Campaign for Tavistock reopening

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

I would say the same about Portishead. With any railway project, it seems like we are waiting for a glacier to move away, or Bristol Rovers to win the Premiership. There is a finite pool of labour and equipment for railway building, however, and the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects)) process is one that can't be done in two ticks, and is there for a reason.

[Plymboi]

I would say the same about Portishead. With any railway project, it seems like we are waiting for a glacier to move away, or Bristol Rovers to win the Premiership. There is a finite pool of labour and equipment for railway building, however, and the Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects)) process is one that can't be done in two ticks, and is there for a reason.

Yes very true. Best to to it the right way. I feel tavistock is going to be a catalyst for further reopening s. Especially in the southwest. if it opens and proves a success which I'm sure it will. Other larger settlements who have lost there rail will want to reestablish there connection.

[TonyK]

The only argument against the reopening of this route and many others is cost. Cost is also the reason used for closing it. Congestion on roads is said to cost billions in this country, something not foreseen in the days of Beeching. It seems reasonable to argue that closing railway routes is not ultimately cost effective, and other traffic for any threatened route should be found. When you consider that closing this route removed an alternative bad-weather route between Exeter and Plymouth, this becomes even more apparent.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Here is the report. Not sure how long it will be available, so fill your boots now!

Thanks, FTN! 

According to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) website, their Spotlight news report will be "available until 6:59PM Sat, 5 Jan 2013".

Well worth watching it, if you can.

[ellendune]

1) The housebuilders are looking to the beauty of the area, which will be severely diminished by building the houses.

Yes but the price of housing is because there is a shortage. That is why my children cannot afford to buy and rents are so high.  Lets start from the premise that we have to build houses and then look to the least damage to the beauty of the area around them.  Consider how much extra we all have to earn to pay for these over-priced houses and therefore how it affects how competitive our country is?

3) There will be an application to build 750 houses. Bovis will want to make a profit. If the reinstatement of the railway costs, say ^20 million, the railway premium per house will be ^26,666.67, or over 10% on a ^250,000 home. SUrely the s106 payments will not be the only source of funding?

The S106 is supposed to be the only source.  Yes that is ^27k per house, but that will come off the price Bovis pay for the land  not added to the price of the house, which is fixed by what the market will bear. 

[34104]

I recorded the Spotlight piece and have watched it a couple of times since-i couldn't actually find any reference to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) business correspondent saying that it would take 5-6 years.That would certainly contradict Richard Burningham,who stated on this thread a while back that trains would definitely be running to Tavistock by 2017.Wonder if Richard would care to comment on this matter?

[Chris from Nailsea]

What Neil Gallacher, BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Business Correspondent, actually said in that Spotlight item was that the re-opening of the railway, with the new station, was "still years away from reality".  He did not specify a number of years - probably quite deliberately. 

[34104]

On the ITV Westcountry tonight programme this evening,in the news in brief section,it was stated that the Tavistock-Plymouth railway could be up and running "by next year".That was it,no flesh on the bones so to speak.Hope their forecast is more accurate than their knowledge of history,as they said the line closed in 1962.Intriguing item though-lazy journalism or do they know something that we don't?

[ellendune]

Hope their forecast is more accurate than their knowledge of history,as they said the line closed in 1962.Intriguing item though-lazy journalism or do they know something that we don't?

Presumably they got confused with the closure of the GW^▸ (Great Western) line from Plymouth to Tavistock.

[Plymboi]

I keep missing this news items lol.

All this buzz and news seems to be good. Things are moving and about time.

[Umberleigh]

Good news from the Plym Valley Railway, and their new extension, now 1.5 miles in length - however I hope these housebuilders reach Tavistock long before PVR do 

[DavidBrown]

According to this article on Devon County Council's website (referring to the recent Network Rail 5 year plan), services could start in December 2016. There's also mention of Okehampton to Exeter services starting in December 2014, depending on rolling stock availability.

[34104]

According to this article on Devon County Council's website (referring to the recent Network Rail 5 year plan), services could start in December 2016. There's also mention of Okehampton to Exeter services starting in December 2014, depending on rolling stock availability.

I think thats the first time i've seen a definite date mentioned,great news.Fingers crossed that things go smoothly for both projected reopenings [followed by the bit in the middle in due course ].

[mjones]

Wait till the bats and newts arrive on the scene...

[Plymboi]

Wait till the bats and newts arrive on the scene...

Don't forget the NIMBYS too