Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Wadebridge here we come ?

Perhaps all the more reason to press-on towards Padstow. Simples!

 

Enjoyed our first trip on the line today. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The TTI allowed our 20 month old to clip the ticket which she enjoyed. The pannier made a decent noise climbing the banks and kept its feet despite the rain. It would be good to extend the line although I do wonder how you would adapt Bodmin General and provide sufficient space for locomotive and carriage maintenance. It would be a nice problem to have!

 

If a heritage railway has ambitions to extend along a trackbed occupied by a Sustrans cycle route, ultimately they will have to negotiate with Sustrans and their sister organisation, Railway Paths Ltd., which is the freehold landowner. So adopting an over aggressive attitude towards Sustrans is likely to be counter-productive.

 

If the railway extension can be accommodated alongside the popular Camel Trail - go for it !
If it means losing the Camel Trail - forget it!

 

The trackbed is council owned I believe, but sustrans whinge about it every time the extension is mentioned.

It probably doesn't help (personal rant coming) that I can't stand cyclists on the road or on a path. The majority of people cycle regularly are fine but the Eco Mafia who clog up the roads and demand rights of way for bicycles get right on my nerves. Most are also inconsiderate of walkers, runners and dog owners on the camel trail charging about and nearly knocking people over

Bodmin and wenford have even offered to provide them with a path along side.

 

But they won't loose the camel trail. The bit to padstow will still be there, and the 5 miles to wenford bridge.

They survived pretty well without it before the railway shut! It's not a God given right to have a foot path and there are brand new dedicated cycle routes round the corner at lanhydrock so they can't argue they aren't being provided for.

If Bodmin and wenford find the money the council will make the problem go away, however much interested party's moan about it.

 

It's not a God given right to have a railway either. It might be a nice idea, if it can exist alongside the cycle track, but it's not a God given right!

 

I didn't say it was. The footpath is only there because the railway came first. Sorry decapod your not going to win this one with me!! Lol

 

Supporters of reopening (anywhere) ought to reflect on the fact that the creation of pedestrian and cycle routes has often been the means of preventing loss of the right-of-way to development. In my view it is essential to retain a route alongside the railway on its way to Wadebridge. The existence of "other routes" in the area is irrelevant. We need to remember that some people are only able to cycle on the gentle gradients provided by former railway routes. The extension will only be achieved by partnership with Sustrans, possibly with Cornwall Council as facilitators.

 

I agree.
I said earlier that as long as the cycle route is retained I'd support the extension of the B&W to Wadebridge.

 

The Bodmin & Wenford's present landlord and owners of the Camel Trail, Cornwall Council, are currently proposing a £7.5 million development of Bodmin which includes lots of measures connected to the Camel Trail - including dedicated cycle paths direct from trail to the town centre. Are you really suggesting they would countenance closing a great chunk of the route from Bodmin for us puffer nutters to play trains?

 

Pretty much yes - although it's not just for playing trains, it's for joe public to enjoy a transport link to wade ridge which would boost both economy's.

You can already get to the town by the trail near sainaburies. There are umpteen places for people to 'playing cycling' all through the county so what's the difference.

Cyclists in general seem to get the world handed to them on a plate at the expense of people who want to enjoy walking their dog, going for a run or just a walk with their family. As with any group it's the ignorant few that wind me up beyond belief and it's about time that the balance was redressed.

I'm not against cycling, but sadly most of the people it seems to attract.

Just my personal view!!

 

Yes, it would be difficult to find a more personal view

 

Again - I'm sure the majority of people who enjoy cycling are fine - it's the select few that break rules and act like idiots that somewhat tarnish my impression of the whole exercise

 

Its going to have to be a railway line and a cycle path. If that is not possible there will be no extension. There is attraction in both, families will see the attraction of a cycle one way spot of lunch walk around the town and train back again. The projects are mutually beneficial

 

It strikes me that many posters on here have never actually cycled along the Camel Trail in peak holiday season? It is used predominately by families with young children, as a holiday attraction, and is immensely popular. The last time we used it about 10 years ago it was pretty much at capacity, and collisions were not uncommon, so halving its width would seem to be a non-starter to me.

 

Oh I have. All of the above is correct and sadly that's why I wouldn't mind the railway going back with a path besides. It would deter the 'serious cyclers' and leave a railway for everyone to enjoy and somewhere where family's and people could enjoy the countryside...

That's my point - there are plenty of places where the 'let's see how fast we can do this stretch' cyclist community can go now, and bod and wen want to put a path back, so really they can't complain.

Bear in mind there is no charge to use the camel trail so the council make no money out of it. If bod and wen have the trackbed back and agree to build a path, they will make money leasing it back to them plus they won't have to maintain it.

 

Not quite sure how narrowing the path would deter the "serious cyclists"... If anything, I'd have thought it would deter the families who were frightened of being knocked down. Is the trackbed ex-double track - I can't remember? I'd have thought if it was double track then perhaps the railway could be to an extreme one side and perhaps the cycleway extended width-ways the other to minimise loss of width?

 

In my heart, I'd love to see the railway back all the way to Padstow. Being realistic, there just would not be room on the path or at the old station in Padstow for a railway given the traffic levels in Padstow. I've not used the Trail between Boscarne & Wadebridge, but find it hard to believe there would be space on a single track footprint for a cycle path and railway track to co-exist.

 

Most of the collisions I saw were low speed ones between young kids who weren't too clever with the brakes and steering when space got tight. I think any Lycra louts would avoid the trail at peak times as it's as much fun as trying to take a Ferrari down the M5 on a summer Saturday.