BBC Programme On Beeching Features Portishead And Minehead Lines (26/10/2008)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Further press coverage:

After the boost of having its cause highlighted on television, the campaign to reopen Portishead railway continues to push ahead.  The railway was closed in the notorious Beeching cuts of the 1960s and featured in a BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) documentary on Sunday.

Travel journalist Simon Calder experienced the frustration thousands of Portishead motorists face every day trying to get out of the town.  The day the show was filmed coincided with the start of the roadworks on the Avonmouth Bridge and resulted in journeys to Bristol of two hours or more.  He said he believed it was essential the line was reopened as a matter of priority.

See http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/clevedon/news/Rail-campaign-gathers-steam/article-437200-detail/article.html

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

while were on the subject of iplayer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00dvtlw/Coast_Shorts_Brunels_Railway/

[John R]

An interesting development on the WSR is the news that they have put in for planning permission for a platform at Norton Fitzwarren, just off the main line. This will be on the running line, not the newly constructed triangle, and thus could take services from Taunton. It's due to be operational by Aug 2009.

http://www.wsra.org.uk/nf01jan2009.htm

Although nothing is being mentioned, a shuttle service from Taunton (or even just 1 or 2 trains daily) to Norton F would take less than half the time that the previous shuttles to Bishops Lydeard were taking (20mins+ IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly')), particularly now the down relief has been raised to 40mph. And hence be much more viable, and even possible in layover time of units at Taunton.

I guess there would be some interesting questions re signalling trains from both directions into the platform, but it is not impossible that a second platform is then built on the parallel side of the triangle for services arriving from and departing to BL.

So maybe 2010 will see a more regular link with the WSR and the main line.

Meanwhile, anyone know if we are likely to see another charity special to Minehead next year? I know it wasn't well supported last year, but with the glitches in advertising sorted out, and enough advance notice, it could be a real winner.       

[John R]

and Network Rail today publicise the line speed improvement at Taunton, and make reference to special trains to the WSR.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4039&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=7

[Chris from Nailsea]

Brilliant: thanks for posting this, John! 

[John R]

Out of interest, I wonder which news organisations (if any) have made anything of this press release. I accept it's probably not the most earth shattering PR^▸ (Public Relations) release there's been, but I suspect given it's good news, it won't be reported.

Except on the Coffee Shop that is! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

No, they're all busy calling for heads to roll over WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) and Euston problems! 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

No, they're all busy calling for heads to roll over WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) and Euston problems! 

theres something more going on with the wcml.... its more than a coincidence

[Btline]

Its because the upgrade was done in the cheap - it only cost 9 billion. It was also scaled down.

What does it give us? Answer: 125 mph tilting trains (yes - less than what we had in the 70s - so that's scaling down to nothing IMO^▸ ('in my opinion')!).

Progress? Value for money?