Great Western Coffee Shop

^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.^ "

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 :

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

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.

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) 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."

Now I just wonder hom much compensation the Train Company would want from the motorist's insurers when a broken down, or crashed bus/car holds up train services.

Would as likely as not put car insurance up.

What would the road have to do with the railway, it currently runs parrallel to the line, no LCs on the line!

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 :

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.

Ok thanks for clearing that up. Funny thing is, the Torbay rly line is well used and shouldn't take second place behind cars|!

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 :

Given the heavy road usage of the A380 here such an idea is to say the least weird,problems on one would inevitably effect the other.Given the Dfts record on transport infrastructure in Devon/Cornwall a separate road scheme will almost certainly given the go ahead,it always does in these parts while the railways have to continue to make do with underfunded and outdated infrastructure west of Exeter.

The minister said he was 'very hopeful' that the road would get the go-ahead: "Not least because the region had the sense to put it very high on its priority list, because the Government is investing record amounts over the next few years in road building, and the South West has got the biggest increase in allocation,"

"I would appeal to them to see the bigger picture. The absence of this road has caused real historic problems for Torbay and the wider Devon economy. Modern road building is done in a very environmentally sensitive way and this has dragged on for quite long enough."

Doesnt exactly inspire confidence regarding the government's priorities/commitment to public transport, does it?

I can't wait for the bypass. Whilst I sympathise with Kingkerswell residents, i'm sure a large proportion of Torbay will appreciate not having to sit on that bloody road in the swealtering summer heat when the region is overrun with grockels.

Demolition work has started to make way for the Kingskerswell bypass in South Devon.

Local people have campaigned for a bypass for more than 50 years.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is paying ^76m towards the cost of the road, while Devon County Council and Torbay Council will contribute ^33m and Teignbridge District Council a further ^500,000.

The new road will take three years to build, but when it is finished residents hope the scheme will ease peak time traffic jams.

Kingskerswell bypass: Bridge demolition work on Christmas Day

(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60291000/jpg/_60291484_60291483.jpg)
The dual carriageway is expected to remove about 95% of the traffic that currently goes through Kingskerswell

A railway bridge demolition that is part of the ^110m South Devon Link Road construction was starting first thing on Christmas Day.

Builders of the 3.4 mile (5.5km) dual carriageway will also be carrying out flood alleviation work.

Devon County Council said the work would affect the main train line and therefore has to be carried out when trains do not run.

The road will link Torbay and Newton Abbot, bypassing Kingskerswell.

Other works will also be taking place over the festive period on the Torbay line.

The council said the building contractor Galliford Try would "take possession of the railway" at the accommodation bridge on Torquay Road, Newton Abbot, and Aller Orchard, Langford and Manor Drive, Kingskerswell, between 25 and 29 December.

There will be no trains running to or from Torbay and Newton Abbot on 27 and 28 December. Replacement bus services will be provided by Network Rail.

The council said users of the A380 would be unaffected and pedestrians would be redirected.

About 800 residents received letters earlier in the year warning them of the demolition and culvert work.

Galliford Try said it was undertaking a number of measures to minimise the impact on local residents, including erecting acoustic barriers to reduce the level of noise.

Jim Watson, project director at Galliford Try, said: "We know that some residents may find this construction work disruptive around the Christmas period but this activity is a fundamental part of the flood relief programme and the construction of the South Devon Link Road."

The link road - which is expected to remove 95% of traffic away from Kingskerswell - is due to be completed by December 2015.

South Devon rail travel warning as Kingskerswell roadworks brought forward

(http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276409/Article/images/20788319/5891639-large.jpg)
Kingskerswell bypass

Flood relief work has been brought forward as part of the South Devon Link Road project following the severance of the line at Dawlish.

The works will be done ahead of schedule in order to minimise disruption later on for travellers but will mean changes to train services through South Devon.

By timing them to coincide with the works at Dawlish, both programmes will finish in time to open the main rail route on April 4.

The South Devon Link Road project team have worked closely with First Great Western, Cross Country and Network Rail on the planning of this operation to minimise disruption for passengers.

During the works, contingency arrangements are in place for the rail services affected.

The works include the installation of a large culvert at Keyberry, near Sainsbury^s at Newton Abbot. The culvert is part of vital flood prevention measures to carry water away from the low lying flood plain, reducing the risk of flooding in the area.

Contractor Galliford Try is due to take possession of the railway to install the culvert, which will involve 24 hour working for approximately 6.5 days.

The work will begin on Saturday March 15 at midnight and will conclude on Friday March 21 at 4pm.

As a result there is likely to be an increase in the level of construction noise during due to the machinery being used to undertake the work. Measures to minimise noise include arranging for deliveries within normal working hours where possible, and ensuring machinery is turned off when not in use.

Whilst deliveries may mean extra traffic, this is not expected to affect motorists in the area.

Jim Watson, Project Director at Galliford Try said: ^Although work on the South Devon Link Road is making good progress despite the recent weather events, it has had an impact on our construction activities, with a huge amount of water on site causing issues with earth moving and so certain activities have had to be reprogrammed.

^Initially, we had planned to do this work later on in the schedule, which would have caused some delays to the travelling public, although we would always seek to minimise any impact.

^d like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause: our Public Liaison team will be on call at all times during this works programme should residents have a need to raise any questions.^

Gordon Oliver, Mayor of Torbay, said: ^Although this activity will cause some disturbance it is a critical piece of work and working this close to the railway constrains when the activity can take place.

^We are pleased that First Great Western and Network Rail are doing all they can to minimise the impact on travellers and improve their journeys at this time. ^

Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth at Devon County Council, said: ^The decision to bring this work forward has been made following extensive discussions with Network Rail. Doing the work now ^ whilst the line is already experiencing a high degree of disruption ^ will avoid interrupting services later on during holiday time."

Further information on the works is available on the South Devon Link Road website: www.southdevonlinkroad.co.uk