Bramley line needs 10K

THE Bramley Line group is planning a major fundraising campaign for 2009 to raise the final £10,000 needed to ensure they have sufficient funds for gaining the lease and legal powers.
The supporters of the bid to re-open the railway line from March to Wisbech as a community heritage railway say the project is still on track.

The Bramley Line has a licence from Network Rail to work on the track and members are out most weekends cutting back vegetation and clearing weeds.

When the lease has been bought the Bramley Line group hopes to be in a position to run trains on the line very shortly afterwards. Members have also been improving the appearance of the line by repairing fencing and repainting.

Recently, when volunteers were cutting back vegetation near Waldersea level crossing, they discovered an old metal sign board which they repainted.

One team member decided to add the words "WM Bramley Line Waldersea Depot" - WM standing for Wisbech and March.

Anyone wanting more information or who wants to support the project can contact the Bramley Line on 01364-651188 on Thursday mornings or e-mail peter@bramleyline.org.uk
When the railway line re-opens the site of the former sidings at Waldersea is a potential location for a maintenance depot.

Bramley Line chairman Brian Baylis commented: "There is a small number of people who it seems would like this project to fail, but we are not going to let that happen. As soon as we have the lease and legal powers I can assure you that trains will be running on the line in a few days."

Bramley Line vice-chairman, Simon Rudge, added: "The transfer of a railway line from Network Rail to a heritage line is a lengthy and expensive process requiring parliamentary approval to run a railway.

"Considerable progress has been made but we ask our supporters to be patient. Trains will run on the line again."
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