Possibility of reopening the branch line to Bude

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Per head of population, they couldn't deny the figures

[Andy]

1. Reinstate regular Okehampton-Exeter (or -Torbay/-Exmouth/-Axminster/Waterloo?) services.
2. Reopen Tavistock - Bere-Alston - Plymouth.
3. Complete the Dartmoor Orbital - Sea Wall relief/bypass/avoiding line by reopening Meldon-Tavistock.
4. Look at a reopening of Meldon Junction to Bude.

Got all that Ms May?

[PhilWakely]

1. Reinstate regular Okehampton-Exeter (or -Torbay/-Exmouth/-Axminster/Waterloo?) services.
2. Reopen Tavistock - Bere-Alston - Plymouth.
3. Complete the Dartmoor Orbital - Sea Wall relief/bypass/avoiding line by reopening Meldon-Tavistock.
4. Look at a reopening of Meldon Junction to Bude.

Got all that Ms May?

I didn't realise that there was a General Election coming up!

[Andy]

No elections but they're going to have to do something with all this extra money they'll save post-Brexit.
 
;-)

[34104]

The main physical problems with any reopening would be that a rather long bridge would be required to span the dual carriageway which severed the line near Meldon junction and getting through the housing estate at Halwill and the supermarket at Holsworthy,although from memory there may be enough room there to squeeze a railway through the latter.Don't think there's much else,although some of the formation is now used as a walking/cycle path.That is enough to be going on with though and if the powers that be aren't especially serious about the value for money obtained by reopening the main Okehampton line [which would more and more appear to be the case with the transport minister making woffling noises about his "to do list" and Network Rail putting forward idiotic proposals about building a railway in the sea],then Bude unfortunately isn't going to be of high priority.It may happen if there is a genuine change in government thinking but i'm not holding my breath.Good luck to any pressure group that may arise though.

[Oberon]

The plan to reconnect Bude to the outside world is a wonderful one. But back on planet earth do any of us have a clue regarding Mrs May's attitude to rail, has she any sort of history on the subject?

[TaplowGreen]

Secondly, the Scottish Government has cash coming out of places Cornwall & England unfortunately don't....

......mostly Westminster!

[ChrisB]

Indeed, that formula needs a serious revision....

[ellendune]

Indeed, that formula needs a serious revision....

Why? Because it recognises that it Scotland serves not only 10% of the population but also 30% of the total land area of the country?

[ChrisB]

Because it provides hard cash without taking into any account any benefit occurring from infrastructure projects in England. eg HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) which will have a benefit to Scots rail travel, but they'll get the full cash amount from the formula on top.

[ellendune]

But HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) is currently only going as far North ans Leeds and Manchester.  And anyway I understood that the Scottish and UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Governments were in dispute as to whether this expenditure did form part of the formula settlement.

[Noggin]

The plan to reconnect Bude to the outside world is a wonderful one. But back on planet earth do any of us have a clue regarding Mrs May's attitude to rail, has she any sort of history on the subject?

Yes, was a regular rail commuter from Maidenhead, supposedly very well informed on railway issues, took on both FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) on numerous occasions.

[Noggin]

Because it provides hard cash without taking into any account any benefit occurring from infrastructure projects in England. eg HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) which will have a benefit to Scots rail travel, but they'll get the full cash amount from the formula on top.

Yes, but isn't HS2 being funded privately? Doesn't count surely? 

[ChrisB]

Is it? Seriously?

[LiskeardRich]

The main physical problems with any reopening would be that a rather long bridge would be required to span the dual carriageway which severed the line near Meldon junction and getting through the housing estate at Halwill and the supermarket at Holsworthy,although from memory there may be enough room there to squeeze a railway through the latter.Don't think there's much else,although some of the formation is now used as a walking/cycle path.That is enough to be going on with though and if the powers that be aren't especially serious about the value for money obtained by reopening the main Okehampton line [which would more and more appear to be the case with the transport minister making woffling noises about his "to do list" and Network Rail putting forward idiotic proposals about building a railway in the sea],then Bude unfortunately isn't going to be of high priority.It may happen if there is a genuine change in government thinking but i'm not holding my breath.Good luck to any pressure group that may arise though.

There is also a big new housing estate on the track bed on approach to the old station at Bude, so would have to cut short.