NR Back to Bude?

[Domeyhead]

In North Devon for a short break and saw the attached news story as the front page headline in the Western Daily News
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/R...in-travel/article-2753695-detail/article.html
Having just reversed an 8 wheeler with a full load of scepticism up to a Somerset and Dorset story on another thread I don't attach much hope to this but if...big if... the Tavistock link happens and is successful, this chances for this scheme will no doubt increase as well.

 

[Greenback]

I think this idea is even less likely to succeed than the S&D one. The population in the area has never been sufficient to support a passenger rail service, even before road improvements. At least the S&D has the potential to offer a through route with conenctions!

 

[LE Greys]

Well, it does go through a major railway desert, but there seems to be no possibility of anything other than seasonal traffic. If it was being done specifically as a tourist line, then it just might work, but I don't really see a serious chance of success. Personally, I reckon that it would be better to concentrate on extending the Bodmin and Wendford to Padstow, while finding a way to allow cyclists to use the bridge as well as trains, than to spend money on what would probably be a very unlikely project. Greenback, you're most likely right.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Well, it does go through a major railway desert, but there seems to be no possibility of anything other than seasonal traffic. If it was being done specifically as a tourist line, then it just might work, but I don't really see a serious chance of success. Personally, I reckon that it would be better to concentrate on extending the Bodmin and Wendford to Padstow, while finding a way to allow cyclists to use the bridge as well as trains, than to spend money on what would probably be a very unlikely project. Greenback, you're most likely right.

the line to padstow does have potential agree with you there

 

[Domeyhead]

I agree with all the comments above. The only advantage that the Bude scheme seems to have is that apart from incursion at Halwill Junction the route is more or less intact, which is the unfortunate showstopper for hundreds more worthy contenders. Bude struck me as "tired and forgotten" compared to its vibrant (and rail comnected) rival resort of Newquay. This probably serves as a reminder of how much indirect benefit railways bring to communities, but sadly it still doesn't get the lines rebuilt!
As final food for thought this is probably why Dorset CC decided to underwrite the Wareham reconnection, and no doubt Devon CC can observe how Swanage's stock rises as a result.

 

[asylumxl]

I thought the whole idea of the scheme was to create an alternative route that could eventually become the new mainline to Plymouth and Cornwall.

I think they hope that NR will invest in the line, as it would mean less wear on the Sea Wall.

The spur bit is just an addition.

 

[Greenback]

I agree with all the comments above. The only advantage that the Bude scheme seems to have is that apart from incursion at Halwill Junction the route is more or less intact, which is the unfortunate showstopper for hundreds more worthy contenders. Bude struck me as "tired and forgotten" compared to its vibrant (and rail comnected) rival resort of Newquay. This probably serves as a reminder of how much indirect benefit railways bring to communities, but sadly it still doesn't get the lines rebuilt!
As final food for thought this is probably why Dorset CC decided to underwrite the Wareham reconnection, and no doubt Devon CC can observe how Swanage's stock rises as a result.

Any town with a railway will have a higher profile than onewithout. I haven't been to Bude since 1982, but even then I thought it was a bit tired!

Newquay is the premier surfing resort in Cornwall, if Bude wants to compete I would guess it needs a hell of a lot more than a reinstated railway - Newquay was vibrant and trendy when my brother was based in Cornwall during the early 1990's, it's now firmly embedded in people's minds as a busy and popular resort!

We went to Swanage in August and it seemed pretty busy on the beach and in the town even without the Wareham connection! The Swanage Raiwlay trains were doing very good business too!

 

[Geezertronic]

We went to Swanage in August and it seemed pretty busy on the beach and in the town even without the Wareham connection! The Swanage Raiwlay trains were doing very good business too!

I've been to Swanage since I was little and always loved the Swanage Railway. Digressing a bit, I do wonder what knock-on effect connecting Swanage back to the mainline would have on the heritage trains?

 

[alexjames]

I recall going to Bude in the early 1960's on a steam hauled train. My memory is of a direct service from Waterloo.

Any historians care to confirm that I have it right?

 

[Greenback]

I've been to Swanage since I was little and always loved the Swanage Railway. Digressing a bit, I do wonder what knock-on effect connecting Swanage back to the mainline would have on the heritage trains?

