‘GLOSWARKS’ BROADWAY OPENING ‘COULD HERALD 25% PASSENGER INCREASE’ IN 2018
‘Last Mile’ share issue has just £80,000 left to raise by the end of April.
PASSENGER NUMBERS at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway could increase by as much as a quarter when the Broadway extension opens next year, it is hoped.
As the £1.25 million share issue for the three-mile northern extension nears its goal, the railway’s Finance Director Chris Bristow has said: “When we opened Cheltenham Racecourse station in 2003, our passenger numbers jumped by over 25%. I expect the same to happen when Broadway station opens.” Press Officer Ian Crowder added: “It will make us a ‘somewhere to somewhere’ railway - and Broadway station is much closer to the village centre than the Racecourse station is to Cheltenham.” A 25% increase would represent about 25,000 extra passengers, with passenger figures passing the 100,000 mark for the first time in 2016 - itself 13% up on the 88,500 of 2015. Often referred to as ‘the jewel of the Cotswolds’, Broadway attracts an estimated 750,000 tourists each year. Fundraising for the extension from Laverton to Broadway is nearing the finishing line, with the £1.25m ‘Last Mile’ share issue having reached £1,170,000 as this issue went to press - leaving £80,000 to go. A shuttle service will be operated north of Toddington to Laverton during the ‘Cotswold Festival of Steam’ gala on May 27-29, using visiting ‘14XX’ 0-4-2T No. 1450 and autocoach No. W238W from the Severn Valley Railway. This service may be extended further over the newly laid line as far as Little Buckland Bridge. Tracklaying on the extension has reached Peasebrook Farm Bridge, less than three-quarters of a mile from Broadway, while ballast has been laid to Childswickham Road Bridge - within a quarter-mile of the new terminus. But before the railhead can advance further, stabilising work must be carried out on a section of embankment between Childswickham Road and Broadway. It is thought to have a history of slippage, as large quantities of slag ash used to repair it in BR days have been discovered. To avoid a repeat of the Chicken Curve embankment slip of 2011, the preferred option is to install ‘soil nails’ - threaded rods screwed diagonally through the embankment into the ground beneath - but such work will cost £400,000. It also initially limits any aspirations for double-track, says Mr Crowder, “because to make it fit for double track would cost another £200,000. “Indeed, the same applies to Chicken Curve - but doubling is still not ruled out in the longer term.” Looking forward to an opening date of March 2018 for the extension, planning has begun for the revised timetable - and with more staff also needed, a Volunteer Recruitment Fair is being held on April 1/2. Winchcombe station’s passing loop and Down platform have been extended for the eight-coach trains that will be required, while the second platform at Cheltenham Racecourse has been resurfaced for use at special events, and hosted its first passengers during the Gold Cup race specials between March 14-17. At Broadway itself, the walls of the new station building have risen above door and window height, while the railway’s locomotive department is constructing an authentic GWR-style canopy. Of similar design to the canopy at Toddington, but about half as long again, it will incorporate ten tons of steelwork and around 3,000 rivets. As this edition of SR goes on sale, there will be just 37 days left before the share issue closes on April 30. For details, contact the Finance Director, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, The Railway Station, Toddington, Gloucestershire GL54 5DT, email finance.director@gwsr. com or call 01242 621405.