Active rail campaigns across the area we cover

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Politics.

That's the only issue.

It's taken 20 years for the Portishead line to progress from its first feasibility report to the point where Network Rail agrees that it's feasible. This is so far beyond ludicrous, it can only be policy.

Off topic, but lest we forget...

Crossrail was first proposed in 1946

Well that rather touches a nerve. I can see that 80 years (I think it was first mooted in 1941) is rather a long gestation period. To be fair, though, can we really compare an £18BN project involving 24 trains per hour running through a 21km tunnel under the capital city, with what is essentially a new set of points and a couple of sheets of wet and dry?

[CyclingSid]

Will all this be "at risk" with this administration's need to repay its borrowed votes up North. With talk of changing the Treasury funding rules are we in new territory?

[grahame]

Will all this be "at risk" with this administration's need to repay its borrowed votes up North. With talk of changing the Treasury funding rules are we in new territory?

Probably yes, new territory.

I neglected to note the link in my previous post ... it's at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50925321

Headeline reads "oh dear" for the South West ...

The Treasury is reportedly planning to rewrite rules governing public spending in a move that may benefit areas in the Midlands and North of England.

... but then perhaps there's good news for the South West ...

The changes, reported by the Times, would make it easier for cash to be allocated to projects outside of London and the South East.

It goes on

Current rules require government to allocate cash to projects that promise the biggest economic benefits.

Those projects tend to have most impact in areas with more people and businesses.

But under the new plans, reported on Friday, investment decisions would be made with a focus on reducing inequality between northern and southern England, rather than promoting overall economic growth across the country.

It will affect decisions made about projects ranging from rail improvements to investment in scientific research.

The South West seems gloriously unmentioned in the article. Whether it's good or bad news for us is clear and I get the feeling that we're the forgotten region - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) at least.

[Rhydgaled]

... in truth wouldn't a bus do the job equally as well and for a fraction of the cost?

There is a simple answer to that question, which applies in all circumstances: No.

Comparing a train service to a bus service is like comparing an apple with a washing machine. Both are useful, and both have their place, but they belong to different categories.

In many respects a bus would not, could not, do the job of a medium-long distance services as well as a train. However, there are cases where the train would be slower than the bus (even though the train would still be better than the bus in other respects). Even on routes where the train is faster than a bus, the benifits of the train might not be sufficient to justify the much higher costs of trains versus buses.

For example, the railway between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock takes a rather slow route via Tenby compared to the trunk road which has bypassed every major settlement on the route. As a result a non-stop bus would likely be faster than the train, even if the train only stopped at Tenby and Whitland.

More importantly, a bus is almost never faster than a car journey. A train can be, but is not always. The Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line is an example of this, if it is built but still slower than the car, all the train would do is abstract revenue from the bus service. The benifits of reinstating that particular railway are therefore tiny unless the linespeed can be improved enough to attract modal shift away from car.

[ellendune]

Bad new for Devizes from Paul Clifton on Twitter

[Mark A]

If only Westbury had been built with four platforms...

Mark

[WSW Frome]

However, re-opened stations for Wellington and perhaps, Cullompton still seem to be "proceeding."

[grahame]

More at https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/findings-of-devizes-station-feasibility-study-released-today/

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/devizes

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Devizes-Gateway-Interim-Feasibility-Study.pdf

A preferred site for the station has been identified and plans drawn up which meet key stakeholder requirements. Cost advice is that the station could be delivered for circa £52.2m to £65.7m, including Westbury platform 0 (Option 1).

Economic analysis results show Poor Value for Money (VfM) for all the timetable options considered when medium COVID passenger demand recovery is assumed. This reflects the findings of the initial SOBC, with the combined operating costs and capital costs over the appraisal period exceeding the revenues and benefits in present value terms.

[RichardB]

However, re-opened stations for Wellington and perhaps, Cullompton still seem to be "proceeding."

Yes, plans for Wellington and Cullompton stations are progressing.  Here's an update re Cullompton from January.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/cullompton-railway-station-would-give-8075450

[grahame]

Revising and revising my list across the area ... good news here that some have come to fruition and been removed from the list.  I have left on the line projects underway - once trains start running (or stopping!) they are no longer campaigns for a new service - importantly, partnership working becomes even more important as passenger number are grown and fine tuning or services carried on.


