Potential Oswestry Branch Railway Restoration

[CambrianView]

A further update regarding the long standing plan to restore a regular rail link from the mainline running through Gobowen between Chester and Shrewsbury via a disused single track branch line connected to Oswestry.

This comes 3 days ago from Emily Lloyd of The Border Counties Advertizer, the local newspaper, and appears on their website:

Oswestry to Gobowen rail reconnection plans ‘not possible’, minister says

Plans to reconnect Oswestry to the mainline at Gobowen have faced a setback after a Government minister said funding was not available.

www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

It reads:

Ambitious plans to relink Oswestry with the main railway line using funds from the cancelled HS2 project have "not been possible", a Government minister has revealed.

Lord Peter Hendy shared the disappointing news in an email to North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan after she requested an update on the plans.
It comes after the project was put forward under the previous Conservative government as one that would benefit financially from the cancellation of the controversial HS2 project.

Lord Hendy explained that although it was put forward, it was not backed up by funds. He said: "I am sorry to advise that it has not been possible to progress the development of the Oswestry to Gobowen line.

"As the former Secretary of State outlined in her written statement to Parliament on 30 July 2024, the previous Government, under the banner of 'Network North', made several announcements in relation to transport schemes that would be funded through the cancellation of parts of HS2.
"However, it did not put the necessary funding in place to deliver those schemes and did not consider the associated additional operational costs needed to support those projects."

The project would have connected the Oswestry line, which is currently running as a tourist attraction, and re-link it with Gobowen, which is on the Chester to Shrewsbury mainline. It was closed to passengers in 1966 as part of the Beeching cutbacks.

Lord Hendy continued: "The Spending Review settlement, announced last summer, shows the Government's commitment to investment in rail and in schemes that support economic growth. It represents an increase in funding compared to what has been spent on rail enhancements in recent years.
"However, we needed to make difficult decisions to reach an affordable and sustainable position."

Ms Morgan said it was not "the end of the line" for the project, which has taken big steps in recent years.

She commented: “Reopening the Oswestry to Gobowen line would bring huge economic benefits to the region – as the Rail Minister’s own civil servants have said.
“Labour’s refusal to back the project is very disappointing – but it is not the end of the line. I will keep working with local partners to deliver the improved transport links that North Shropshire needs.

“From council funding to public transport to broadband and mobile signal – it is increasingly clear that this Government cares a lot more about cities than it does about rural places like Shropshire.”

 

[NER1621]

[Helen Morgan MP said] Labour’s refusal to back the project is very disappointing –

I’m guessing that Ms Morgan is an opposition MP, hence this nonsensical spin. There was no money “from the cancellation of HS2” - it didn’t exist.

And it’s “Lord Hendy”, not “Lord Peter Hendy” - he’s a life peer, not the son of a duke.

 

[35B]

I’m guessing that Ms Morgan is an opposition MP, hence this nonsensical spin. There was no money “from the cancellation of HS2” - it didn’t exist.

She's a Lib Dem. Though I'm sure it's about getting energised for the May council elections, she's done a useful service in getting this confirmation on the record.

 

[CambrianView]

For those of you with a lot of time and patience that want a little more detail on this restoration project much more can be gleaned elsewhere on this site:

Oswestry Branch Railway Restoration - The Truth

The plan is in two phases: A light railway from Gobowen to Park Hall Halt (and access to the local hospital), and from there under the A5 via a new tunnel, estimated to cost over £9 million, to Oswestry. This is a single track line. The plan is to run the service every hour at first, tying in...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[31160]

It wasn't ever going to happen, it was just part of Rishis word salad when he cancelled the useful part of HS2
Exactly like the electrification of the north Wales main

 

[gazthomas]

It wasn't ever going to happen, it was just part of Rishis word salad when he cancelled the useful part of HS2
Exactly like the electrification of the north Wales main

Spot on. The amount gloating Rishi and his cronies did on their day trip to North Wales to sell a lie was something to see.

 

[Djgr]

Spot on. The amount gloating Rishi and his cronies did on their day trip to North Wales to sell a lie was something to see.

