Extension Projects

Thanks for posting that Matt. If that were describing a line in England, I could honestly make a better case for half a dozen 'big railway' schemes no-one has yet mentioned on this thread!

There's little doubt if TrawsLink does go ahead, it'll be on "social" grounds. Even with just one string to it's bow, it could still reach the feasibility stage, but unless I've seriously misunderstood the illustration of catchments, there's not a single centre between the two ends which warrants the expenditure, with a total absence of any freight business, plus potentially turning a successful tourist line (which probably carries more already than the reinstated line could dream of) into toast!

I could see a case for Bangor to Afon Wen as the roads can have capacity issues at peak times. Why wasn't the more viable northern section 'Stage One'?

Is there a better case for the line from Cardiff, via Brecon to Welshpool and Oswestry? I'd have thought so. For one thing, there are larger centres of population in any one of five towns than in the whole wider Carmarthen - Aberystwyth catchment. Then, as the connection will point the right way, there's potential for containerised freight (and possibly bulk steel). That's not just more freight by rail, but less by articulated lorries. It could bode well for the commercial ports of South Wales as well.

If I were a devolved administration, with 95% of my electorate indifferent to anything other than the size of the bill for the southern section of TrawsLink, I'd at least want to see some projections for a potentially far more useful north - south rail link which could just as easily be wrapped in the Red Dragon and sold to the public ..... wouldn't you?

Just one final thought. If existing traffic warranted it, wouldn't an express bus service between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth (with just one stop at Lampeter) already be running? Even if it were just MFO morning and evening rush?

 

There is a Carmarthen bound bus from Lampeter that passes my house every weekday morning at about 07:05 which gets into Carmarthen just before 8am (a bit late for the real workers but OK for office staff I suppose). I don't think I have ever seen more than 6 people on it. I guess it must pick up more passengers from the villages on the way to make it pay. The proposed rail link could not replace this as they are doing away with all the intermediate stations near the villages. So, if the line does get built, will people continue to use the bus or get in the car to drive to the nearest station or just stay in the car and drive to work like most of them do now? I think I know which one I'd chose.
That gives me an idea for the next big job at the Gwili after the carriage shed... Never mind the station building, a 200 space park & ride car park at Abergwili at £2.50 a day for 5 days a week... That's £2,500 a week income! We might be able to afford to run the service for NR at that rate with only a£5 or £10 million P/A subsidy

 

Please remember the ORR has a 'no new level crossings' policy that also applies to the Heritage sector. While derogations can be obtained the process is long winded and expensive - and thats before a meter of track has been laid across the public highway. As such reinstating the crossing will cost just as much, if not considerably more than the repair work needed on the bridge to the north.

 

Except they are not.

If you bother to read the details you will find the current operator (90% Stagecoach and 10% Virgin are bailing out 3 years early because of the massive hype in premium payments to the Treasury in the final 3 years. VTEC will continue to run the franchise until 2020.

The thing is experts in the industry pointed out that letting a franchise on such terms was almost guaranteed to result in failure BUT HM TREASURY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW! - Yes our OWN GOVERNMENT were so obsessed with extracting the maximum amount of money from what they wrongly consider a 'Cash Cow' that for the 2nd time they have gone and let the franchise on a totally unrealistic basis.

Of course HM Government have tried to hide all that by going on about how their latest wheeze of a 'Partnership model' between another privately let franchise and the Network Rail LNE route will make everything wonderful

 

I believe the deal is necessary because of the incompetence of DfT. However, I am only sympathetic to VTEC because the promises made have not been honoured. They chose to bid, they made the forecasts. It was a contract entered into by two willing partners.


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Agreed ..... just look at the hoops the Rother Valley's level crossing on the A21 has thrown up. Smart money 'round these parts' is on the case being made for a more comprehensive dual carriageway scheme than currently acceptable being predicated on this very crossing. Howzat for positive cynicism?

The Elsecar extension also involves two level crossings, one on a quiet road will be full barrier (crew operated), t'other is a busier road and involves the whole modern kit'n'kaboodle.

AFAIK, the 'crossing' at Isfield is no more than a scenic relic and in any event is located on a minor road off a minor road.

If any bright spark comes up with a realistic suggestion to replace the LC (atop a high water table) on Boundary Road at Portslade, please let Brighton & Hove City Council and Network Rail know, as it's a perennial pain in the ars....... sorry ....... it adversely affects rather a wide area, including two east-west arteries (A259 and A270).

 

My criticism was aimed more at the use of dead cats to hide a bad news story.

 

........anyway.......back to the topic. Right now, the S&D gang at Midsomer Norton are making good progress extending towards the infilled Chilcompton cutting.

 

Any links to anywhere for pics or info??

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SDJRPWAY/

 

The Swindon & Cricklade Railway launched an appeal for their current extension project.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/SwindonAndCrickladeRailway/posts/1836572629695556

 

I notice on MNR's Facebook page that they have taken a train to North Elmham for the first time since 1989 https://www.facebook.com/midnorfolk...3m1d8qLe4acTJZwT7Lu49wAfPKvNxx7qyEv2U&fref=nf

 

Also announced fairly recent ish is the extension of the somerset & dorset railway.


Apparently this next push in extending will take them as far as chilcompton tunnel thus giving them an approximate extension of their running line by 50%.

Anyone know if they're able to extend much further? From what I've been told by a mate who visited last year its a very friendly line to visit & he really loved the sentinel steam loco they've got too.

 

The only postings I can see on that link to the F/B page are a whole series from December about the Polar Express. Where is the item you refer to ?

 

scroll down to the photos section under the comments 2 photos and a 360 panoramic shot

Colin

 

I wonder how much work is required to get passengers up to this point? Is there any plans to have a station here at all?

 

If you look at the video with the ballast wagons, you can just see a level crossing gate behind the people in orange. North Elmham station is immediately the other side of that gate. The platforms are intact.

 

Question: As the line nears operational condition, are (temporary) notices on road approaches to crossings, advising road users of the imminent return of regaular train services, a legal requirement? If not, would such signs (say for a month ahead of and 3 - 6 months after re-opening) be considered as a useful additional aid to road safety?

 

I understand the railway intends to open a station at North Elmham but they won't be able to use the original single platform as, unlike the other stations on the line, the whole of the platform was sold off by BR when they sold the station building.