Cheltenham to Kingham?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/Plan-reopen-disused-railway-line/story-19171644-detail/story.html

http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/10501940._/?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-open-the-Cheltenham-to-Kingham-railway-line-to-link-with-East-West-Rail/262628167202496

http://www.cotswoldsconnect.com/forum/thread/46/re-open-the-cheltenham-to-kingham-railway-line-to-link-with-east-west-rail/

PLANS have been drawn up to reopen a historic railway line between Cheltenham and Oxford.

An idea has been published by an online group in a bid to reinstate the line between Cheltenham and Kingham, near Bourton-on-the-Water.

Alfred Roberts, a member of the Cheltenham to Kingham Railway Group, believed his new proposals could reconnect surrounding areas to the Regency town.

In an online report, he said: ^Journeys from Cheltenham are time consuming and do not connect well with trains at Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh.

^Because the Kingham railway follows an existing dismantled railway along most of its length with few modifications, or runs underground or above ground or follows existing field boundaries over most of the remainder, the time could possibly be cut a little.^

[IndustryInsider]

No chance.   

[Red Squirrel]

No chance.   

If you were to twist my arm into a binary response, I'd agree. But we should never say 'never...'

[Steve Bray]

I didn't read the attachments in Grahame's original post, but when the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway finally reaches Honeybourne, then Cheltenham to Kingham may well be possible

[Red Squirrel]

I didn't read the attachments in Grahame's original post, but when the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway finally reaches Honeybourne, then Cheltenham to Kingham may well be possible

Well thinking in those terms it's possible now - there's even a choice (via Worcester or via Swindon and Didcot). However I think the point of this campaign is that it'd be nice (and probably even a bit quicker) to be able to go via Andoversford and Bourton :-)

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

The Oxford Mail carries the following report:
COUNCILLORS have questioned whether there is sufficient demand to warrant reopening a railway line between Cheltenham and Kingham.
Gloucestershire County Council was asked to consider the plan at a council meeting on Wednesday following a Facebook campaign.
Lib Dem councillor Paul Hodgkinson said the line would bring a ^much-needed west-east public transport link, which is sadly lacking^.
But cabinet member for infrastructure Will Windsor-Clive, a Conservative, said it would cost about ^300m to ^500m to reinstate the 24 miles of track.
He said: ^In 2008, proposals to reinstate the Lewes-Uckfield line in Sussex, which is around nine miles in length, were costed at ^141m.
^Reinstating the Cheltenham to Kingham line would additionally require substantial new track through both Cheltenham and Bourton where the old route has been built over, the rebuilding of the Dowdswell Viaduct and the recommissioning of the Sandywell Park Tunnel.
^I would question whether there is sufficient demand, particularly given it would not provide a faster route to London, to persuade any Government that this is a good investment.^
The Facebook group, Re-open the Cheltenham to Kingham Railway Line, has gained 58 ^likes^.
The passenger service on the Cheltenham to Kingham line was suspended in 1962.

[Red Squirrel]

News reports on this scheme (they are mostly very similar) repeat the observation that reopening this line would not give a quicker route from Cheltenham to London. I think this rather misses the point. Currently the only way east from Cheltenham and Gloucester involves going either via Worcester (a 25-mile diversion) or via London. The Cheltenham-Kingham line could however be viewed as a logical extension of the East-West route, currently being revived.

There is also potential for a new east-west freight route along this line, especially if the chord at Yarnton was rebuilt (though this would be expensive due to the need to cross the Oxford Western Bypass).

[ChrisB]

Anything would be possible these days if unlimited funding is available. Unfortunately, it never is.

[CLPGMS]

There is also potential for a new east-west freight route along this line, especially if the chord at Yarnton was rebuilt (though this would be expensive due to the need to cross the Oxford Western Bypass).

Looking at the map, this would also involve crossing the A44 at Peartree (formerly a level crossing), where there is now a large roundabout before the former track bed forms part of the A4260 dual carriageway to Kidlington.  Finally, there is the A34 dual carriageway.  Add to this the fact that the embankment from Yarnton was removed many years ago. I think that it was used in the construction of Cumnor bypass a few miles away.

Personally, I think that if there is any money floating around to restore lost rail links in the area (which I doubt) then there would be a much stronger business case for the route from Yarnton to Witney and, possibly Carterton.  The rush hour traffic jams between Witney and Oxford have to be seen to believed!

[Red Squirrel]

Well without getting into detailed design (!) I imagine you'd go a bit south of the A4620 roundabout, but I agree that there are plenty of schemes that should get the green light ahead of this one - the Campaign for better Transport has a shopping list of 36, but I suspect we all have our favourites!

[FellowTraveller]

Red Squirrel makes the most significant point. Reinstatement of Cheltenham to Kingham extends the current East-West plans. Bring it on.

[ChrisB]

I think you need to extend it from the current terminus rather than building bits 'n pieces

[eightf48544]

Well without getting into detailed design (!) I imagine you'd go a bit south of the A4620 roundabout, but I agree that there are plenty of schemes that should get the green light ahead of this one - the Campaign for better Transport has a shopping list of 36, but I suspect we all have our favourites!

Interesting list one that I'm surpirsed is not under links in the Network is Bourne End - High Wycombe. It links the major town in Bucks Slough Maidenehad (alright Berks) and Wycombe Aylesbury and Milton Keynes,  and With east West and Biscester curve a 3rd  alternative to Oxford plus Bedford and links from the GMWL main line with Chiltern WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) and MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about).

[ChrisB]

That is getting very convoluted!

I'm not surprised at all....little cost/benefit ratio, I suspect. Oxford is quicker on the current route, and currently, only 1 train/hour is due to stop at Wycombe for Oxford, although that might change.

What demand is there for Slough/Maidenhead to Aylesbury? Pretty slim, I would suggest.

Might make a list of 100, in my opinion

[eightf48544]

Actually the major demand is actually (Maidenhead) Bourne End - Wycombe the other links already exist which give the longer journey opportunities. The next is probably Aylesbury - Milton Keynes. So a Maidenhead to Bedford (via Milton Keynes) is a stock working with lots of other jounreny opportunities with perhaps one change.

I would have thought just Bourne End to Wycombe would attract more passengers than Bently Bordon or Madeley jundction - Madeley (although teh trak already there.