Seriously, did anyone (outside these forums) believe a word that Rishi, BoJo and Lettuce Liz said?

 

[CambrianView]

Long term followers of my earlier thread regarding the restoration of this branch line will have noticed my concentration on the decaying assets on the central island of the level crossing on the A5 just outside Oswestry. I believe these assets are in such a advanced state of decay that they pose a risk to motorists on such a high volume road. I've uploaded here two photographs of the assets in question. The first was taken in the summer of 2025, the second February 2026.

National Highways have recently started doing fortnightly inspections of said assets, although they have assured me the central stalk is in sound condition. They are in talks with various parties to establish who has responsibility regarding land rights, railway law, highway law and leaseholder legislation, but for now they have admitted that they will not be removing the assets due to lack of budget.

I can inform readers here that the landowner is Shropshire Council and the leaseholder is Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd, who have had a Transport & Works Act Order since 2017.

Last year the Office of Rail & Road assured me that the railway operator have appropriate safety and maintenance processes in place, but when pressed have failed to reassure me that "documentary evidence" of such processes exist, specifically of the level crossing assets over the A5. When pressed further the ORR have refused to communicate with me further on this issue.

The Department for Transport have explained that the ORR are a non-ministerial department with statuary independence, which means they (the DfT) cannot instruct them to release inspection of evidence or intervene.

 

[Llanigraham]

Oswestry Branch Railway Restoration - The Truth

The plan is in two phases: A light railway from Gobowen to Park Hall Halt (and access to the local hospital), and from there under the A5 via a new tunnel, estimated to cost over £9 million, to Oswestry. This is a single track line. The plan is to run the service every hour at first, tying in...

www.railforums.co.uk

And that thread ended up being more concerned with some ill-conceived ideas about level crossings, their ownership and their maintenance.
From the latest post above it looks like this one is going the same way.

Let's be quite honest, the reopening of the line from Oswestry to Gobowen is NOT going to happen. It has no financial backing and never did have, and there is no economic reason to for it to open. There is a more than adequate bus service between the two places, which is both quicker and more convenient.

If the Trunk Road Agency get that "worried" about the condition of either of the A5 crossings they have to ability and the clout to get them changed, and they will do that if neccessary.

 

[Brush 4]

The Cambrian Railway are not interested in the reopening, nothing on their website about it. They prefer to play trains in the other direction. The reopening wouldn't affect their own operation, so I don't know why they are against it.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

And that thread ended up being more concerned with some ill-conceived ideas about level crossings, their ownership and their maintenance.
From the latest post above it looks like this one is going the same way.

Let's be quite honest, the reopening of the line from Oswestry to Gobowen is NOT going to happen. It has no financial backing and never did have, and there is no economic reason to for it to open. There is a more than adequate bus service between the two places, which is both quicker and more convenient.

If the Trunk Road Agency get that "worried" about the condition of either of the A5 crossings they have to ability and the clout to get them changed, and they will do that if neccessary.

I'm not sure an hourly bus service is "more than adequate". Given that Oswestry passengers would want to travel both north and south from Gobowen, how can an hourly bus service be timed to cater for train arrivals and departures in either direction?

It is sad that modern level crossings with barriers are not considered an option in today's road-centric world.

 

[Llanigraham]

I'm not sure an hourly bus service is "more than adequate". Given that Oswestry passengers would want to travel both north and south from Gobowen, how can an hourly bus service be timed to cater for train arrivals and departures in either direction?

According to a local I have spoken to, he says the bus service is only moderately used to get to Gobowen station, even in the "rush hour" periods, and is more than adequate.

It is sad that modern level crossings with barriers are not considered an option in today's road-centric world.

The provision of level crossings, especially on a fast trunk road, has been a bone of contention with the ORR (and the RAIB) for some time as they cause more problems, especially safety ones, to both the railway and the road users. Therefore their opinion is to encourage their closure or to provide some other means of crossing, if possible. Whilst the southern crossing might potentially allow a bridge to be constructed, the northern crossing is much too close to the roundabout without major and expensive alterations to both the A5 and the other roads. That is just another reason why this proposal is not economically viable.

