Could Network Rail take over a Heritage Railway?

[steamybrian]

In the late 1980s-mid 1990s when working for BR (Southern) Planning Department we were asked to look at outline proposals for reopening closed lines although the files on Uckfield to Lewes took up much of the cupboard space.
Other defunct lines looked at were - Polegate to Hailsham, Polegate to Stone Cross, Guildford to Cranleigh, Fareham to Gosport (then open for freight to Bedenham) and two that did make it off the drawing board was Blackfriars to Farringdon plus Gravesend West branch reopened from Fawkham Jn to Singlewell for HS1.
Some freight only lines were looked at for passenger traffic- Totton to Fawley, Hoo Jn to Grain and Appledore to Lydd but two that did reopen Eastleigh to Romsey and Clapham Jn to Willesden
At the time East Grinstead to Copyhold Jn was never considered.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I suspect it would probably be easier to purchase it from the quarry if they still own it in that case.

Certainly seems a strange decision to have sold it off anyway.

Iam not sure they have, I was a member of the Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association from 1997 until December 2014, but mid last year the regular newsletters stopped coming and no membership renewal form arrived in December. I do recall reading from the past newsletters " The Dartmoor Pony" that Aggregate Industries closed Meldon quarry completely in 2011, and shortly afterwards removed most if not all of the machinery sadly, having said that I've not seen any mention of a change of ownership of the line, unless ofcourse ollieb has heard of something more recently? Just a thought but if the line does get reinstated, that quarry is in the prime position for supplying the ballast for it, just like the good old days when it provided most of the Southern Railway/Regions requirements

 

[CockneySparrow]

How about the North Yorkshire Moor Railway ?

The NYMR carries more passengers than any other heritage railway in the UK and may be the busiest steam heritage line in the world, carrying around 350,000 passengers per year, and runs across the North York Moors from Pickering to Grosmont, with some journeys continuing along Network Rail tracks to Whitby.

Can we run with them figures, I would say no based on at least 85% being tourists, those tourists are unlikely to come if it goes back to the network
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An odd thought I had the other day, would it be possible for Network Rail to take back and put into use a line that is currently owned and used by a heritage railway and if so are there any candidates. In asking this I also wonder if Network Rail has retained any rights over the track/land of any such railway.

Wouldn't have thought NR would have retained any rights as most heritage lines were sold off or claimed after abandonment during BR days and I wouldn't have thought the BRB would have either especially when there is the compulsory purchase option available

Secondly it isn't NR decision to take over any heritage line, it will come from the DFT, also there is no rolling stock to run a service over any new lines

Another note is that people think that just because there is track laid trains can run over them, but where heritage lines are involved the line would probably need ripping up and starting again also the signalling needs ripping out

 

[Jonfun]

Another note is that people think that just because there is track laid trains can run over them, but where heritage lines are involved the line would probably need ripping up and starting again also the signalling needs ripping out

In a fair few cases the lines are specced and maintained for significantly higher linespeed than 25mph with signalling to match. There's a number of heritage lines where the line is rated for 60+ to enable operation of test trains etc, so it's not necessarily a bar. Changes to the P-way might have to be considered to increase flexibility depending on the proposed operation. It's going to depend on the individual circumstances, really.

 

[markindurham]

What would happen regarding having to fit TPWS etc then, were you to want to operate commuter services at over 25mph? Presumably that would be compulsory these days?