Campaign for Tavistock reopening

[whole diary]

[trainbuff]

According to this article on Devon County Council's website (referring to the recent Network Rail 5 year plan), services could start in December 2016. There's also mention of Okehampton to Exeter services starting in December 2014, depending on rolling stock availability.

I think thats the first time i've seen a definite date mentioned,great news.Fingers crossed that things go smoothly for both projected reopenings [followed by the bit in the middle in due course ].

I think this probably does affect the reality of the situation....though I must admit I am a little surprised by Okehampton opening earlier. I believe in the tender documents for the GW^▸ (Great Western) franchise (and yes I know this is a little up in the air), it had options for both Tavistock AND Okehampton starting from 2016. I guess for the reason of rolling stock cascaded by electrification. Going back to Tavistock, the Transport and works Act Order does take a little time. In fact Killbride listed the rebuilding element as only 6-9 months! It is the paperwork that takes forever. Bats, Frogs and Newts included! Nimbys will object but the route is not heavily built up so there shoul be less.

I have been watching this forum for  ages and as I have said before, at least it seems concrete now. money is being spent.

Hopefully things will move faster from the end of this year

[34104]

Email update received today from Environment department DCC^» (Devon County Council - website);

Tavistock to Bere Alston Railway and Cycleway Project: Public Consultation

 

As you may be aware, Devon County Council has an aspiration to reopen the railway line between Tavistock and Bere Alston. The reopening of this section of line would provide a new, sustainable link between Tavistock and Plymouth which will help to minimise traffic on the A386, link the town to the national rail network and also provide an alternative travel option for leisure, education and retail journeys.

 

The County Council is also planning a pedestrian and cycle trail parallel with the railway line. This will provide an attractive route between Tavistock and Bere Alston.  In 2013 it is hoped to open an unsurfaced, interim route until the railway is developed. 

 

As a result of the progress made with the project, a public consultation has been arranged between 25 January and 8 February. This consultation will provide the public and interested stakeholders with further information regarding the project and help the County Council to understand the views of the local community. These views will be used to inform the development of the project in future.

 

Public exhibitions have been arranged to provide more information on the rail and cycle project. The detail of these exhibitions is included below:

 

^         Tavistock Pannier Market. 30 January 2013. 09.30 ^ 16.30.

^         Tavistock Town Hall. 30 January 2013. 17.30 ^ 20.00

^         Bere Alston Station. 31 January 2013. 14.00 ^ 17.30

^         Bere Alston Village Hall. 31 January 2013. 18.00 ^ 20.00

 

Officers will be available at these exhibitions to provide further information and to answer questions on the project. A questionnaire will also be available.

There is also some activity taking place at the Eastern end of Shillamill tunnel.There have been a number of different types of vehicle parked on the old trackbed in the last week or so and there is what looks suspiciously like a portaloo standing at the bottom of the rough road access from the lower Tavistock to Bere Alston road.Rather an odd item to put there if nothing is happening-maybe some work on the above mentioned path way is about to take place-there seems to have been a lot of tree felling taken place in recent times judging by the logs which have been standing on the trackbed.I'll keep my eyes open and try to find out what it's all about.

 

[TonyK]

A very hopeful sign indeed!

[RichardB]

Here's the press release issued by DCC^» (Devon County Council - website) today about the consultation.

http://www.devonnewscentre.info/homepage-featured/council-plans-to-make-west-devon-better-connected-with-new-railway-and-cycle-route/

[RichardB]

I recorded the Spotlight piece and have watched it a couple of times since-i couldn't actually find any reference to the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) business correspondent saying that it would take 5-6 years.That would certainly contradict Richard Burningham,who stated on this thread a while back that trains would definitely be running to Tavistock by 2017.Wonder if Richard would care to comment on this matter?

I've been away for three weeks, first day back today, so sorry for not coming back re this earlier.

If I said "definitely", I was being a little too optimistic.  The housing market will have the key say though I think that 2017 is eminently possible and if I had to put a fiver on it, I'd still go for the line opening then.