Aberystwth - Carmarthen   {Campaign SN 5780 4790}   17562
Ashburton   {Campaign SX 7562 6989}   15323
Ashton Gate   {Campaign ST 5724 7141}   231
Aztec West   {Campaign ST 6060 8280}   14751
Bideford   {Campaign SS 4544 2647}   23280
Bradford North Curve {Campaign ST 8531 6010}   21090
Braunton   {Campaign SS 4879 3657}   5730
Bristol Underground   {Campaign ST 5859 7276}   19761
Bude   {Campaign SS 2084 0659}   17576
Camp Hill   {Campaign SP 0802 8419}   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-51928674
Cardiff Parkway   {Campaign ST 2442 8017}   22474
Chard Junction   {Campaign ST 3426 0474}   5294|https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/blow-new-station-hopes-because-2590365
Charfield   {Campaign ST 7245 9234}   20779
Churston    {Campaign SX 9012 5732}   4850
Cirencester   {Campaign SP 0220 0210}   14439
Clevedon   {Campaign ST 4088 7118}   22534
Coalpit Heath   {Campaign ST 6746 8097}   https://fosbr.org.uk/coalpit-heath-station/
Corsham   {Campaign ST 8727 7056}   226
Cowley   {Campaign SP 5551 0459}   23033
Crossrail2   {Campaign TQ 2796 7345}   16508
Croxley   {Campaign TQ 0800 9530}   http://www.croxleyraillink.com
Cullompton   {Campaign ST 0206 0711}   5272
Devizes Gateway   {Campaign SU 0429 5909}   19298
DNS^▸ (Domain name service)   {Campaign SU 4790 3520}   12714
East-West   {Campaign SP 7371 2735}   1219
Edginswell   {Campaign SX 8891 6609}   21542
Fawley   {Campaign SU 4237 0797}   10308
Felindre   {Campaign SS 6798 9923}   21955
Fowey   {Campaign SX 1266 5232}   2681
Gravity Innovation   {Campaign ST 3283 4227}   https://thisisgravity.co.uk
Heathfield   {Campaign SX 8289 7587}   9931
Heathrow South   {Campaign TQ 0490 6560}   20681
Heathrow West   {Campaign TQ 0490 7560}   9171
Helston   {Campaign SW 6593 2745}   583|https://www.helstonrailway.co.uk
Henbury   {Campaign ST 5676 7973}   17915
Horfield   {Campaign ST 5988 7694}   13113
HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s))   {Campaign SU 9296 9548}   5138
Kingsbridge   {Campaign SX 7349 4416}   23852
Langport   {Campaign ST 4204 2680}   15525
Long Ashton   {Campaign ST 5404 7027}   http://reopen.org.uk/long-ashton-station/
Long Marston   {Campaign SP 1550 4780}   11513
Ludgershall   {Campaign SU 2644 5093}   12952
Magor & Udny   {Campaign ST 4249 8708} 23291
Marlborough   {Campaign SU 1890 6919}   13882
Meldon   (Campaign SX 5680 9250}   2338
Mid-Cornwall   {Campaign SW 7566 5416}   24163
Minehead   {Campaign SS 9917 4367}   17237|https://www.mineheadraillinkgroup.org.uk
Newport   {Campaign SZ 4997 8919}   19961
Northern Line Extension   {Campaign TQ 2908 7743}   20692
North Filton station   {Campaign ST 6038 7996}   7178
Nursling   {Campaign SU 3776 1630}
Old Oak Common   {Campaign TQ 2131 8206}
Pill   {Campaign ST 5247 7593}   231
Portbury   {Campaign ST 4988 7525}   231
Portishead   {Campaign ST 4410 7520}   231
Porton   {Campaign SU 2147 3553}   15026
Radstock   {Campaign ST 6642 5416}   20967
Ross-on-Wye   {Campaign SO 5994 2409}   23538
Royal Wootton Bassett   {Campaign SU 0667 8251}   23020
Saltford    {Campaign ST 6832 6733}   9214
Sharpness   {Campaign SO 6690 0270}   16314
Shepton Mallet   {Campaign ST 6184 4354}   21125
Somerton   {Campaign ST 4872 2852}   15525
Southampton Ocean Terminal   {Campaign SU 4076 1166}   22430
St Anne’s Park   {Campaign ST 6246 7253}   24545
Staverton   {Campaign ST 8558 6072}   21090
Stonehouse Bristol Road    {Campaign SO 8059 0528}   22459
Tavistock   {Campaign SX 4814 7446}   804
Thornbury   {Campaign ST 6367 9019}   17049
Truro Cattle Market   {Campaign SW 8230 4500}   22481
Uphill   {Campaign ST 3186 5869}
Ventnor   {Campaign SZ 5630 7755}   19961
Wadebridge   {Campaign SW 9902 7233}   685
Wantage Grove   {Campaign SU 4090 9130}   18592
Waterside Line   {Campaign SU 3940 1130}   10308|https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-51852821
Wellington   {Campaign ST 1390 2070}   5272
Wichelstowe   {Campaign SU 1362 8346}   22473
Willenhall   {Campaign SO 9641 9825}   3642| http://www.westmidlandsrail.com/news/first-look-at-plans-for-two-new-black-country-railway-stations/
Wilton Parkway   {Campaign SU 0963 3119}   16215
Windsor Link   {Campaign SU 9700 7700}   5883
Witney   {Campaign SP 3563 0987}   23005   20963
Wroxall   {Campaign SZ 5507 7973}   22208