Kingskerswell Bypass - ongoing discussions and updates (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Half a century after Kingskerswell bypass - linking Torbay to Newton Abbot - was first planned, Devon County Council and Torbay Council have put forward a funding scheme bid (link below.)
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143632&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142719&contentPK=19388152&folderPk=91672&pNodeId=201778

The project was submitted for approval to the Department for Transport this week, with a revised cost expected to be as high as ^129.9 million.

One alternative that was put forward involved using the Holdfast method to allow cars and trains to share the railway corridor linking Torbay to Newton Abbot. Here are some quotes from a Times article on this :

^Unlike ordinary roads, there is no problem with potholes because a damaged panel can easily be replaced. Rather than have an endless debate about whether we should be investing in road or rail, we can allow trains and cars to use the same corridor.^

"Holdfast, which has installed its rubber panels at hundreds of level crossings, has held discussions with tram companies about converting lines for dual use. ^There are many lines which would be too lightly used to justify restoring rail services but which would be commercially viable if cars could use them too,^ he added.

The cost of reopening a line could be covered by charging drivers a toll to use it.

Holdfast has calculated that the cost of installing rubber panels on the seven-mile line between Newton Abbot and Torquay in Devon could be recouped within four years by charging cars ^1 each.

Holdfast has drawn up a list of dozens of potential lines and believes the strongest candidates for rubber highways are in Dagenham, East London, Croydon, Cheltenham and several routes around Bristol.

Iain Coucher, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, which owns Britain^s 20,000 miles of track, said: ^It is an interesting idea and we are looking at it.^ "

[Btline]

Half a century after Kingskerswell bypass - linking Torbay to Newton Abbot - was first planned, Devon County Council and Torbay Council have put forward a funding scheme bid (link below.)
http://thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143632&command=displayContent&sourceNode=142719&contentPK=19388152&folderPk=91672&pNodeId=201778

The project was submitted for approval to the Department for Transport this week, with a revised cost expected to be as high as ^129.9 million.

One alternative that was put forward involved using the Holdfast method to allow cars and trains to share the railway corridor linking Torbay to Newton Abbot. Here are some quotes from a Times article on this :

^Unlike ordinary roads, there is no problem with potholes because a damaged panel can easily be replaced. Rather than have an endless debate about whether we should be investing in road or rail, we can allow trains and cars to use the same corridor.^

"Holdfast, which has installed its rubber panels at hundreds of level crossings, has held discussions with tram companies about converting lines for dual use. ^There are many lines which would be too lightly used to justify restoring rail services but which would be commercially viable if cars could use them too,^ he added.

The cost of reopening a line could be covered by charging drivers a toll to use it.

Holdfast has calculated that the cost of installing rubber panels on the seven-mile line between Newton Abbot and Torquay in Devon could be recouped within four years by charging cars ^1 each.

Holdfast has drawn up a list of dozens of potential lines and believes the strongest candidates for rubber highways are in Dagenham, East London, Croydon, Cheltenham and several routes around Bristol.

Iain Coucher, deputy chief executive of Network Rail, which owns Britain^s 20,000 miles of track, said: ^It is an interesting idea and we are looking at it.^ "

No, no, no!!!!!!!! The delays!!!! Cars braking down!!!!!!! They would then shut the line!!!

Why not reopen the station at Kingskerwell?

This must not happen!

The bypass- don't care! The "railroad" NO!

[devon_metro]

Thank god. Countless times have i sat in traffic along that stupid road!

Its the traffic lights at the pub that cause the mega problems.

[Graz]

I've been down this way myself caught up in serious congestion, stuck in a queue trying to head out of Torquay for at least half an hour. However I don't feel the dual route is such a good idea, as people like to travel on trains to avoid traffic. Trains caught behind queues of cars would do nothing except put people off and cause bad delays for those from Exmouth, too. And there are safety issues to consider like broken down cars, and people on the track. Buses only may not be such a bad idea though.

If it is those lights causing the issues, could there be another alternative such as a roundabout?

Also, reopening the station there may not be a bad idea at all as it seemed a fairly big place....

[vacman]

If it is those lights causing the issues, could there be another alternative such as a roundabout?

Perfect alternative, GO BY TRAIN!!!!!!!

[devon_metro]

I would have said that a few months ago, but the service with the pacers is cheap and shabby. A relative commented on the poor state of the trains!

Get more people onto the 12/12A as it runs every 7 or so minutes.

[Lee]

Here is a link with further info on the HoldFast method.
http://www.rubberhighways.com/

This can also be used to convert railway lines into guided busways (link below.)
http://www.rubberhighways.com/transport_benefits.html

So far, I know of only one user/campaign group who thinks this is a good idea. Interestingly, its the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership.

[Btline]

How can they be thinking of this.

The beauty of the railway is that you are separated from traffic!!!!!

Only tramways should share, and then with buses only.

[zebedee]

Sounds like madness to me.  I am not sure about the whole by-pass there anyway, yes the traffic at Penn Inn is very busy especially in the morning and evenings and it's a pain trying to get out of our house as we are just off the Penn Inn but it would be a huge construction and I am just not convinced Newton Abbot needs it.

[devon_metro]

Sounds like madness to me.  I am not sure about the whole by-pass there anyway, yes the traffic at Penn Inn is very busy especially in the morning and evenings and it's a pain trying to get out of our house as we are just off the Penn Inn but it would be a huge construction and I am just not convinced Newton Abbot needs it.

Torbay does though, either that or we ban grockels from coming here!!

[devonian]

I read somewhere that Kingskerswll station is to be reopened as part of the plans with an additional station at Kerswell Gardens. Might be a mamouth task tracking it down but will look for the article. It was a council or DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) article as well rather than a news report.

[devon_metro]

I saw that in the Herald Express

[devonian]

They should! Kingskerswell is walking distance for me - would also mean I didn't have to drive to Newton Abbot everyday - one less car clogging up Penn Inn! I can't be the only one to whom this applies either

[zebedee]

Hmmm, not sure if this would be quicker for me or not....I am just off the Penn Inn roundabout on the edge of the notorious Buckland estate (which seems mostly harmless in the four years we've been there).

Although the only trains going this way would be slower trains stopping at every station I guess?

[Lee]

Quote from the article link below on the Regional Spatial Strategy.
http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=135239&command=displayContent&sourceNode=135077&contentPK=19528401&folderPk=79060&pNodeId=134831

The report supports improvements to road links through Kingskerswell, but does not specifically back the bypass.

There is also a call to consider re-opening the derelict railway station at Kingskerswell.

Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge Liberal Democrat MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)) commented: "I certainly would be in favour of a feasibility study being carried out into the provision of a railway station in Kingskerswell. Whether the former station site is the best location now is something that would need to be looked at."

There are three Kingskerswell bypass plans, according to the link below.
http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=135239&command=displayContent&sourceNode=135077&contentPK=19552855&folderPk=79060&pNodeId=134831

Interesting Wikipedia link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disused_railway_stations_(Newton_Abbot_to_Kingswear_Line)#Kingskerswell