BODMIN ‘WINS’ £25M – IF HIGH SPEED 2 IS CANCELLED

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway has been awarded a ‘theoretical’ £25 million for its long-held ambition of extending to Wadebridge – as long as High Speed 2 is cancelled.

The project was one of several schemes entered into The Great British Transport Competition organised by the TaxPayer’s Alliance, a nationwide contest to identify alternative transport schemes deemed worth investing in, and which would deliver more value and benefit to the nation as a whole, rather than limited to the London-Birmingham-North West HS2 corridor.

Bodmin Railway Preservation Society chairman Nick Wood said: “Our project was included as a ‘winner’, with £25m allocated. For us to receive the money would only require the Government, any Government, to decide to abandon HS2 and redistribute the total budget, pound for pound, to the winners. That is why I referred to it as ‘theoretical’ money – even bitcoins are more real and tangible!

“However, it was good to be thought of, be included and to make the final list. It means nothing in monetary terms, however it does carry a certain kudos and is further confirmation that returning to Wadebridge is ‘A Good Thing’.”

Mr Wood added: “Historically, we have had to measure our dealings with Cornwall Council, as landlords of our line and the proposed trackbed, and avoid antagonising them while still slowly pursuing our goal.

“Fortunately, the political landscape has improved over the years and now there is more engagement with CC about ‘how’, rather than ‘if’, the railway could be reinstated. The recent funding from CC and Great Western Railway towards the construction of our second platform at Bodmin General is a sign of this, as well as a step towards our goal. Successful delivery of this project will make Wadebridge more viable and likely.”

An outline business study conducted in 2016 established that the cost of reinstating the line 4½ miles west from Boscarne Junction to Wadebridge would cost in the region of £19.2m (SR453).