Okehampton-Tavistock. Discussion on reopening and potential use as a diversionary route

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

^4 billion unallocated? I wonder what the unallocated railway budget for this year is?

[bobm]

Saw this train running from Taunton to Okehampton this morning.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O77646/2014/02/25/advanced

Thought it might be the start of a new diverted service 

[grahame]

Saw this train running from Taunton to Okehampton this morning.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O77646/2014/02/25/advanced

Thought it might be the start of a new diverted service 

A locomotive on its own ... but then a line can start with a single vehicle and grow!

[TonyK]

Saw this train running from Taunton to Okehampton this morning.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O77646/2014/02/25/advanced

Thought it might be the start of a new diverted service 

A locomotive on its own ... but then a line can start with a single vehicle and grow!

Returning to Derby Gas Sidings? They have a sidings for Bristol Rovers supporters?

[34104]

Gist of the Transport select committee meeting at Westminster today;

1.Repair of the Dawlish line progressing better than expected,could be open earlier than anticipated.

2.Network Rail head Mark Carne said that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) were to "consider" alternatives to the Dawlish line to "complement" it,rather than replace it.

3.Report into alternatives to be completed by July to enable Mr McLoughlin to assess cost implications of any alternative route.

Should be interesting to see what the report says and if the government are really committed to ensuring that Plymouth and Cornwall are not left with such a profoundly unsatisfactory set of circumstances again.

[ChrisB]

He'll pass the buck to the next Government....:-o

[TonyK]

He'll pass the buck to the next Government....:-o

Not so sure of that. There are votes to be won in decisive action, and to be lost by indecision. In terms of cost, any solution will be a minnow in comparison to HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)), Crossrail, even the renewal at Reading.

I am currently in North Devon. BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)'s Spotlight programme, available on i-player until 6pm on 27 February, has an inteeresting picce on what is happening, and what may happen, a little more in-depth than the national news item.

[Lee]

What is happening? -Nowt.

What may happen? - Not a lot.

Cynique? Moi?

[TonyK]

Cynique? Moi?

Ne recommencez pas tout ^a encore!

What is happening? -Nowt.

Na' then, that's more like it, lad. Aye, champion!

[exeterkiwi]

I am guess that a replacement Meldon Viaduct, would have to be built as the exiting Viaduct  was built by Engineer W R Galbraith for LSWR^▸ (London South Western Railway)'s Lydford-Okehampton line in 1874, the track sat 150 feet above the valley on a rising gradient of 1 in 77 towards the west, incorporating a 30 chain radius curve.

I guess it would be replaced with a concrete construction nearby

Guy

[34104]

West Devon BC obviously not too worried about the possible loss of their offices occupying the site of Tavistock North;

http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/article/1809/Latest-News

[Andy]

One of the big arguments for this solution is that, although it'd be a diversionary route, it is not a duplicate route in the same way the DAL would be. It brings an economic benefit for a swathe of Devon  outside the large urban centres - and parts of Cornwall - and provides an additional commuter service into Exeter & Plymouth.

[Lee]

#redragtoabullbignosemac

[JayMac]

#redragtoabullbignosemac

 

Okehampton an Tavistock's potential rail commuters can be served equally well by branch line services.

Time for a signature change.

[Red Squirrel]

#redragtoabullbignosemac

 

Okehampton an Tavistock's potential rail commuters can be served equally well by branch line services.

Time for a signature change.

Doesn't that depend on where they want to go? 'Equally well'? Them's powerful words.