From the beginning of February to April 2019, most of the old track, sleepers and lineside equipment will be removed and overgrown vegetation and litter cleared along the the route. Railway equipment at the rail-road and the footpath crossings at Folly Road will also be removed and the crossings converted to a public highway and public footpath.
Discussions with local stakeholders on potential new community uses are now underway with a decision to be made in the summer of 2019. Enquiries about about the old line and potential future uses can be directed to
CRSouthEast@networkrail.co.uk .
I know that there were several aspirations to run a rail based heritage service; I have no idea of the practicality or currency of them. It does strike me that removing equipment and converting in the spring, then announcing a decision in the summer, seems the wrong way round and renders certain aspirations as impractical. Perhaps that is the intent?
There were no viable bids, and with 2 level crossing (1 highway 1 foot path) it would be difficult for a heritage line to get up and running. Network Rail has divest its self of no operational overheads, this line was becoming a liability, although effectively closed
NR» still had to maintain fences etc as if it were a live railway.