Helston looks to Beeching reversal grant to reopen entire GWR branch

FOLLOWING the Government’s recent announcement of £500 million to reverse the Beeching cuts, the Helston Railway (HR) has applied for funding for a feasibility study into the reopening of the entire GWR branch.

What was the southernmost branch line in the UK opened in 1887, was absorbed by the GWR in 1898 and closed to passengers in 1962 and to goods two years later.

The HR Preservation Company has rebuilt a 1¼-mile section of the line between Prospidnick Halt and Truthall Halt. Now it is looking into the possibility of using grant aid funding to reopen the entire 8½-mile former line, which linked to the main line at Gwinear Road.

The former Helston terminus has been built on but the revivalists aim to develop a replacement at Water-ma-trout.

The cost of the feasibility study is estimated at £100,000 and company officials have already held talks with

West Cornwall’s MP Derek Thomas, who would have to lodge the funding bid with the Department for Transport. He is said to have already made contact with the relevant authorities.

The study would not only consider local transport but also tourism, job creation and educational possibilities. Railway director Colin Savage said that if the feasibility study was favourable, other options for grant funding would be explored.

Meanwhile, having completed the refurbishment of Cornwall’s St Erth station, Dyer & Butler, the company contracted to work on it by Great Western Railway and Network Rail, contacted the HR to offer to donate any materials surplus to requirements that could be of use to the heritage line, including sleepers, a buffer stop and the original platform coping stone. Accordingly, they were transported from St Erth to Prospidnick by Macsalvors (Plant Hire) Ltd for future reuse.