I have wondered the same thing. The 40 minute interval service on August 8th seemed very well patronised even without any extra passengers attracted to the town via a main line link. I don't know if they plan, or are able to, run any additional services. It seesm platform lengths mean mroe coaches can't be added.

I recall going to Bude in the early 1960's on a steam hauled train. My memory is of a direct service from Waterloo.

Any historians care to confirm that I have it right?

I'm pretty sure there was a portion of the Atlantic Coast Express thatw ent to Bude.

 

[furryfeet]

yes, greenback is correct.
the ACE had portions for Bude and Padstow, joined and split at Halwill Jn.

As for extending the Bodmin & Wenford, I thought that the station and trackbed in the centre of Wadebridge has now been turned into a road. Hence how will the railway ever be re-instated ( assuming that they can somehow gets pots of cash ) through there ?

 

[alexjames]

Thanks chaps.

Its good to know that my LTM still works, tis a pitythat the STM is less good.

 

[LE Greys]

I have wondered the same thing. The 40 minute interval service on August 8th seemed very well patronised even without any extra passengers attracted to the town via a main line link. I don't know if they plan, or are able to, run any additional services. It seesm platform lengths mean mroe coaches can't be added.

I'd imagine that there would be touches of the typical summer Saturday service. There would be regular through coaches, but that's unlikely today. What used to happen was that a locomotive (usually a West Country) would come down the branch tender-first (the turntable was too short for Pacifics), pick up a rake of coaches and head off to Waterloo. This happened twice in the morning, followed by two down services doing the reverse later in the day. The stock would then sit around in the yard for a week, until a West Country came to collect it the next Saturday.

I'd do it basically by extending a few morning/evening Poole services through to Swanage, and having them dragged from Wareham (and presumably dragged back again). This would work a lot better with 442s and a Class 33, but I think that 444s and a modified 73 might just work. Then of course there's the possibility of railtours (Sunny South Express for instance) running through as well.

 

[AndyJB]

yes, greenback is correct.
the ACE had portions for Bude and Padstow, joined and split at Halwill Jn.

As for extending the Bodmin & Wenford, I thought that the station and trackbed in the centre of Wadebridge has now been turned into a road. Hence how will the railway ever be re-instated ( assuming that they can somehow gets pots of cash ) through there ?

I've said this before in another thread on this subject - Sadly, unlikely to happen - small sections of it may reopen, but the attempts to have a section of the line reopened to get china-clay lorries off Cornwall's highly unsuited (to HGV's) roads and back onto rail were dropped due to strong oposition from cyclists, since the trackbed now forms the Camel Trail.

Strongly suspect that the Bodmin & Wenford may have the same problem if they attempt expansion.

 

[Chafford1]

And it would likely cost hundreds of millions to reopen.

 

[AndyJB]

And it would likely cost hundreds of millions to reopen.

Undoubtedly - using the FAR more viable Portishead branch as an example, the estimated cost of reopening the Portishead branch is/was ten million, and (not counting the Portbury section) the trackbed is mostly intact with some sections even still having rails in place.

 

[Mvann]

I've said this before in another thread on this subject - Sadly, unlikely to happen - small sections of it may reopen, but the attempts to have a section of the line reopened to get china-clay lorries off Cornwall's highly unsuited (to HGV's) roads and back onto rail were dropped due to strong oposition from cyclists, since the trackbed now forms the Camel Trail.

Strongly suspect that the Bodmin & Wenford may have the same problem if they attempt expansion.

For cyclists read sustrans. No one can argue that the camel trail between padstow and wadebridge is a well used cycle track and footpath. But from what I can gather, the wenford branch has more to do with the national cycle way than the actual use.

 

[Greenback]

It won;t just be cyclists that oppose the reinstatement of rail lines ( and not just to bude, but anywhere). There will be objectiosn to noise, on safety gorunds (people will still expect a right of way across the line and there will be a higher risk of death and injury as a result), the loss habitat for birds and animals and a hundred other reasons. Once you add in the exorbitant I am more likely to have a night of unbridled passion with Katy Perry, Kara Tointon and Sophie Howard than see the Bude line put back.