West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Via Okehampton is costed in this report at £426m. Network Rail costed it at £875m (estimated) at 2014 cost base, including contingency. Salt, meet pinch.

Patrick

 

Although based on the 2011 census, (and I suspect little has changed other than perhaps more old people) this data would provide little support for it becoming part of NR
http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/age-group-profiles-for-somerset.pdf

 

Sack, meet shovel.

 

I think the Somerset CC would not want the line to become a cycle track for a couple of reasons. Stone trains and others have assisted in the maintenance of the coast and there is a plan to build almost 3000 houses at the larger towns such as Minehead, Williton , Watchet and other places by 2032. Despite Covid-19 I believe there will be an increase public transport expectations in that time period. The Hinckley Point workforce is expected to increase considerably, many might need homes in those towns.
Local roads suffer from congestion and improvements proposed have not been done. Within the next ten years much will affect the WSR, be it heritage, national or combination of both.
Concerning the Washford site I read an interesting note (highlighted) in the plan about how applications to change the use of industrial sites might be viewed by the planners.

 

But the costs of maintenance and running would have to be met anyway for it to survive, as would coastal protection etc! Sharing costs must be a help!
The government wishes to reinstate lines and this one is already here and used: the main practical cost is the link to Taunton and a bay.

 

Thats of course assuming anyone has long term plans for West Somerset, Politicians, both nationally. and Locally are very short term planners, It's " what will win my seat" above any strategic thoughts towards what the community needs,
Don't get me wrong, I would love the WSR PLC to reform, to step back, and think about what is right, but, to be honest, I can't see it, all I can see is more of the same, yet anyone who criticizes the plc, is viewed by its supporters as being trouble makers, yet all we are doing is responding to what we see are wrong policies being put forward by the PLC, and if anyone says closure is the answer, it's because the present structure, and personalities are so divisive that any restructure won't work, because those people involved won't let the required change happen, such is their need to cling on to their own power bases. its a nuclear option, but may be the only way to get the change needed if people block attempts to change.

 

To mix heritage and Network trains on the same line there would be so many changes that the line as it is would become unrecognisible.
Consider:
To run heritage over a NR line requires a daily FTR by an independent person (you could get over this if WSR became a TOC - ask Swanage how easy that is);
Signalling would have to be compatible - TPWS, for instance, which would require fitting to locos & DMU;
The cost of operating a line signalled with 5 (is it?) signal boxes is unsupportable if public (i.e. taxpayer's - yours & mine) money is involved;
The track & structures issue would have to sorted out. Correct me if I'm wrong but the talk of 'regaining' red route status is hogwash. It never was red in the first place, and has been beaten to death with red-route engines.
I think that's enough to be going on with.
Pat

 

I think that's unfair, and inaccurate. Many heritage railways have upgraded their axle loading over the years. As far as I'm aware, none of them have simply "declared it so" but have done specific works to achieve this, and crucially, to maintain it. The WSR did the former, but not the latter. I see the downgrading of the axle-loading merely as a sticking plaster to what is a major problem *regardless* of what axle-loading you think the WSR ought to be, and a proper fix must be pursued ASAP (and is). The fact that that will then result in the WSR having a higher axle loading merely shows that the problem has been fixed, not that they want to play big choo choos somewhere where they really shouldn't be.

I completely agree with the rest of your post though. I also think its worth bearing in mind how this thread is perceived "outside" every now and again. It's much easier for apologists for the current board to dismiss everything on NatPres when there's all this sort of talk on closing the line, cycle paths, Network Rail etc. It dilutes the focus from the really rather appalling stuff that is currently happening, and allows all of that to be swept under the carpet as speculation along with the more recent subjects of discussion, which it isn't.

 

What about a guided busway ? - I'll get my coat !

Bob.

 

Don't Luton Council wasted £85m on the guided busway between Luton and Dunstable which run at the end of the garden of my first childhood home - we used to write on the rails in between trains and it was still totally steam when I left in May 1959. It should have been restored with new rail - it was all there and could have reached Luton Airport Parkway if someone had had some foresight!

 

To be honest, I think the WSR may have allowed a certain limited number of red route running days. If we take mineral line bridge or black monkey bridge, both are in need of some very expensive attention. The line was never a proper red route so any claims of restoring it to a red route status are pure eyewash. Mr Aberdare will be able to say for certain.

 

Now why hasn't anyone commented on the Chairman's newsletter

Can't copy the link though!

 

My impression was that it had been done properly, but it was the lack of maintenance generally since which has led to the reduced axle-loading. Other lines which have upgraded their axle-loading don't seem to have suddenly discovered that it wasn't such a great idea, nor have they announced a large backlog in maintenance. I presumed the two were connected.

 

When all is said and done, a truly heritage railway with all that it entails is incompatible with a modern commuter service. Virtually all of our heritage infrastructure would be lost or reduced to museum pieces.
Someone mentioned Whitby. The station there is nice, but modern. Flat bottom rail, concrete sleepers, modern platforms and fittings, adjacent supermarket etc.
Just hope it doesn't happen.
Ian Coleby

 

Getting the axle loading increased is always a good thing, in principle. The reality of the WSR situation is that it is the bridges that would need to be repaired with that in mind. New track, 113A FB (or its modern equivalent) on concrete sleepers is good for RA10 with 28 sleepers to a length and that's what everyone (WSR included) is using anyway.
My point about the 'regaining' red route status is that if the WSR never had it, then running large engines has accelerated the arrival of the evil day when 'should' becomes 'must' repair the wear & tear. If they did have it then the WSR stewardship of its assets has been even worse than many fear. In a post about a million pages back I referred to the red-route status as 'w***y-waving'. I do think that a feeling that you have to keep up with other railways in that respect was sowing the seeds of the present situation.
I agree that many railways have rehabilitated their track & structures. Curiously, none of them seem to broadcast that fact, presumably because telling the world that you actually maintain your kit hardly makes for great PR.
Pat

 

https://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/news/detail/the-platform-newsletter-july-2020

''Having only just recovered from a dire financial situation we really cannot afford to risk all on a significant gamble''.

 

It doesn't mention hiring lawyers to start a legal action....

 

What surprises me is the shock factor that we suddenly find we have issues with two bridges and the rail is reaching its life expiry and no account was made of these facts.

I would add that about 15 to 20 years ago two people I brought to the WSR worked on the permanent way on the main line and both complemented the state of the permanent way on the WSR so what happened and what went wrong?

To quote a Jewish New Yorker for whom I worked in the early 1980's that if you get caught out in business you are Fat Dumb and Happy and Bust!

 

Actually all the things I quoted. Modern track, platforms and fittings etc etc. A heritage railway is so much more than steam engines. It's the whole look and feel, especially the signalling, crossings, track, colour schemes, the volunteer workforce, the heritage skills retention and development. If all you want is steam trains, then fair enough, but for me I need the whole atmosphere.
Ian Coleby