Campaign for Tavistock reopening

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Such a shame this lecture is during the Whiteball Tunnel blockade. Would've considered going otherwise.

Just not possible to return home to Bristol by train afterward.

[Btline]

What's occurring with this scheme? is it going ahead? Needs funding?

Or is it dead?

[trainbuff]

I believe it still very much alive. Preps for TWAO^▸ (Transport and Works Act Order ) should be starting soon. Local council have taken over project. It is on the cards. I will feedback anything I get from this to the forum of course. But if there is anyone from the Forum that gets there i will b delighted!

[34104]

I have just found out that there is a lecture to be held at Plymouth University on 22nd January 5.45-6pm start. Giving historical details but also the work required to develop the project and progress so far. There is no cost, but anyone wishing to go must call/email to reserve a place. I have already booked one so will be attending.

Link to page is below

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/dynamic.asp?page=events&eventID=8415&showEvent=1

Good information,thanks.I will definitely attend the lecture,hopefully some positive updates will be forthcoming.It has been quiet recently,there were a couple of white vans on the trackbed towards Shillamill viaduct before Xmas but nothing else to report apart from the re-roofing of the waiting room as described above.

[ACE]

I have just found out that there is a lecture to be held at Plymouth University on 22nd January 5.45-6pm start. Giving historical details but also the work required to develop the project and progress so far. There is no cost, but anyone wishing to go must call/email to reserve a place. I have already booked one so will be attending.

Link to page is below

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/dynamic.asp?page=events&eventID=8415&showEvent=1

Be interesting to hear the feedback from this meeting/lecture, be grateful if any goes to hear about it. Still for the life of me can't work out why in this day and age, it takes so long to reinstate railways in England, this line was first 'talked about' for rebuilding in 1989! We still wait...

[trainbuff]

I went to this meeting this evening. Met 34104 (John)while I was there and I am sure he will add anything I miss or hopefully correct anything I get wrong!

Also met another member of forum who said he had only been on it a short while. I am useless with names so please forgive me! PM me when you read this.

Anyhow. Here goes. I guess there were around 70 or so people there. The room was full.

Proposals are very serious. The council own 50% of the land, with a woodland trust owning 30% more. The rest in smaller landowners hands.

There will be NO Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO^▸ (Transport and Works Act Order )). Instead they will use something known as a Development Consent Order (DCO^▸ (Driver Controlled Operation)). This differs from a TWAO in that it is a set period. Not quite sure what was said but I believe a year or so. A TWAO could be quicker, or much slower. There is no Formal Inquiry with Barristers. However, both sides can put their case. A Public Meeting is still held.

Initial Environmental Surveys have been done. No sign of the crested newt, though I believe one of the smaller landowners is checking his pond to try and find them! Lol. Bats were discovered in Shillamill Tunnel at a very early stage, which has given time to start addressing this issue at the earliest stage, which should speed up the whole process of solving the issue.

However a Full Environmental Survey has to be carried out over the period of a year, to see how the changing seasons impact wildlife around the railway. This is due to start very shortly.

There is a mineworking under the trackbed near Tavistock. Aproximately at the southern end of the proposed housing development. Despite the fact that trains ran over it when the line was open current standards say it has to be capped with a concrete 'lid'. Much the same as was done when Burngullow-Probus was re-dualled on the Cornish Mainline a few years ago.

Most structures are sound. Shillamill Tunnel needs very little work done. The same is true of Shillamill Viaduct. However there are concerns that the Lazy Bridge, the Iron skewed bridge at the Tavistock end of the Tunnel, is not strong enough to support Trains so will have to be replaced. If the new structure chosen is of a fairly standard design it can be replaced relatively cheaply. All other Bridges are in good condition. Cuttings particularly near the Tavistock end will need some work to stop or limit rockfall. This may mean the proposed cycle track is diverted away from the line at these locations to enable space for any rock fall to land either side of the track. This is something Network Rail have asked for.
There is also the missing embankment and bridge to the north of Bere Alston Station that need to be replaced. The road under the Bridge has been raised so this will have to be sorted with a view to this whilst keeping access to that particular property.

