Reopening of Kemble to Cirencester Branch Line (merged topic, ongoing discussion)

[whole diary]

[Bmblbzzz]

“It will also be a very light railway which will have minimal impact on the environment and encourage people to stop using their cars for commuting, so helping our commitment to combating climate change.”

I suspect "would" rather than "will".

[grahame]

I also suspect business cases for lines that connect with other lines at each end, rather than branch lines, will be far better....the case for this one must be quite small

Relaying a track rather than adding trains to even a freight line is an extra hurdle.

A line to a terminus rather than an end to end connecting service is an extra hurdle.

Doesn't rule things out ... look at Tweedbank, but sure as heck makes it harder.

[Red Squirrel]

... look at Tweedbank...

I'd say look at Stourbridge - a low-cost, low-energy shuttle service? Stourbridge is a town of 60,000 at the end of a 1km branch; Cirencester is 20,000 people 2km from the junction, so not directly comparable but not that different either!

[Chris from Nailsea]

I really do wish them all the best - but I honestly can't see it actually happening.

They are apparently basing their projections (partly) on commuter demand?

How many people actually commute from Cirencester towards London, never mind into London itself?

And, from Tetbury? 

[infoman]

Maybe some one should do a survey on how many passengers join the direct trains to London at Kemble in the rush
As well as the local trains from Kemble to Swindon,when everything settles down.
Okay,I volunteer so If everything has settled down maybe september would be a good time

[grahame]

Maybe some one should do a survey on how many passengers join the direct trains to London at Kemble in the rush
As well as the local trains from Kemble to Swindon,when everything settles down.
Okay,I volunteer so If everything has settled down maybe september would be a good time

Kemble to London ticket numbers (up to March 2020) will be known already ... and there is a noticeable flow, I understand - witness the car parking.   Looking back at circumstantial evidence over 20 years old,  I recall comments about abandoned cars in station car parks at Kemble and Reading in the days after the Ladbroke Grove collision. But ... a noticeable number of passengers joining the hourly London peak train (and with current and full evidence) is far from a business case; it could be one small indicator of potential.

A pity from the current shutdown is that the (Railfuture meeting) presentation at Kemble early this month didn't happen - but perhaps every cloud has a silver lining, as I couldn't make that day.  I would love to see the case and the evidence presented.  I have severe concerns, but might be surprised - and (even) should the total case be found wanting or incomplete, good elements may point a different way forward.

[patch38]

Maybe some one should do a survey on how many passengers join the direct trains to London at Kemble in the rush
As well as the local trains from Kemble to Swindon,when everything settles down.
Okay,I volunteer so If everything has settled down maybe september would be a good time

I think the real question is, of those who commute from Kemble to Swindon/London in the rush hour, how many of them come from Cirencester itself? My suspicion is that the majority (myself included) come from a wide geographical spread of villages rather than from central Ciren. Therefore, most will still drive the few extra miles and park at Kemble (especially now the overflow car park exists and is never full) rather than drive to an industrial estate on the edge of the town, park, and take a shuttle.

[Bmblbzzz]

A Ciren to Swindon shuttle might make more sense than one terminating at Kemble.

[grahame]

I think the real question is, of those who commute from Kemble to Swindon/London in the rush hour, how many of them come from Cirencester itself? My suspicion is ....

A Ciren to Swindon shuttle might make more sense than one terminating at Kemble.

Questions at both ends.   

The Newquay branch has been reported as not generating bread and butter commuter traffic very well because it runs out at Par when people want to to to St Austell or Plymouth, and I question people from Cirencester wanting to change at Kemble.  However, what I have read suggests a light rail solution, and I'm not sure about light rail vehicles mixing with heavy rail on the Kemble to Swindon run.   

Another example of trains that join the main line but (over the years) have been extended through ... trains no longer turn around at Dovey Junction ...

Agree with the question of whether people would be in walking / cycling scope of Cirencester; I cannot see them driving and parking there to catch the train to Kemble when they could drive to Kemble - even if they drive past Cirencester Station. 

Now - there were two intermediate halts on the line. Wonder if the plan includes either of them?

[patch38]

Now - there were two intermediate halts on the line. Wonder if the plan includes either of them?

The halts were Park Leaze Farm (near Ewen) and Chesterton Lane. Well, Chesterton isn't on the new route (which skirts the proposed housing development there and then passes the Royal Ag, ending up almost where the original Cirencester Town station was) and a halt to serve a single farm seems unlikely. It looks like the Royal Ag would get its own halt though. It'll need plenty of parking for Range Rovers   

[johnneyw]

Saw this article about local response to the news that Cirencester has missed out on further progress with the Restoring the Railways initiative.  They seem undeterred to make their Very Light Rail link a reality but acknowledge that this willl slow down the process.
https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/20247038.plans-new-cirencester-railway-line-suffer-setback/

[patch38]

Still smouldering away...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64318647

And what on earth is the 'Local Democracy Reporting Service'?

Edit: Ah, it explains itself further down the page.

[Bmblbzzz]

First time I've heard a railway referred to as "single file".