Where heritage lines could help reverse Beeching cuts
THE Reversing Beeching Fund in the recent Conservative manifesto has the objective of“reconnecting smaller towns” to the rail network.
Could this fund be the saviour for some dormant major projects associated with heritage railways before it is too late?
One example is part of the Norfolk Orbital Railway proposal; in the MNR’S latest journal it is stated that the ownership of the trackbed southwards from Fakenham is“becoming fragmented”.
A bid could include the cost of trackbed purchase, and at a bare minimum a station at Fakenham, relaying the track to County School and providing the MNR with materials to make its whole line operational. Ideally you would also automate many level crossings and improve the junction at Wymondham.
Another significant project is the Moorlands and City Railway for Stokeon-trent to Leek, Cauldon Low and Alton Towers.
Leek to Stoke matches the objectives of the fund. A successful bid for this section could give a kick-start to the whole project.
Some other smaller towns which would be reconnected to the rail network by virtue of extension to currently operational heritage railways are Alnwick, Granton on Spey, Oswestry, Wadebridge and Ashburton. Are any of these schemes worth a bid to the fund? Are they‘oven ready’enough to receive funding in the 2020/1 financial year in which the fund has to be spent?
The article on the sustainability of heritage railways (issue 264) failed to mention one area in which a significant number could benefit from – i.e. the running of trains on their line which are part of national rail.
Now would be a good time to investigate this for two reasons. Firstly, there is the positive attitude of central government towards reversing Beeching closure, backed by this £500 million fund. Secondly, there is the availability of trains suitable for short distance shuttle services, i.e. the Pacers.
Proposals could be made to run national rail services at times to fit in with existing‘heritage trains’.to help ensure they are viable, they could be run on a concession basis.