 

[mdewell]

Long term followers of my earlier thread regarding the restoration of this branch line will have noticed my concentration on the decaying assets on the central island of the level crossing on the A5 just outside Oswestry. I believe these assets are in such a advanced state of decay that they pose a risk to motorists on such a high volume road. I've uploaded here two photographs of the assets in question. The first was taken in the summer of 2025, the second February 2026.

National Highways have recently started doing fortnightly inspections of said assets, although they have assured me the central stalk is in sound condition. They are in talks with various parties to establish who has responsibility regarding land rights, railway law, highway law and leaseholder legislation, but for now they have admitted that they will not be removing the assets due to lack of budget.

I can inform readers here that the landowner is Shropshire Council and the leaseholder is Cambrian Heritage Railways Ltd, who have had a Transport & Works Act Order since 2017.

Last year the Office of Rail & Road assured me that the railway operator have appropriate safety and maintenance processes in place, but when pressed have failed to reassure me that "documentary evidence" of such processes exist, specifically of the level crossing assets over the A5. When pressed further the ORR have refused to communicate with me further on this issue.

The Department for Transport have explained that the ORR are a non-ministerial department with statuary independence, which means they (the DfT) cannot instruct them to release inspection of evidence or intervene.

YAWN!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Feb 2026 ==

The Cambrian Railway are not interested in the reopening, nothing on their website about it. They prefer to play trains in the other direction. The reopening wouldn't affect their own operation, so I don't know why they are against it.

As a volunteer at Cambrian Heritage Railways, I am not aware that we are against it as such. We simply believe that going South from Oswestry is a more viable option (Probably going to be easier* to get across the A483 at Weston, than the much busier A5 north of Oswestry. And we would not want to spend a lot of time and effort working north, only to have that option taken over by the Government).

On the other hand, if someone did want to bring more visitors into Oswestry by rail, then that ought to also benefit local tourist attractions such as CHR.

* Not that it would actually be easy (but at least Rother Valley have now set a precedence for reinstatment of heritage railway levels crossings on A roads.)

 

[Brush 4]

The Rother Valley are building a new LC on a bypass that didn't have one when opened to traffic. It is amazing that they got this through. It does show that it is possible though. The A5 LC was built with the road, so, already exists.

Revealing comment on the Gov taking over the Gobowen service if the Cambrian have done the spade work. Just as I suspected. The solution is either to come up with a legal agreement that the Gov can't do that or, allow a TOC to implement and operate it with running powers over the Cambrian, thus relieving the Cambrian of any expense.

Remember, it is for the public, not for the CR, although they will benefit from cross platform interchange.

 

[Llanigraham]

The Rother Valley are building a new LC on a bypass that didn't have one when opened to traffic. It is amazing that they got this through. It does show that it is possible though. The A5 LC was built with the road, so, already exists.

The Rother Valley crossing does not appear to be on a Trunk road, so the comparison is unrealistic.

Revealing comment on the Gov taking over the Gobowen service if the Cambrian have done the spade work. Just as I suspected. The solution is either to come up with a legal agreement that the Gov can't do that or, allow a TOC to implement and operate it with running powers over the Cambrian, thus relieving the Cambrian of any expense.

There never was any money available from the government; it was all a fiction by the last lot.
The only ToC in the area would be TfW, and since this would be a development in englandshire, as a Welsh Government organisation they would not be allowed to fund it. The only other option would be Shropshire County Council and they have already stated they have no money to fund it and aren't interested.

Remember, it is for the public, not for the CR, although they will benefit from cross platform interchange.

But is it something that the public want? No-one has yet proved it would be socially or economically viable, so that "excuse" falls at the first hurdle.

 

[CambrianView]

On Monday 23rd February 2026 National Highways closed part of the A5 just outside Oswestry to work on the disused level crossing. I've attached here a photograph that clearly shows that the broken streetlight on the central island has been replaced and a new permanent lane arrow has been erected to replace the temporary one. No work has been done to remove the decaying central level crossing light, suggesting that the authority still doesn't regard them as a danger to motorists or that they are not their responsibility.

