Campaign for Tavistock reopening

[whole diary]

[RichardB]

Thanks Chris

[swrural]

I was interested that some of the filming took place in front of the 4 houses that would have to be CPO'd if the present proposed extension reached that far across the town viaduct (which it doesn't).  I think many in the area could be easily confused about that.  Of course that must happen eventually IMO^▸ (in my opinion).

[34104]

Letter in this weeks Tavistock Times from a Tavistock Town councillor called Brian Trew;

".....it is clear that at no time have those who are proposing this venture consulted with Netwrok Rail,the HSE^▸ (Health and Safety Executive) or the rail operators.What they have therefore missed is that it is illegal to run more than one train on a closed loop single rail system.It is impossible and ilegal to attempt to run a train to Gunnislake and a train to Tavistoc at the same time.

Even if the rolling stock could be found to support this idea it is not feasible without a further ^2m plus extra investment.It follows that without any signalling,with the best will in the world and assuming that both stations are to operate,the frequency of trains to Tavistock will be one every 2.5 hours."

He then states that discussions have only taken place between councils and the construction company who have no in depth knowledge of railway operations and that he has provided a full breakdown to various councillors,who have expressed concern.He then finishes with some remarks about ^15m being paid for one commuter train per day being a candidate for the Guiness book of records and that he has worked as a safety adviser for British Rail [who i thought ceased to exist 20 years ago] for 15 years and that "he loves trains".Does anyone have the knowledge to confirm that he's right or wrong in the technicalities that he outlines?

Or is he a nimby doing his best to rubbish the railway to appease his constituents? There seems to have been quite few letters to the Times in the last couple of weeks along the same lines-wonder if there is a campaign being started.

[JayMac]

Three things:

1. What on earth have the Health & Safety Executive got to do with a potential rail line rebuilding except for ensuring the safety of the folk actually doing the construction work.

2. What the heck is a 'closed loop single rail system'?

3. And why is it impossible and illegal to run a train to Tavistock and Gunnislake at the same time? With a little work it would be feasible to split a service at Bere Alston.

Having just spent the last 20 minutes looking at various stories from the Tavistock Times Gazette's online version, it would appear that there is a very vocal section of the local populace who don't want an additional 750 houses and the re-opened rail line that goes with it. I guess these most vocal Tavistock residents aren't the ones who are regularly caught up in the congestion on the A386.

Tavistock is a nice town, but I don't drive. I last visited when I was volunteering with the Prince's Trust. If I were to visit again and spend a few bob there it needs to be rail connected. Getting there by bus is a PITA^▸ (Pain in the A**e). If the Nimbys get their way then I fear they will be presiding over the slow death of their town.

[paul7575]

I thought from earlier posts in this thread that they are intending to run a regular Tavistock through service with a connecting shuttle between Bere Alston and Gunnislake, that will be locked in on its own section of track, and using a separate platform.  

Doesn't something very similar happen on the Marlow/Bourne End branch at certain times of the day already?

Paul

[JayMac]

That has been suggested paul7755.

But I'm still at a loss as to understand this particular Nimby's argument about services to Tavistock and Gunnislake at the same time being 'illegal'.

With a locked in shuttle or a spilt at Bere Alston the timetable will still show the same departure time from Plymouth.

[swrural]

I agree BNM (on the technicalities of operation) but put yourself in the position of the antis.

If the only reason for putting 750 houses on the edge of Tavistock, in open countryside, is so that the bread earners can go back to Plymouth every day to earn their crust, then one would have thought that the best planning policy would be to site the houses in Plymouth or on its edge and thus save a bit more precious Devon countryside from further urbanisation.  There are plans for a whole new suburb of Plymouth.

If the A386 is congested, that's a reason for tearing houses down in the Tavistock area and rebuilding them in Plymouth.

Tavistock has survived very well without this development and last time I visited, was doing very good tourist business.

There is nothing in Tavistock other than tourism and niche business, mostly related to tourism.

OK, now let's hear it for the developers.

[Plymboi]

It's obvious this councillor is a nimby, as pointed it before what the hell is a closed rail system. And how is that illegal?

I'm confident Devon county council will carry on with this and do the right thing in reinstating rains To tavistock. There will always be some who try to derail development. Sorry for the pun.

[trainbuff]

Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge. The same as the Councillors 'closed loop system'. Also where there have been sidings in the past on various routes trains can be 'locked in' and still continue to shunt!

Like others have said, this councillor is pandering to the Nimbys. Perhaps his constituency is the area where most Nimbys live?

[34104]

Further update from Kilbride;

http://www.kilbridegroup.com/docs/view_news.asp?nid=53

There was a chap dressed in all the appropriate gear seemingly carrying out inspection/testing work on the skewed iron bridge over the lower Tavistock-BA^» (British Airways - about) road yesterday and a van parked on the trackbed today,so it would appear that things are still moving apace.One of the engineering people who were giving the presentation at BA station a couple of months ago said that the iron bridge may need replacing,maybe that is the point of the work being carried out at the moment.

[SandTEngineer]

Two trains on a single branch has worked quite well on the Looe line since at least 1981 (one locked in between Looe and Coombe Junction and another able to access the Liskeard to Moorswater section at the same time)

[Plymboi]

Further update from Kilbride;

http://www.kilbridegroup.com/docs/view_news.asp?nid=53

There was a chap dressed in all the appropriate gear seemingly carrying out inspection/testing work on the skewed iron bridge over the lower Tavistock-BA^» (British Airways - about) road yesterday and a van parked on the trackbed today,so it would appear that things are still moving apace.One of the engineering people who were giving the presentation at BA station a couple of months ago said that the iron bridge may need replacing,maybe that is the point of the work being carried out at the moment.

When they said they looked into Devon and cornwall for line reopenings. It made me wonder wether there was any scope for lines in Cornwall to reopen.

[Kernow Otter]

Lostwithiel to Fowey would be the obvious one, and a relatively easy win.

[Plymboi]

Lostwithiel to Fowey would be the obvious one, and a relatively easy win.

Yeah. Chacewater-Newquay was my first thought, but probably not cost effective.

[bobm]

Took a trip on the Gunnislake line yesterday.

Hopefully one day this train will go forwards rather than reverse...