Steam & Heritage
Rother Valley extension inquiry to begin; Mogul makes main line return; IoWSR marks 50th anniversary; Tender start for Dame Vera Lynn; Progess on ‘Patriot’; Reopening target date for Llangollen.
The Public Inquiry (PI) into the proposed Rother Valley Railway (Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction) Transport & Works Act Order was due to start on July 6. The order is being applied for by the Rother Valley Railway Limited (RVR), working in partnership with the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) which runs the existing heritage line between Tenterden and Bodiam.
The project is to replace the missing link between Bodiam and Robertsbridge, a station on the Tonbridge to Hastings main line.
A pre-inquiry meeting was held on May 19 to enable all concerned to discuss procedural matters relating to the PI, which is largely due to be held in a virtual format on the Microsoft Teams platform. Inspector Ian Jenkins confirmed he will preside over the PI.
After Highways England (HE) and the legal representative of the owners of Moat Farm and Parsonage Farm, Salehurst reiterated their request that the inspector observe bank holiday peak flow conditions on the
A21 trunk road at Robertsbridge (including the roundabout), the inspector confirmed he would endeavour to arrange an unaccompanied visit to the area on May 31. The inspector said that he would also visit the sites for the proposed level crossings over Northbridge Street in Robertsbridge (up to which the RVR has laid track from Robertsbridge station) and the B2244 at Udiam. The latter was formerly the site of Junction Road Halt – track to it from Bodiam is already in place.
Dialogue
The pre-inquiry meeting heard that discussions between the RVR and HE were ongoing and that this could lead to the withdrawal of HE’s objection.
HE’s suggestion that highway matters be programmed as a topic, with the associated expert witnesses appearing one after another, was supported by RVR and the farms’ legal representative. HE also suggested that the topic be dealt with towards the end of the PI as its position may change as a result of the determination of RVR’s Departure Application (relating to the A21 crossing design), which is under consideration. The inspector confirmed that he will bear these matters in mind.
In a letter to the PI inspector dated May 21, Ian Raxton, HM principal inspector of railways states that after reviewing updated information from the RVR, the industry safety body has now removed its previous concerns regarding the type of crossings that the RVR proposed for the reinstated crossings, including that over the A21.
In words which are echoed in reference to the other public road level crossings, Mr Raxton writes: “The revised description of the operation of the (A21) crossing is now consistent with those seen on the main line railway and would appear to be an arrangement that reduces risks to as low as is reasonably practicable.”
Referring to the bridleway crossing, Mr Raxton writes: “It seems likely that on a railway with a relatively straight alignment, good sightlines, properly set up and maintained warning equipment, and a good crossing surface, that a tolerably safe crossing arrangement could be created. It remains of course our view that not having a level crossing will always be a safer situation, but that does not mean that the residual safety risk of such a crossing cannot be delivered with risks reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable and at a tolerable level.
Arrangement
“ORR (Office of Rail & Road) has noted the objections of the local authority to the creation of a grade-separated crossing of the railway and bridleway, which appears to affect the practicability position that ORR took previously.
“If it is necessary for the bridleway to remain, we believe that a tolerable safe crossing using appropriate technology could be created, but it is for the PI to decide if the residual risk of an at-grade crossing is outweighed by the benefits of the creation of the railway.”
The PI is scheduled for 16 working days, though the inspector is allowing for some contingency so it may run until August 6.