Welcome to the 'New Somerset and Dorset Railway'

The original Somerset and Dorset Railway closed very controversially in 1966. It is time that decision, made in a very different world, was reversed. We now have many councillors, MPs, businesses and individuals living along the line supporting us. Even the Ministry of Transport supports our general aim. The New S&D was formed in 2009 with the aim of rebuilding as much of the route as possible, at the very least the main line from Bath (Britain's only World Heritage City) to Bournemouth (our premier seaside resort); as well as the branches to Wells, Glastonbury and Wimborne. We will achieve this through a mix of lobbying, trackbed purchase and restoration of sections of the route as they become economically viable. With Climate Change, road congestion, capacity constraints on the railways and now Peak Oil firmly on the agenda we are pushing against an open door. We already own Midford just south of Bath, and are restoring Spetisbury under license from DCC, but this is just the start. There are other established groups restoring stations and line at Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone, and the fabulous narrow gauge line near Templevcombe, the Gartell Railway.

There are now FIVE sites being actively restored on the S&D and this blog will follow what goes on at all of them!
Midford - Midsomer Norton - Gartell - Shillingstone - Spetisbury


Our Aim:

Our aim is to use a mix of lobbying, strategic track-bed purchase, fundraising and encouragement and support of groups already preserving sections of the route, as well as working with local and national government, local people, countryside groups and railway enthusiasts (of all types!) To restore sections of the route as they become viable.
Whilst the New S&D will primarily be a modern passenger and freight railway offering state of the art trains and services, we will also restore the infrastructure to the highest standards and encourage steam working and steam specials over all sections of the route, as well as work very closely with existing heritage lines established on the route.

This blog contains my personal views. Anything said here does not necessarily represent the aims or views of any of the groups currently restoring, preserving or operating trains over the Somerset and Dorset Railway!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

mixed messages





(All 14.5.1985)

On the same weekend that huge strides were made in getting the S&D rebuilt, in the next door county (Devon) the council there is doing everything it can to perpetuate the 1970s, by claiming that the no-brainer restoration of the Barnstaple to Bideford line would not be economic. Pure drivel, and they know it. Restoration of the route will only cost 80 million pounds, and the line would be heavily used from day one. Bideford is way too large a town to be off the network in the 21st century and the original closure was a clear mistake. In fact if anything the line should be continued to Torrington and a light railway run across the bridge at Bideford to the main part of the town, giving Bideford stations on both sides of the Torridge.

I'm sure this crazy decision will be reversed and the 70s mentality quickly overcome by common sense and the rising cost of energy, but it does show that even in 2010 there are people in positions of power and responsibility that are completely stupid and out of touch. Let's hope we don't run into similar idiots in Somerset and Dorset as the S&D bursts back into life!
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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Didn't council officials also say that reopening Templecombe station 'wouldnt pay'? Trial opened for 3 years it is still open and thriving. And that was 20 years ago when oil was still cheap! I know one is a station and the other a railway but surely the principle is the same.

Anonymous said...

Couple of points;

a.In fairness to DCC,they have been pretty much supportive of the Tavistock project [which incidentally passed through the WDBC planning committee stage last week and has now been submitted to SoS for approval before examination in public at a later date-hope any change of government doesn't adversely affect the issue]and once that is hopefully up and running,then maybe they would give longer shrift to projects such as Bideford.

b.The projected cost of Tavistock -Bere Alston is £18 million for restoring 6 miles of railway.How on earth can Bideford-Barnstaple,which i believe is only 4 miles longer and with no major obstructions or civil engineering works as far as i'm aware,cost a projected £80m? Mystified by that one,any explanations?

Thanks

John

Anonymous said...

According to a couple of people I know Network Rail always quotes over the odds to restore railways. They reckon restoring the Portishead line would cost about £80 Million as well, and that's already opeb for freight.
Although in all fairness signalling is apparently a big problem with the infrastructure in place now not built with regards to expansion, making it rather difficult!

Anonymous said...

b.The projected cost of Tavistock -Bere Alston is £18 million for restoring 6 miles of railway.How on earth can Bideford-Barnstaple,which i believe is only 4 miles longer and with no major obstructions or civil engineering works as far as i'm aware,cost a projected £80m? Mystified by that one,any explanations?



Its called; GREEDY,RIP OFF Britian.

Pity the old Royal Engineers railway regiments are gone.......

Knoxy said...

This is why we must organise and do it ourselves, seeking sponsorship from business directly.

They are playing politics with the figures as they all need their slice of the pie. Quite big pies, by the looks of things?