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!

Sunday, October 09, 2011

the future of transport - at the whole world level!



The USA and Russia are seriously considering building a tunnel under the Bering Sea to link Siberia with Alaska, a rail tunnel obviously. The cost? A mere $100 billion, chickenfeed at the world level.

This is a fantastic move and suggests that at least at government level people are thinking beyond oil and the obvious demise of air travel. The intention is that we will be able to travel from London to New York by rail, not really that far fetched as the first stretch of water (the English Channel) already has a tunnel under it and the Bering Tunnel will only be about twice as long.

We're off to New York in December, by air of course, but I very much doubt our kids will be able to do the same thing, and their kids certainly won't be able to. But they will still be able to make (an albeit longer time-wise) trip around the world, train from London to New York, then sailing ship across the Atlantic. All is not lost! And it will be so much more fun doing it the modern way.

The journey across Siberia and Alaska will be fantastic. worth doing for the scenery alone. Perhaps it will incorporate the White Pass and Yukon Railroad (in the pictures) on its journey through North America.

1 comment:

Knoxy said...

eventually this country will wake up and realise all former routes will need safeguarding. i believe this has started, although the penny hasn't dropped yet for the majority.

soon they will be pleading for a line and station for their village and not protesting against. LOL

the Swiss have their super base tunnel, we have the Channel Tunnel and the Irish were due to have one built many years ago

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15187431

it's nothing new....