 

[alastair]

The Rother Valley crossing does not appear to be on a Trunk road, so the comparison is unrealistic.


There never was any money available from the government; it was all a fiction by the last lot.
The only ToC in the area would be TfW, and since this would be a development in englandshire, as a Welsh Government organisation they would not be allowed to fund it. The only other option would be Shropshire County Council and they have already stated they have no money to fund it and aren't interested.


But is it something that the public want? No-one has yet proved it would be socially or economically viable, so that "excuse" falls at the first hurdle.

There are actually 3 new level crossings on the Rother Valley reconstructed route. One of them is across the A21 (London-Hastings road) which is very much a major trunk road and is managed by National Highways.

 

[yorksrob]

I hope it goes ahead eventually. It can't be beyond the ken of the modern economy to get Oswestry back on the network.

 

[43096]

I hope it goes ahead eventually. It can't be beyond the ken of the modern economy to get Oswestry back on the network.

There’s far better uses of scare financial resources.

 

[Brush 4]

Assumptions that the public don't want a reinstated rail service aren't based on anything at all. The idea that an entire population would ignore a new rail service is just farcical and not supported by events on lines that have reopened.

 

[Llanigraham]

Assumptions that the public don't want a reinstated rail service aren't based on anything at all. The idea that an entire population would ignore a new rail service is just farcical and not supported by events on lines that have reopened.

I'm intrigued to know exactly where these supposed numbers of passengers are going to come from, and in the numbers that would support a regular service? The locals that I know say that the bus service is more than adequate even at the busiest times of day and for much of the rest of the day the use is sparse.
Didn't the County Council find there wasn't enough evidence to support the reopening?

 

[Brush 4]

Oswestry pop. 17,000. That's where they will come from. What is so difficult to understand about that? Apparently, the 3rd largest town in Shropshire as well, after Shrewsbury and Telford.

 

[Llanigraham]

Oswestry pop. 17,000. That's where they will come from. What is so difficult to understand about that? Apparently, the 3rd largest town in Shropshire as well, after Shrewsbury and Telford.

All that figure is, is population density. It tells us nothing about where they work or where they journey to, or the times of any journeys, and that is what is important for projecting passenger numbers and projected journeys.
Surely the fact that locals are saying that the bus service to Gobowen Station is not well used, even at "rush" hour times, and that there are not hundred of cars parked at Gobowen Station, plus the local Council survey showing there is no local perceived need for the service, proves that this reopening is not wanted?
How do you think this could be paid for, considering that Shrops CC say themselves they are hugely in defecit?

 

[Sidmouth34010]

This sadly reads as a thread as one persons obsession rather than something practical

For all the exponents of rail and reopening old lines , this nations obsession with the car and the ease with which we can travel will hold back the growth of rail

 

[mdewell]

Assumptions that the public don't want a reinstated rail service aren't based on anything at all. The idea that an entire population would ignore a new rail service is just farcical and not supported by events on lines that have reopened.

This is just hearsay, but chatting to people while I've been working the foot crossing at Coney Green in Oswestry, there are quite a few who ask when/if we will be running to Gobowen*. So the local interest is there**. If the Government initiative is mentioned, then I tell them we would welcome that as it would benefit both the town and the heritage railway.

* I usually say it is a long term aim but with the A5 in the way, we are more likely to extend southwards first. I also point out that although the track to Gobowen is still in situ, it would need some major work before it could be used (even though the majority is concrete sleepers). I also point out that we are 100% volunteer run, so to run any sort of commuter service would be a whole different ball game requiring paid staff.

** Which of course doesn't mean they would all start using such a service if it was reinstated.

 

[Farigiraf]

Surely the fact that locals are saying that the bus service to Gobowen Station is not well used, even at "rush" hour times, and that there are not hundred of cars parked at Gobowen Station, plus the local Council survey showing there is no local perceived need for the service, proves that this reopening is not wanted?

