Severn Valley Railway Stourport branch

Does anyone have any news or infomation on the plan to reopen part of the Stourport branch as reported in one of the Steam Comics recently.

I understand that a subcontractor to Network Rail was involved and had already looked at and turned down other lines (which ones?) acording to the article in Steam Comic.

Will make Bewdley interesting as a junction again. Maybe this will get the SVR interested in restoring a 4 wheeled GWR train of its own, which is one of the few areas it does not represent. The line would also suit a Autotrailer or one of the surviving GWR diesel railcars.

Long term open the remains of the Tenbury line up to the river (before the missing bridge) and a interesting trip Burlish Halt to the River is available. Pie in the sky maybe but cheaper than going to Ironbridge and gets those interested in extensions something to aim for. There was if i remenber correctly a recent Severn Valley News article which mentioned this.

 

As I understand it the contactor is leasing the track bed from the SVR for the purpose of providing on site experience of tracklaying and maintenance techniques for its employees. The intention for it to be used as a training site mean that the section will be lifted an relaid frequently - it will be the contractor's site to do with as they wish.
I don't think there are any plans for regular operation of the section, at least not during the period of the lease. A few high days and special events with 1450 and autocoach or the DMU will be as much as can be hoped for.
The article in SVR news about relaying the Tenbury branch up to the divergence is, as I understand it, a separate suggestion and there is no agreement for that section at present.

 

Moreover the stretch being leased out does not go all the way to Burlish according to what has been said elsewhere - it stops short of Mount Pleasant tunnel.

 

Not sure that is correct as the needs of the training company were thought include tunnel working.

 

I can't say either way myself - I was quoting what people have said on the railway's Facebook group in response to similar "ooh when is the Stourport line reopening" enquiries.

 

A question: How much of the branch is in SVR ownership?

 

Up to Burlish I believe.

 

The line onwards from Burlish is now totally impassable as housing has taken over, so Burlish would be the limit of any line anyway. I have been thinking about this and would not a park and ride at Burlish not help with the lack of parking at Bewdley and halt the need to hire the school grounds for extra parking on event days. Thus line only operates on gala days, tracklaying/lifting courses on other days and railway gets a park and ride for the peak days. Push Pull , one engine in steam operation.

What do others think?

 

Thanks for the time in replying, I was not sure if it was owned by the SVR, the local/county council, other private owner or the residual property arm.

 

Where is the space for a car park at Burlish? - innocent question I hav'nt explored recently.

 

You'd have to buy a field and build a road to it. There's currently no public access at all to that end of the trackbed - it ends several housing plots short of Burlish Crossing.

 

Or buy the field and swing the railway about 90 degrees South and build a station on a green field site (literally!). But masses of expense and not much benefit. Now if the track laying training business were to take off it may be an idea, a separate access to an independent yard and it would not take much to build a platform like the current Corwen temporary station. Track training during the week and occasional weekend service for special events.

Edit: Just idle daydreaming, no real grasp of facts or costs, but it's fun to use google maps and imagination

 

I've heard that it will go to Burlish, or will in the long run.
In fairness, details seem sketchy at the moment so who knows what will happen in the long run. And don't rule out the Tenbury...

Drifting off into the realm of fantasy for a bit, I personally would like to see a sunday DMU service Kiddy-Bewdley-Burlish which if it was aimed right could be popular as there is no bus service Kiddy to Bewdley and Bewdley to Stourport on sundays and the Kiddy to Stourport service isn't great.