Is the SVR pressing north?

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/08/09/severn-valley-railway-has-major-expansion-plans/

 

Thanks for pointing this out, but it's a great shame that the Shropshire Star will only let you read the full story if you register with their website......

The SVR website has nothing about this at all.

There would be problems heading northwards - a golf course, stations now private houses with their gardens on the former trackbed ..... At least that's what is shown in the pages of a 'Past and Present Special - The Seven Valley Railway' published in 1995.

 

There has long been calls for a northward expansion, indeed there is a very long running thread on this on the SVR forum! (6 years and counting!) While there are many issues including encroachment, a golf course and landowners, none are as serious as the stability of Ironbridge gorge itself. There are land issues there that make the SVR's probs and Gloucs warks slips look insignificant. I would love to see this happen but I believe the SVR have already said before that while they would support an expansion, it isn't something they would want to undertake themselves. I think 16 miles is more than enough and they have a number of infrastructure issues to get on top of on their existing line.

If anyone fancies some bedtime reading, many of the issues are discussed here: http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=214&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

 

This thread on the SVR forum has links to scanned in copys of the two articles.

Chris

 

What could be the most serious consequence of this instability?

 

The whole of the gorge is unstable due to the geology of the area and there have been a number of landslides including along the original railway formation near Jackfield which I believe is quite substantial. The local council have invested millions over the last decade to try and increase stability, particularly of the World Heritage site itself, however I doubt much attention has been paid to the route of the old railway. At one point it was thought that land movement was causing the bridge itself to crack. I am sure someone more local than me though will have more up to date information.
This article gives a flavour of the problems in the area and how it isn't a new issue: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/shropshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9193000/9193380.stm

 

See here



http://www.telford.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1395/land_instability_in_the_ironbridge

There's another front page story in the Shropshire Star tonight, but it's not on line anywhere yet. It boils down to "don't get too excited!"

 

Here's the links to the second article - http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/08/11/bosses-rule-out-severn-valley-railway-extension/ and to the company statement http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=29569#29569

Patrick

 

For a "Non-Technical Introduction to the Gorge Geology and
Land Instability" report go to http://userweb.port.ac.uk/~gilesd/Documents/Ironbridge%20Files/Introductory%20Text.pdf

One interesting extract ". . . . .the 1773 landslide lead to a total blockage of the River Severn"

 

Wow, now you could spend shedloads on commissioning a feasibility study but, having past experience of landslips in mind, I think that says "don't go there".

 

Written by one of my lecturers. Very knowledgeable but his constant vetoing of my dissertation ideas has meant I am now having to take a year out. Sorry had to get that off chest!

 

Surely theyve got to do something to stabilise it if its that bad,

 

But what?

The pub that depends on the trackbed/road for access has just had to cancel it's music festival because the H and S people think that the trackbed could disappear downhill at any minute! I don't live too far away and was down there a couple of weeks ago, and it is currently worse than I have ever seen it.

 

I think looking at this and the previous posts, the short answer is - no!

 

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=47140

It's been going on for a long time.

 

Thanks for the link to the video clip - very dramatic naration.
Unfortunately it's only been going on for a short time - in geological terms - circa 13000 years by all accounts. The geology will eventually settle eg. when slopes reach thier natural angle of repose etc
If nothing can be done couldnt that blight many of the houses and business in the area and threaten the World Heritage Site?

 

OOOh thats bad. Not a chance of re-opening past that area anyway! So that leaves a choice of the Wyre Forest Line or the other line south of Bewdley.

Somehow I think the SVR is probably as long as its ever going to be. I could see some point in heading for ironbridge until now!

 

Not so fast. This is so serious our politicians are now involved, and have been for a while, so it seems. http://www.telfordcouncilwatch.org....om_kunena&Itemid=53&func=view&catid=32&id=409