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!

Saturday, July 09, 2011

meeting - at last!


At last we are able to hold a meeting! With all the work at Midford there hasn't been a lot of time for meetings, but the vital thing now is to consolidate and develop the management team, so it's time for us to all get together again! Wd are particularly keen to find members who will take on various roles at committee and board level. We're still looking for a Right Lines editor, a treasurer, a social manager, a sales manager and members of the sales/promotion team(s). We also still need a few more trackbed stewards, general committee and board members.

We've chosen Bournemouth as most of our members live in the area and it is accessible by modern transport (ie rail).

The meeting will be held in the bar area (if wet) or pool area (if dry) at the Cumberland Hotel, which is situated in East Overcliffe Drive, BOURNEMOUTH, BH1 3AF. Date and time is Saturday 20 August 2011, 12 midday. Please try to come.

This is a pre-AGM meeting, the AGM will be in November, probably in Templecombe which is equidistant for members from both the north and south of the S&D. More details later.
 

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