tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27589444.post7382627696144072514..comments2023-08-22T16:18:38.393+01:00Comments on Rail Thing - Friends of the S&D: oh dearUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27589444.post-68122064133457851372009-03-15T18:51:00.000+00:002009-03-15T18:51:00.000+00:00I've never worried too much about where the mo...I've never worried too much about where the money's to come from to purchase strategic bits of trackbed because on the S&D that doesn't amount to a great deal!<BR/><BR/>But if you really want to know where the money to actually rebuild the line as a working railway will come from, you need only look at how our road network was financed. Roads simply aren't being built any more, so money for transport (and from transport taxes) will be diverted to railways as the scale of the two major problems - capacity and energy security - become clear to everyone. Switching of freight from road to rail will leave the roads clear (for as long as people can afford to use them!) for private transport. that's why the New S&D will side with car drivers as time goes by!<BR/><BR/>It's funny but a trip up the S&D, seeing the way almost all new development has been carefully designed NOT to block the route, seeing the incredible workmanship and solidity of the structures, plus chatting to local people (who are REALLY excited about gettig their trains back!) the restoration of the S&D seems inevitable. This would not have been my view even a couple of years ago ...Steve Sainsburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12024394243500109831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27589444.post-17732371463863425922009-03-15T17:34:00.000+00:002009-03-15T17:34:00.000+00:00Well, please do not be saddened by any group of pe...Well, please do not be saddened by any group of people who may put barriers in your way. I have to admit that I am probably one of those people who has questioned where the money is coming from to rebuild the S&D but I certainly don't question the importance of many of the towns along the S&D route getting their railway link back. Blandford in particular needs to be linked back to Bournemouth and Radstock/Midomer Norton need to be linked back to the national network too. I have previously questioned where on earth any of the money to purchase the S&D trackbed and infrastructure is going to come from but having seen the amount of money raised by Comic Relief in the middle of a recession (I know that's not quite the same but you know what I mean) I'm now not so sure that ther isn't any money available for rebuilding the S&D. Its not going to be easy but I'm sure that the more local support (especially from local authorities and councils) that the new S&D gets then the less difficult it will be. By the way, some of the photos posted on this blog recently have surprised me by showing just how much has actually survived - certainly built to last but it is so unfortunate that so much infrastructure was allowed to be demolished.Toddingtontedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02470051178926426104noreply@blogger.com