More activity at Rother Valley Railway

Now rebuilding bridges at Robertsbridge, track to lay around year's end.
http://www.rvr.org.uk/html/updates.html

 

Does anyone know how the RVR will cross the Robertsbridge by-pass? What civil engineering works will this involve?

Thanks in advance..

 

much debate is being undertaken by RR and also KESR on how this is to be completed

 

As far as i understand it will be a level crossing with power operated barriers but as others have said its too early to say for sure how this problem will be sorted out, i dont know how much disruption it may cause to traffic on the bypass though but the people ive chatted with seem to think that traffic levels are not that great, it does not seem to be the great problem that it was once thought to be, but given the good will of all concerned im sure that it will not be a problem how ever the road is crossed.

 

The A21 from Pembury-Hastings via Robertsbridge is one of the busiest (and nastiest) roads in the area, constant stream of traffic 7 days a week and summer weekends are as busy as the rush hour if not worse on a sunny day so I would be very surprised if a Level crossing was allowed as it would cause huge delays on the road.

 

Network Rail have long had what amounts to a ban on new level crossings. I don't know if this is being driven by the ORR, but I suspect that they would be far from keen to have a level crossing constructed on an A road. Road vehicle on to rail incursion is the number one risk on the railways now.

 

Wouldn't be a very good idea to use a level crossing at all, considering the road itself. Can't see the crossing coming off. Is a bridge a possibility?

 

Yes a bridge is a possibility and one of many subject by the Permanent way at Tenterden. Although the bridge may seem to be a better idea it also can be a worse idea as much work will be required to build up a sufficient gradient to the bridge.

 

in my view having a level crossing will not make much difference to the traffic problems on the A21, if memory serves me correctly the section of the A21 where the railway will cross is between two roundabouts anyway. Also its unlikely for most of the year (Galas excepted) there would only be about 2 trains an hour over the crossing, between the hours of say 10 and 5.

Its to my understanding that there are plans being drawn up for approval to make the crossing with automatic barriers

 

hello
Some of you would have ideas about comparative costs for a bridge (overbidge??)and a level crossing?
certainly one million pounds at least!
regards
noel

 

Ive no idea what costs are involved but my money is on the level crossing because to raise the road to enable a bridge over the railway would be very expensive ,the actual crossing place is not far from the roundabout so it is possible that the highways agreement would be on the grounds that it would calm traffic speeds approaching the roundabout , also you have to think that on normal days you would only get the barriers down twice an hour between 10 and 6 and for no more than a few minutes at a time depending on what end the trains would start from .

Iunderstand that work is now underway on the bridges and that before the end of the year, a new station at robertsbridge will be started as its not expected that trains will run into the nr platform but into a new station next to where the present building are the whole site is i believe going to be flattened very soon , as soon as the bridges are finished

 

I don't know the relative levels between the road surface and existing formation but would say that going for a level Xing will be a lot of agg.

If I was the RVR I would start fundraising for a viaduct straight away.

 

The intention is to cross the road on the level. No question of a bridge.

 

I suppose if that road ever does get upgraded to a dual carrigeway it will be up to the Highways Agency to fund a replacement viaduct across it, assuming that a level crossing is given permission?

Regards,

Dan

 

actually, it would need`a new alignment if the road was doubled and the road would need to be raised so in that case i would imagine a short tunnel would have to be constructed rather than a viaduct but as the scheme to double the road was dropped i can see no reason to bring it back, but had the road been doubled back when it was first intended the idea of extending back to Bodiam would have been dead in the water so im thankful that it did not happen ,so who wants to be on the first train from robertsbridge to tenterden, and what should haul it?

 

The first train ... hmmm .. How about the two terriers, bodiam and knowle (top and tailed) and then the victorian carriages

 

How do you make a level xing 'idiot proof'?

 

I agree about 2 Terriers but instead of 32678 Knowle I'd have 32650 'Sutton' back. Wasn't it 32670 and 32650 that hauled the last KESR train out of Robertsbridge in the 70's that had a play shot on it.

 

Memories of Beddingham crossing on the A27 near Lewes spring to mind. I would imagine the traffic flows are not that dissimilar, and while one for a heritage line probably wouldn't see much use during the rush hour I just can't imagine how the highways agency could allow such a thing, but maybe they would.

 

There will be rush-hour closures when KESR start running commuter services between Tenterden and Robertsbridge to meet London trains!