Gobowen-Blodwel line purchased

[Proud Salopian]

The Gobowen to Blodwel line (via Oswestry and Llynclys) has been purchased finally by Shropshire County Council this month with the intent of using at least part of it for heritage use.

The section from Blodwel to Llynclys Junction will likely be leased to the Cambrian Railway Society (who have the Nantmawr branch under restoration) and the section from Llynclys Junction to Oswestry should hopefully be leased to the Cambrian Railways Trust (who have the line from Llynclys South to Pant restored and in operation). Effectively it would mean the Trust could run trains from Oswestry to Pant and the Society from Llynclys Junction to Nantmawr.

Anyone heard differently/got further news?

 

[EE Type 3]

Good to hear

Theres plans to link it to Welshpool :grin::grin:

 

[Proud Salopian]

Well, eventually. Small matter of building a few bridges over a few rivers for that to happen!

I believe the County Council are going to turn the line into a cycle path from Oswestry to Gobowen - but surely it would be a bit of a shame to dig up the actual tracks and therefore the connection between Oswestry and the mainline at Gobowen?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How things stand (or are about to stand) as far as I'm aware:

Let me know if there's anything wrong please!

 

[87015]

Wouldn't Gobowen-Oswestry actually be a useful rail link rather than going the Blodwell side of Oswestry :-?

 

[Proud Salopian]

Tell the County Council that!!

 

[EE Type 3]

87015, I believe that was the original plan :-?

Rather confused at how you can rip line up, yet lay more down :-?:-?:-?

 

[Proud Salopian]

Well I'm hoping they keep the track in place and just have the cycle path running alongside it.

The only newly laid track will be Llynclys-Pant and much of it has been done (Llynclys South-Penygarreg Lane).

 

[Nick279]

a lovely part of the country, it sounds great, well done to all involved.

 

[swissrailpassion]

Progress, it seems. Why does there seem to be two parties involved that remain distinct when surely it would make sense to combine and open the whole of the line fron Gobowen to Oswestry and beyond?
Was this simply too difficult, or were there more political reasons?

A working heritage railway at Oswestry would be a good thing.

 

[Proud Salopian]

The Society and Trust are two rival organisations.