[TonyK]

Presumably, the activity mentioned by 34104 is this:

Supported by other organisations, Devon County Council has started on the preparation phase of this process, which requires significant work to examine the current structures on the disused rail track, lie of the land and the environmental character of the route before designing the railway and stations.

from the council press release. This shows either supreme confidence or a demonstration that the council means business. I think it may be time to look at property in Tavvy as an investment.

[RichardB]

Presumably, the activity mentioned by 34104 is this:

Supported by other organisations, Devon County Council has started on the preparation phase of this process, which requires significant work to examine the current structures on the disused rail track, lie of the land and the environmental character of the route before designing the railway and stations.

from the council press release. This shows either supreme confidence or a demonstration that the council means business. I think it may be time to look at property in Tavvy as an investment.

Well, the Council certainly means business............

[Chris from Nailsea]

I've been away for three weeks, first day back today, so sorry for not coming back re this earlier.

No worries, RichardB - welcome back, and thanks for your update on this! 

[trainbuff]

Whilst on another forum site one of the contributors found this useful link about the proposals. Hi handle is 'charlee' so I must pass on thanks to him. link below and worth a look. I particularly like the fact it talks about altering the layout at Bere Alston so the Gunnislake service is not affected. Also gives a  timeline 2016-2020.

http://www.devon.gov.uk/exhibition_material

[34104]

Whilst on another forum site one of the contributors found this useful link about the proposals. Hi handle is 'charlee' so I must pass on thanks to him. link below and worth a look. I particularly like the fact it talks about altering the layout at Bere Alston so the Gunnislake service is not affected. Also gives a  timeline 2016-2020.

http://www.devon.gov.uk/exhibition_material

Very interesting bit about bridging the A386 for a cycle path.I thought that one of the obstacles to moving back into the centre of Tavistock was the bungalow [the Beeches?] built across the trackbed just beyond the eastern abutment of the old bridge.Are they going to put the cyclepath through someone's garden? Be fascinating to see what comes of that.Looks like things are moving apace though,great stuff.There is definitely some activity on Shillamill viaduct-for the past couple of days,a transit van has been parked at the eastern end of the viaduct and some men with orange/yellow safety jackets have been working there-looked like they were doing something to the concrete wall blocking access to the viaduct.Demolishing it,i hope-could be Tavistock's equivalent of the removal of the Berlin wall.

[paul7575]

What exactly does this mean though:

"A regular service between Tavistock and Plymouth with services during the peak hours."

Have they missed a word out, e.g.:

"A regular service between Tavistock and Plymouth with [some/extra/most/through] services during the peak hours."   

Paul

[grahame]

What exactly does this mean though:

"A regular service between Tavistock and Plymouth with services during the peak hours."

Cynical view of "a regular service" is one that runs every 3 hours from Tavistock - say 06:15, 09:15, 12:15, 15:15, 18:15 and 21:15.   Note - nothing there for Plymouth commuters (perhaps the train's up at Gunnislake?).  So "with services during peak hours" is a correct and welcome additional comment - it means that one's planned to be at a reasonable commuter time (and it's a correction we need in Wiltshire!)

[trainer]

Before ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) introduced Welsh Govt supported services last year, Fishguard Harbour had the most regular service in the country, 24 hours a day: one train every 12 hours!  Vague language is always an advantage when writing publicity.

[Plymboi]

Before ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) introduced Welsh Govt supported services last year, Fishguard Harbour had the most regular service in the country, 24 hours a day: one train every 12 hours!  Vague language is always an advantage when writing publicity.

Funny you mentioned Fishgaurd Harbour, because for some reason i picture the new Tavistock station to look like the new Fishgaurd and Goodwick station on the line. not sure why.

[RichardB]

What exactly does this mean though:

"A regular service between Tavistock and Plymouth with services during the peak hours."

Cynical view of "a regular service" is one that runs every 3 hours from Tavistock - say 06:15, 09:15, 12:15, 15:15, 18:15 and 21:15.   Note - nothing there for Plymouth commuters (perhaps the train's up at Gunnislake?).  So "with services during peak hours" is a correct and welcome additional comment - it means that one's planned to be at a reasonable commuter time (and it's a correction we need in Wiltshire!)

The aspiration is an hourly service between Plymouth and Tavistock (or as near that as possible) so I think the text error is simply a typo.