Even when all was quiet on the S&D front - the railless years from about 1970 to 2000 - the S&D lived on in peoples' minds. The books, Ivo's photos, regular magazine articles, TV programmes; all kept the S&D alive in a small way. Now we're perched on the edge of regular trains returning to a small part of the S&D the value of branding will become ever more important. Shops at Midsomer Norton, Shillingstone, Gartell and Washford all contain a range of S&D-related items. There's a particular intensity with the S&D that you really don't find with other lines. Products and the whole experience need to draw on this. Enthusiasts and regular visitors alike need to be constantly reminded how special the S&D was - and is. Once full trains are wending their way from an ever-expanding S&D we shouldn't lose sight of this. Even when we start taking on real traffic - commuters to Bath and freight onto the network - the importance of branding should increase, not decrease.
When the great national rail rebuilding starts in earnest - probably in 10 to 20 years - we need our loyal customer base to demand that the S&D be rebuilt as WE want it, not as some sort of utilitarian set-up foisted on us by central government. We want staffed stations, loco hauled trains, manual signalling, carriages with compartments etc - all the things that made the railways such a great travel experience in the past. Safe, atmospheric, efficient and sustainable!
6 comments:
Here, Here! There is however one possible problem... once a line reaches a certain length, I'm pretty sure the law requires the line owner to offer the franchise to run rolling stock on it to the private sector. I seem to remember that one local route (I think it was Avon Valley Railway) had to offer their line to companies such as Virgin and GWR. Fortunately, the companies refused the offer, which allowed the line to continue running their own steam trains on it.
i highly doubt the government would listen to preservationists if the s+d was to be reopened, i expect we would see a very basic layout with very basic stations, with dmu's used to provide a 'service' and it would probably have colour light signalling although with the time frame given it might even be ertms from the outstart, so no signals whatsoever
agreed with most of this except the loco hauled trains, manual signalling and carriages with compartments. personally id prefer decent modern signalling and modern fast electric trains. thats where the future is at. altho id still like the stations to keep their old fashioned charm not be just buss shelters etc.
Dan
i think if they were to electrify the constraints of the two tunnels at bath would come into play which would mean third rail which they do not like to install anymore
I don't think we need be too pessimistic here. Look at the Settle and Carlise - immaculately restored stations maintained and staffed by a trust, who also provide the on-train catering and souvenir sales. The Liskeard & Looe line is beginning to follow this model too. Then there's the NYMR now running trains into Whitby. Things are beginning to change and, if we keep pushing, the rigid division betwwen commerical lines and resotred lines could well be a thing of the past in 20 years time.
What can we do about it anything?
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