Way Out Reopening

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

One of the things I've been pondering is what ex GW^▸ (Great Western)/Southerh lines should be reopened for passenger traffic.

Two obvious ones are mentioned frequently on this board are Portishead and Tavistock.

Another which comes up is Bourne - High Wycombe granted you'd have to knock down a few buildings but then they demolished half of Leicester when they built the GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line) and half of Leytonstone when they knocked down whole streets for the Motorway extension.

I've been thinking of some others and have come up with Savernake LL to Marlborough,

It's around 5 miles. Superficially it seems a better terminus for Kennet Valley services currently terminating at Bedwyn.

Any other way out lines others feel we should press for?

[grahame]

I've been thinking of some others and have come up with Savernake LL to Marlborough,

It's around 5 miles. Superficially it seems a better terminus for Kennet Valley services currently terminating at Bedwyn.

There was talk of this within the last year. See:

http://archive.gazetteandherald.co.uk/2008/8/28/386722.html

"It would be cheaper to buy every household in Marlbourough a landrover and give them free petrol" was a comment I heard about this one from a pro-rail transport professional ... I think it's unlikely in the foreseeable future.   But then we can't necessarily see all that far into the future at the moment 

[Btline]

Evesham - Redditch (to get Evesham to Birmingham commuters onto rail). Only problem is that they slapped a dual carriageway - A46 (T) - on the trackbed!

Honeybourne to Stratford. To connect the "stub" of the Stratford line, and getting more pax on the Cotswold Line. In Stratford a road is blocking the trackbed, but the council are under obligation to re-route the road if the track is needed!

In the South West:

*Oakhamton to Bude - traffic.

*Bodmin to Padstow - traffic.

*Barnstaple to Illfracombe (a line that was still open in 1969! )

Pewsey is the "parkway" station for Malborough. Just extend the Bedwyn terminators to Westbury, and use 125 mph stock.

[devon_metro]

and use 125 mph stock.

Why?

Max linespeed on B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) is 110.

[Electric train]

Bourne - High Wycombe granted you'd have to knock down a few buildings but then they demolished half of Leicester when they built the GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line) and half of Leytonstone when they knocked down whole streets for the Motorway extension.

If only

How about West Dryton to Stains

[Btline]

Max speed of Turbos is 90.

And between Paddington and Reading it is 125.

So the journey time could be cut even with an extra stop at Maidenhead.

[devon_metro]

The acceleration curve above 100mph is never normally that great anyway, the front and rear of the train are out of bounds due to health and safety. Its more hassle that its worth and not economical. What proportion of Westbury - London would be spent over 100mph if its stops at Maidenhead. Very low.

[thetrout]

3 Routes spring to mind...

1)

Service from Minehead to Taunton, to compete directly with the slow bus service... (1hr+) Enhance the service during the summer to allow for passenger flow to Minehead (Butlins). Also instate a Station at Norton Fitzwarren.

2)

Convert East Somerset Railway's Mendip Vale station into a Parkway station for Shepton Mallet. Thus reconnecting Shepton Mallet onto the rail network... Allowing for a greater transport that is provided by a some what limited and slow bus service... E.g. 161, 162 Wells - Frome Route. Also consider the idea of Request stops at Wanstrow and Witham Friary to provide, maybe a limited service, but a much improved 2 bus services a week at Wanstrow...!

3)

Frome - Radstock, The majority of the track is still there on the route, infact the route still in use as far as Merehead Quarry. This would allow pax to be able to get from Radstock into Frome and connect onto other services throughout the south west. Again a Bus service is provided into Bath, but the journey time of this is 30+ minutes and the fare is daylight robbery...

The only route I would say is practical is route 1, as the infrastructure is already there. I'm not sure what the track leasing costs would be though from Norton Fitzwarren to Taunton station...?! This might shelve the idea completely...!

[vacman]

Personally I think Tavistock then onto Launceston using parts of the old GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and Southern routes to create a long branch from Plymouth to Launceston, otherwise I think Axminster to Lyme regis.

[John R]

1)
Service from Minehead to Taunton, to compete directly with the slow bus service... (1hr+) Enhance the service during the summer to allow for passenger flow to Minehead (Butlins). Also instate a Station at Norton Fitzwarren.

The only route I would say is practical is route 1, as the infrastructure is already there. I'm not sure what the track leasing costs would be though from Norton Fitzwarren to Taunton station...?! This might shelve the idea completely...!

WSR currently are indeed seeking planning permission for a platform at Norton Fitwarren. The application states that it could be used for incoming main line trains in future (ie, but not initially). This would reduce significantly the time taken for a unit to shuttle from Taunton to BL and back, and could open up the opportunity of Taunton terminators running on to Norton and back in marginal time.

They hope to have it built by August. The original application was withdrawn because the highways authorities objected to parking space there, which has now been removed from the revised application, which comes up for consideration before the month end. 

[grahame]

Frome - Radstock, The majority of the track is still there on the route, infact the route still in use as far as Merehead Quarry. This would allow pax to be able to get from Radstock into Frome and connect onto other services throughout the south west. Again a Bus service is provided into Bath, but the journey time of this is 30+ minutes and the fare is daylight robbery...

See the Parkman report, 2000 

Also
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1736.0
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3115.0

[devon_metro]

Whilst we are on the subject of it, I think a Summer Saturdays only extension of the 1235 Paddington - Paignton and return to Kingswear would be viable. Perhaps cut the calls on the Berks and Hants as people travelling on the "Torbay Express" really shouldn't have to call there!

[Btline]

Whilst we are on the subject of it, I think a Summer Saturdays only extension of the 1235 Paddington - Paignton and return to Kingswear would be viable. Perhaps cut the calls on the Berks and Hants as people travelling on the "Torbay Express" really shouldn't have to call there!

Yes, some Torbay HST^▸ (High Speed Train) (at least in the summer) should call at Reading, Taunton, Tiverton, Exeter, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Newton Abott, Torquay, Paignton, Goodrington, Brixham Road and Kingswear for Dartmouth. Listing destinations such as those, would get people off the A303/A30/M4/M5/A38/A380.

[thetrout]

Wasn't there a Heritage Railway up north that got permission to run a service onto a mainline station from their railway...?!

I'll do some digging... I think I remember reading it in Rail Magazine...

[John R]

North York Moors. Their services are even shown in the National Timetable.

Runs along around 6m(?) of main line into Whitby.