You're not factoring in potential growth or modal shift - which is usually the main driver for rail reopenings. Bus services are inherently used significantly less than railways (even when more frequent) as they're just a slower alternative to the car. Gobowen station's low usage is explained by the fact that it has only 2-hourly services to longer-distance destinations where people may use the train for, such as Birmingham, and no service at all to Liverpool. There is an hourly service to Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Chester but these places are close enough to drive or catch a bus to. On Sundays, when there'd be a lot of potential for leisure travel (to and from the town), there's only a 2-hourly rail service - which you wouldn't voluntarily rely on if you had a car.

Oswestry is one of the lucky few towns without a National Rail connection to still have an alignment through the town centre. An edge-of-town station in Oswestry (as would be required in places where you'd need lots of demolition to get a railway into the centre, such as Skelmersdale) would only be marginally more useful than Gobowen station as you'd need to drive there anyway. But one in the town centre would make rail within walking or cycling distance to a large portion of that 17,000 population - whereas I'd wager only a few thousand currently even consider rail via Gobowen.

Disregarding how you'd fund it and how economically viable the actual conversion to National Rail would be (as that's of course a separate point, and requires a full business case to make things clear) if Oswestry had a station in the town centre with a regular service to Liverpool I can guarantee it would be well used to the same extent that Leven or Okehampton stations are well used. Plus it'd put Oswestry on the map to an extent, for tourists and businesses - as currently there's little reason to go there unless you have work or family there.

 

[CambrianView]

Disregarding how you'd fund it and how economically viable the actual conversion to National Rail would be (as that's of course a separate point, and requires a full business case to make things clear) if Oswestry had a station in the town centre with a regular service to Liverpool I can guarantee it would be well used to the same extent that Leven or Okehampton stations are well used. Plus it'd put Oswestry on the map to an extent, for tourists and businesses - as currently there's little reason to go there unless you have work or family there.

Hello Farigiraf
A Strategic Outline Business Case was produced in 2022. Here it is: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/requ...ch/html/4/OswestryGobowenFOIAppendix.pdf.html

 

[liamf656]

This sadly reads as a thread as one persons obsession rather than something practical

For all the exponents of rail and reopening old lines , this nations obsession with the car and the ease with which we can travel will hold back the growth of rail

This is the second thread about this as well, since moderators closed the first one!!

 

[Farigiraf]

Hello Farigiraf
A Strategic Outline Business Case was produced in 2022. Here it is: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/requ...ch/html/4/OswestryGobowenFOIAppendix.pdf.html

It's just under 200 pages so naturally I haven't read through all the ins and outs of it but it seems to primarily show that a rail link would solve a lot of problems, with the positive generally outweighing the negatives. Getting proposals like these through at all are a mammoth task, so I see why they're pushing for a VLR shuttle. However, while cheap, I don't see how a fancy railcar or tram-train or other gadgetbahn is more feasible than a standard train, which has the benefit of being able to run on to cities like Chester and Liverpool where people would actually want to go.

Seems like at the moment only the lowest-cost 'easy win' proposals get the go-ahead, even if in the long-term it's more expensive (as VLR won't bring as much economic growth as a regular rail reinstatement). A bit of a false economy. Certainly it would be sensible to have a team of experts at GBR whose sole job is to identify which new lines/stations make the most sense, and how they can be delivered in a way that integrates with the existing network, encourages people out of their cars and revives some economically rather inactive towns outside L&SE. The current system where local MPs and other local organisations can send in their crayon drawings to the government and only the easiest wins get the go-ahead results in generally a boom-and-bust cycle of 1 major (but significantly descoped by the end) reopening, followed by a few small reopenings which cite the success of the major one to justify their case, and then nothing for a decent period of time.

 

[Falcon1200]

I'm intrigued to know exactly where these supposed numbers of passengers are going to come from, and in the numbers that would support a regular service?

Indeed. The route only supporting an hourly bus now does not bode well for any future train service. However the level crossing issue will kill the project stone dead anyway.