Additionally an initial survey has shown coverage areas for the GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway.) cab radio will require 3 masts. A more thorough survey will be done before March to calculate the exact number and positions.

Several options exist for arrangements at Bere Alston. The original Timetable was not really satisfactory. The most favoured option will be a class 153+150 running up to Bere Alston on the first service with the single set uncoupling and being 'locked in' till end of the day. Then the last trains will be re-combined. This has not been fully decided yet but Network Rail have no problem with it in principle. Much as other members have suggested this is the most practical idea. It is not decided yet whether the Platform will be built out or a footbridge or crossing put it.

Timescale wise it looks like the DCO will be done in early 2015, with the line open sometime between 2016 and 2020. I would say probably nearer the latter. These things always seem to take longer.

Cost is estimated at ^17million. With what was described as the 'Optimism Bias' (basically those costs which are unexpected) the cost could be ^26million. Funding will come from Bovis Homes, who are building the 750 houses. Outline planning permission has been granted I believe, but again I am not 100% sure. Additional Funding will come from local councils as well as other groups.

I believe that is a fairly concise report judging by my notes but please add or correct if you were also at the meeting. Much was said both in the Lecture, the Questions after and during the coffee afterward.

A little mention must be made of the next meeting of the group on Wednesday February 19th. The meeting is entitled

'How Resilient is the Transport Infrastructure in the South West?'

Anyway if you have managed to read this lengthy report I am truly delighted as it took me an age to write! Also please excuse any spelling mistakes and apologies if I attract the pedants on this forum as well! Anyway. I think it is all good news

[John R]

An excellent summary - thank you very much for enlightening those of us not able to attend.

[RichardB]

Great stuff, Trainbuff.  An excellent report.

Sorry I didn't meet you or 34104.

[34104]

Excellent summary, Chris.He [Matt Barnes of DCC^» (Devon County Council - website),did a very good job of covering for the two other speakers who couldn't make it] was pretty non-committal about how much Bovis are going to be paying towards the project,probably for political/diplomatic reasons.One thing is for sure,the project isn't going to be paid for solely through levies on the new housing,which was the scenario originally put in the public domain-i think the local authorities have done a bit of crafty goal post shifting on that issue. One point-i may be wrong but i don't think Bovis have yet been granted any sort of planning permission-seem to remember MB saying that this is currently going through the usual channels but an outcome should be reached fairly soon.

Overall i would say the evening was quite encouraging as far as the future of the project is concerned-pity these things take so darn long though.

[ACE]

Very positive updates, thanks for sharing them 

[TonyK]

Thank you indeed, Trainbuff. Your report colours in the picture nicely. I am pleased to hear of the council's continuing enthusiasm for this scheme.

[Andy]

Thanks Trainbuff for this report. It'd be nice if we get to see the rails relaid for 2018 - 50 years after closure.

[trainbuff]

Thanks Trainbuff for this report. It'd be nice if we get to see the rails relaid for 2018 - 50 years after closure.

Yes indeed!That would be a good date but we will have to see depending on when the rebuilding finally starts.
As a very small boy, maybe 5 or 6 I travelled to Gunnislake.
This must have been the early 1970's as I still remember seeing where the track had been removed!
The driver let me travel part way in the cab......trying to pesuade me that the brake wheel was a steering wheel! I did not fall for it

[Andy]

As you say, 2018 is probably rather optimistic, given how long these things seem to take - in England, at least.

Your comment about visiting Gunnislake in the early 70s brought back a few memories of my own, seeing the post-Beeching remains of closed stations and branches in Cornwall.

[34104]

Snippet of info-the lower road between BA^» (British Airways - about) and Tavistock is to be closed for a couple of days at the end of May to allow further inspection by Jacobs of the skewed iron bridge that crosses the road.The road was closed in similar fashion last year-at the exhibition at Bere Alston station last year,the DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) man said that there was some doubt about the condition of the bridge,maybe this inspection will enable a final decision to be made.Very quiet on this front recently,i suppose this shows at least things are still happening behind the scenes.