DavidB-AU Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) Boris Johnson on Friday proposed a £500m fund to help reopen some of the passenger rail services axed in the Beeching review of the 1960s. https://www.ft.com/content/5f708692-06fc-11ea-a984-fbbacad9e7dd https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/11/15/want-banish-shadow-dr-beeching-give-communities-rail-connectivity/ https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/15/boris-johnson-announces-spending-package-for-neglected-towns Edited November 18, 2019 by DavidB-AU Typo 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post royaloak Posted November 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) Wont get much for £500 million except maybe a few feasibility studies, I doubt any track will actually get laid for that amount of money. Anyone would think there was an election coming up with all these 'jam tomorrow' promises we keep hearing! Edited November 18, 2019 by royaloak 4 24 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted November 18, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2019 Any marginal constituencies on those lines? It's a fairly daft proposal. A feasability study could be done by most of us with good access to Google Earth for next to nothing. No need for £500m. But, as we know from other rail schemes, £500m does not achieve much on the ground. I am struggling to think of many former branchlines which would benefit. But the other consequence of Beeching, the singling of former double track main lines might be worth looking at with this sort of money. The Conservatives have lots of marginal constituencies in the South-West (hint). 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I have just started reading a new book West Riding Steam the maps showing the railways around the area and the number that Beeching closed that now could be metro lines is staggering .One thing that comes through on all utterences from mp,s is lack of knowledge and a very short timespan of concentration just watching the unfolding problems recently shows this.Old railway lines were built over as quickly as possible so as to remove reopening possabilties , Marples ensured this so as to wipe them from memory and encourage the car usage that he personally wanted. 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 The Guardian article, at least, identifies the targets: Fleetwood / Cleveleys (this is an existing plan by Blackpool trams and councils, so initial feasibility already done) Blyth route re-opening of stations (Northumberland council has already applied for £99m to re-open three stations) Willenhall and Darlaston stations re-opening Skelmersdale re-connection to Liverpool and Manchester All existing plans and all ready to progress, but I think that uses up the half billion pretty much straight away. Again, one has to ask whether this is new money? 5 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 All in the north surprise surprise 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
number6 Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Beeching Reversal? HA HA HA HA HA! I was watching Tomorrow's World review of the 70s last night [don't ask]. In 1979 money the Tyne metro cost £7m a mile and that was considered cheap. [see 30.22] and those were existing rail routes. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken.W Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 3 hours ago, Mike Storey said: Blyth route re-opening of stations (Northumberland council has already applied for £99m to re-open three stations) The Blyth & Tyne re-opening? Hmm, I'll believe that when if I see it! They were talking of that when I was still working the units, and that was in the 80s - I went on Intercity at sectorisation in 1990 £500m? At NR prices it'll buy a couple of sleepers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 5 hours ago, lmsforever said: All in the north surprise surprise Hmm. Telling us all to go to Scotland by train in one thread and then complaining about them spending money in "the north". How are we meant to get to Scotland if they aren't spending money on infrastructure? Jason 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 5 hours ago, Mike Storey said: The Guardian article, at least, identifies the targets: Fleetwood / Cleveleys (this is an existing plan by Blackpool trams and councils, so initial feasibility already done) Blyth route re-opening of stations (Northumberland council has already applied for £99m to re-open three stations) Willenhall and Darlaston stations re-opening Skelmersdale re-connection to Liverpool and Manchester All existing plans and all ready to progress, but I think that uses up the half billion pretty much straight away. Again, one has to ask whether this is new money? Correct. This is all old news. I'm sure I saw an identical article about two years ago. It's mainly to re open a few bits like they have with the recent Halton Curve (which cost about £15 million for a couple of miles of single track). Anyone expecting them to suddenly reopen the Somerset & Dorset, Buxton to Matlock and The Woodhead Route is going to be a bit disappointed. Jason 4 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 I would also like to see our local line wired I meant that surprise surprise mp,s wanting to woo northern voters in an election the more railway the better Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 18 minutes ago, Steamport Southport said: Correct. This is all old news. I'm sure I saw an identical article about two years ago. It's mainly to re open a few bits like they have with the recent Halton Curve (which cost about £15 million for a couple of miles of single track). Anyone expecting them to suddenly reopen the Somerset & Dorset, Buxton to Matlock and The Woodhead Route is going to be a bit disappointed. Jason All true, but the Halton Curve was not so simple - two new crossovers (at each end) which will have cost around £4m including signalling, plus brand new bi-di signalling throughout the two miles of single line, about £4m, plus significant re-signalling either side, say another £2m, plus design, development and PM costs etc. But the point you make is still absolutely correct. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted November 18, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2019 6 hours ago, Mike Storey said: The Guardian article, at least, identifies the targets: Fleetwood / Cleveleys (this is an existing plan by Blackpool trams and councils, so initial feasibility already done) Blyth route re-opening of stations (Northumberland council has already applied for £99m to re-open three stations) Willenhall and Darlaston stations re-opening Skelmersdale re-connection to Liverpool and Manchester All existing plans and all ready to progress, but I think that uses up the half billion pretty much straight away. Again, one has to ask whether this is new money? The three route re-openings plus Skelmersdale were also quoted in the 'Daily Telegraph' - I think they were named in a speech by Grant Shapps from the way the Telegraph article mentioned them. I would be surprised if any of them are new ideas because there would be a major doubt on cists for any schemes which have not even had a cursory examination and rough estimates produced. I do wonder how much of the money has already been spent and will be reclaimed by those who carried out feasibility studies etc? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 £46 Million at Springs Branch Depot got us a half a dozen or so electrified sidings with concrete servicing bays , lighting etc, a carriage cleaning machine and a new headshunt 4 coaches long with a double crossover. No connections or signalling to existing running lines was required - it was all already in place and working. The work is nearly complete, and I'm not knocking it - welcome investment. As already said, million quid doesn't buy a lot these days. (Great crested newt survey !!) Brit 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard Lamb Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 1 hour ago, APOLLO said: As already said, million quid doesn't buy a lot these days. (Great crested newt survey !!) Don't forget that the possible roosting places for bats will also have to be checked. I am sure that there are other worthy causes waiting in the wings to take a share. Bernard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWR8700 Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 It's a drop in the ocean but it'll be conveniently forgotten about once the election is over. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Bats, newts, invasive non native plant species, etc mentioned in this report. i wonder how much money was wasted on it. https://www.whitcher-wildlife.co.uk/projects/wigan-springs-branch/ I believe David Attenborough is to make a several part programme. It'll make a change for him not having to fly around the world. I wonder if the locals will eat him alive !!!!!!! brit15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ron Ron Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 In other news, Worzel Gummidge promises every home in Britain will have freshly buttered toast and a fresh pot of tea, delivered to their front door, every morning at 8.00am...completely FREE ! So here it is, Merry Xmas Everybody's having fun Look to the future now It's only just begun...... . 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 £500m buys a lot of consultancy that leads to 'no case to re-open' Lets not forget the first Beeching program involved a lot of biased consultancy and fact collection. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 2 hours ago, APOLLO said: Bats, newts, invasive non native plant species, etc mentioned in this report. i wonder how much money was wasted on it. https://www.whitcher-wildlife.co.uk/projects/wigan-springs-branch/ brit15 A few tens of £thousands, if that. Great VoxPop (previously aka Bloke down the Pub) to blame environmental issues on such schemes. In reality, it amounts to next to S0d All, compared to the total costs. On top of which, it's the Law. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 10 hours ago, Mike Storey said: The Guardian article, at least, identifies the targets: Fleetwood / Cleveleys (this is an existing plan by Blackpool trams and councils, so initial feasibility already done) Wasn’t the signal box and junction at Poulton-Le-Fylde only closed recently as part of the electrification of the Blackpool line? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 I suspect if we remain in the EU there will be funds available for all sorts of things. Didn't the EU recently give NR a grant of £60m to resignal Cornwall? As for re-opening, back in 1973 when I became a guard at Rickmansworth, they were talking about extnding from Ricky to Watford Junction using the Watford-Ricky branch. It needed a bit of new track and a bridge. Here we are 45 years later and although work has started, it has ground to a halt because of arguments over who should pay for it. In the time it's taken to plan and build a couple of miles of track, France and Germany have built entire high speed networks. Says it all really. 3 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonman Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) Would £10 per mile be a realistic figure for cross country line re-opening where the old infrastructure is still intact – based on Edinburgh-Galashiels? Not counting the money spent on 'consultants' etc... Edited November 19, 2019 by wagonman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, wagonman said: Would £10 per mile be a realistic figure for cross country line re-opening where the old infrastructure is still intact – based on Edinburgh-Galashiels? Not counting the money spent on 'consultants' etc... At £10 per mile we could reopen everything! £10m per mile may be a ball park. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonman Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Oooops! £10 million was what I meant. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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