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Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by NightRail, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Great news, Looking forward to seeing and hearing 50027 Lion storming up Medstead bank again. With any luck the diesel gala will be back next year.
     
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  2. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    Good news Dave
     
  3. 47708

    47708 Guest


    Excellent news was there the day it failed glad to see it closer to being able to work again,
    Hope when the lines reopen to Alton , Lions ready for action,
     
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  4. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Any news on when the line will reopen to Alton?
     
  5. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    The MHR website was updated last week with this info. about the bridge work:

    "There will be no steam trains operating to or from Alton station until the end of 2019 due to work being carried out as part of a large highway improvement scheme. We will still be running trains from Alresford to Medstead.
    The Watercress Line will remain open with temporary service changes to its railway services between Alresford and Medstead until the end of 2019, while a new, multi-million pound infrastructure project is underway."

    I wonder if it would be worth the MHR running a Steam and Diesel Gala over the Christmas holidays to celebrate the re-opening if it does happen before the end of the year?
    Celebrate the return of 50027 and have a grand finale for 92212.
     
  6. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    When was the original planned reopening? I thought it was before the school summer holidays. Even the Butts Bridge roadworks website still states the works will take 6 months to complete, yet 10 have elapsed and still no firm date for reopening the line.
     
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  7. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    We always go at the end of the year or on 1st January so hoping it will be open for Christmas Leave
     
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  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Yet another overrun on building/engineering works in the UK. Even our worst performing TOC manages better timekeeping than the building industry.
     
  9. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I seem to remember 19th July being mentioned. I think 'epic fail' about covers it.
    As I mentioned before the continued road diversions and aggro for residents are the real pain. Its looking as though 24/7/365 is pretty likely, isn't it?
    Pat
     
  10. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    Originally the planned re-opening was scheduled for the summer (end of July/August?). In June this was then revised to September. The completion date was then revised to October due to problems being encountered. The most recent revision now states the end of 2019.
    I heard in September from a couple of volunteers that there were plans for a reopening Steam Gala in October featuring a special excursion coming in off the Main Line using a very famous locomotive but this was scrapped due to uncertainty about the actual completion date. A colleague at work who lives in Alton keeps asking me how long the work will go on as he has been hearing from locals that it won't be finished until next year.
     
  11. Nick C

    Nick C Well-Known Member

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    The last I heard was that the site was supposed to be handed back to the railway at the end of October, but would then need 2-3 weeks of work to recommission and test all the signalling etc before any trains could run - but it's the end of October now...
     
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  12. 47708

    47708 Guest


    Well the 2o out at the last gala didn't get half as many complaints as other railways that dared to use diesels during a gala.
     
  13. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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  14. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    So what's going to happen first - the reopening to Alton or Brexit?
     
  15. 47708

    47708 Guest


    Exactly, both can coexist, its a shame the many moaning else where could ruin something for the few.
     
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  16. sem34090

    sem34090 Member

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    As of about 17:15 this evening, the work appeared to be substantially complete. It's known that the track is already laid, and the facing brickwork on the abutments appears to have been progressing very well indeed. I don't think it will be quite ready for a handover tomorrow, but certainly it won't be long now. Then, as Nick says, it will take time to recommission the section, and there will need to be all manner of tests run before it will be reopened to the public.

    All remaining services this year will use the truncated line only, as far as I know at this stage. A believe a large re-opening event may be planned for early in the 2020 season, but I cannot be certain and would not wish to be quoted on that.
     
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  17. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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    Too late, you just have been! :) ;)
     
  18. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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  19. Small Prairie

    Small Prairie Part of the furniture

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  20. Duty Druid

    Duty Druid Resident of Nat Pres

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