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Rillington 16-07-2022 16:55
Realistic rail reopenings
 
Which former railway lines in the UK do cableforum users think have a realistic chance of being reopened?

Mr K 16-07-2022 17:14
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rillington (Post 36128504)
Which former railway lines in the UK do cableforum users think have a realistic chance of being reopened?
None. They aren't prepared to fund upgrade/existing lines. Lots of talk but no action. Car is king in this country. Since the private sector took over, nothing that doesn't make a profit will be invested in. The ' public service' ethos has gone. They won't fund a loss leader.

Anyway people who use these old lines as cycle paths, jogging routes, dog walks would be outraged if they're suddenly kicked off them !

Paul 16-07-2022 17:38
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rillington (Post 36128504)
Which former railway lines in the UK do cableforum users think have a realistic chance of being reopened?
No idea, certainly none around here, they are walk ways or even had houses built on some of them.

Cobbydaler 16-07-2022 20:58
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Not a former line, but currently freight only. May be returned to passenger use.

Southampton to Fawley, on The Solent.

Link

TheDaddy 16-07-2022 22:58
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
They use them as guided bus routes where my children live

SnoopZ 17-07-2022 12:48
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDaddy (Post 36128548)
They use them as guided bus routes where my children live
Same here in Cambridgeshire, I think we're talking about the same one.

Chris 17-07-2022 13:17
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rillington (Post 36128504)
Which former railway lines in the UK do cableforum users think have a realistic chance of being reopened?
The reopened borders line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank has been very successful and there’s now a decent case to extend it all the way to Carlisle. It’s unclear the extent to which this would be a reopening however, as a slightly different route than the original might be required.

1andrew1 17-07-2022 14:04
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
The tough economic climate with higher construction costs, higher borrowing costs and high government debt may count against rail re-openings. Worryingly, Transport Minister Grant "Hapless" Shapps has suggested stopping East West Rail, intended to link Oxford with Cambridge.
Quote:
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said that he believes the remaining phases of the East West Rail project should be scrapped.

Speaking to LBC earlier this week, Mr Shapps made the revelation while talking about what he would do to cut spending if he were Prime Minister.

Grant Shapps told LBC’s Iain Dale, “…I would cut East West Rail on what’s called two and three so there’s the second and third tranches of it and save 3 to 5 million pounds straight away.” ***

His comments have been met with confusion by some who say he doesn’t need to become PM to cancel the project.

Cllr Michael Headley, (Lib Dem, Putnoe) is Bedford Borough Council’s Portfolio holder for rail. He said “It was shocking to hear the Secretary of State for Transport withdrawing his support for East West Rail.

“What really is outrageous is that he included the scrapping of the Bedford to Oxford section, which hasn’t been controversial.

“This was agreed many years ago and now he wants to backtrack on that commitment.”
*** I'm sure that must be £bn not £m.

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk...o-be-scrapped/

Pierre 17-07-2022 15:40
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
There probably loads, but it’s just too expensive.

Rillington 26-07-2022 15:25
Re: Realistic rail reopenings
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris (Post 36128563)
The reopened borders line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank has been very successful and there’s now a decent case to extend it all the way to Carlisle. It’s unclear the extent to which this would be a reopening however, as a slightly different route than the original might be required.
Agreed.

I think it is highly likely that at least some of the still closed Waverley Line will be reopened, albeit possibly not until he next decade.

---------- Post added at 15:22 ---------- Previous post was at 15:18 ----------

Others which immediately come to mind are:

The Fleetwood branch
The Bramley Line in to Wisbech
The Anglesey Central Railway, at least to Llangefni.

All three have at least the track remaining so to my mind, all three are not that difficult to reinstate.

---------- Post added at 15:25 ---------- Previous post was at 15:22 ----------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cobbydaler (Post 36128536)
Not a former line, but currently freight only. May be returned to passenger use.

Southampton to Fawley, on The Solent.

Link
I agree that this line is another which is most likely to reopen to regular passenger services, as is another freight-only route between Hellifield and Clitheroe.


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