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!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

lazy spell ...




I know - it's been very quiet on here the last week or so! The main reason is that we are off on a two week holiday this Friday, with a week in the Caribbean and a week in Florida. Consequently I've been really busy getting everything done at work, and I've not even been able to get up to Midford for three weeks ...

Also losing two cats (both 19) and getting two new kittens has left us both upset and very busy!

I have today managed to get the new membership cards done (currently for new members and renewals) and those of you who have been waiting for a few weeks for your welcome pack won't have to wait very much longer!

I'm starting to look towards 2011 now ... which should see the actual rebuilding of Midford begin, restoration of Spetisbury take off, the new 1000% better Right Lines launched and that big press push I've promised for months. The first AGM of the New S&D should also take place in around March.
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

spetisbury progress


We're just about to submit our proposals for Spetisbury on the Dorset section of our route. The idea here is to do a southern version of Midford, with an information office and shop. This is at a key location on the route, between Blandford and Poole, and will be on one of the first sections of the line to be fully reopened.

The original Spetisbury closed as long ago as 1956 but it is very well preserved, indeed a small amount of restoration work has already been done there. The intention is that the station will see trains again in the mid term future.

Hopefully now the submission is ready to go off to Dorset County Council it won't be long before our southern members have a place to go to make things happen!
Posted by Picasa