anglia, which also runs all trains serving the station.

William Jolliffe, of Mersea Road, ran a campaign calling on Colchester Town Station to revert to the St Botolph's name it had between 1866 and 1991.

In 2018 Greater Anglia chiefs adapted the sign outside the station to include a reference to its history.

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: “We are very happy that the proud borough of Colchester is getting city status and we will certainly support Britain’s first city in its bid to benefit economically from its modern city status, by providing fast and reliable rail links with London and East Anglia.

“However, unfortunately 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.

"We feel 'Colchester Town' continues to aptly describe it as the station in Colchester’s central shopping, business and tourism district.

“We are very sorry Sir Bob was disappointed with his response."