SVR General Discussion

Much like the ELR and KWVR schemes of similar character, they're dead in the water if you think through the possible problems as brought up here. They sound nice and make the group proposing look all clued in but it would cheaper and easier to brand this as a bus shuttle to Kidderminster mainline.

 

Quite a lot to unpick here, but I think you are well and truly running away with what is being proposed. Nowhere is it being suggested that Kidderminster to Bewdley is adopted as part of the national network!
What is being proposed is that mainline service trains run to Bewdley on a (semi?) regular basis. This would be West Midlands Trains running on SVR infrastructure, they would abide by SVR rules, regulations and use the SVR station at Bewdley. No different to a mainline charter doing the same or the occasional GWR unit going to Bishops Lydeard & absolutely no need to alter SVR infrastructure.
What many people may not realise is the sheer number of mainline movements that already take place between the SVR and the mainline - this commercial traffic has been an area of growth for the line since new management came in. Most weeks (sometimes several times a week), something comes off the mainline.
The signal box at Kidderminster is already linked with the West Midlands Signalling Centre, handling transfers between the railways is quick & very simple.
I do think the economics of such a service are likely poor, but there is absolutely no physical reason why such a service could not happen if it could be resourced.

 

I guarantee ASLEF and the RMT would say no to that. It would mean learning an entirely new rule book for 3.5 miles, it would mean mixing rule books and operations, etc. It’s just a non starter.