Great Western Coffee Shop

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-announces-new-measures-to-keep-passengers-safe-now-and-level-up-for-the-future

Looks promising for Devizes, Wellington and Cullompton on our patch.  Fawley and Isle of White might be considered in our patch as well.   


Bury-Heywood and Rochdale is interesting.  ELR use those metals at the moment and a common station in Bury might be tricky. 

As the line between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey is still open I assume this is a proposal for upgrading to increase frequencies

The idea of the passing loop here to allow an increased frequency of service has been going on for some time

https://www.abfly.org.uk/category/campaigns/passing-loop/

The IoW bid seems quite interesting, effectively returning the island to late 1960s lines to Ventnor and Cowes.


https://onthewight.com/the-reinstatement-of-some-isle-of-wight-railway-branch-lines-just-moved-on-a-step-closer/

Oh help - we seem to have split threads ... I'll try and tidy up tonight.     Messy things, announcements that cover multiple lines.  ;D

Does the IoW proposal mean an extension of 3rd rail,which I thought was not approved of?

And going back to another theme that I bore on, will the cycle route from Shanklin to Wroxall survive? Would seem a bit odd if it doesn't as IoW council/tourism has spent years selling the island as a cycling destination.

Apologies if I have made messy things even messier (wasn't he an astronomer?)

Not necessarily.  Battery/3rd rail bi-mode trains from Vivarail or another supplier maybe?  I suspect nothing will come of either route mind you.

Ideas off the top of my head:

The IOW might be a good place for battery operation.

If it was the intention to keep the cycle track between Shanklin and Wroxall, additional land would be needed to allow the two to run alongside each other.

Major work would be required at Wroxall because of redevelopment. The current lay of the land to the north of the site of Wroxall station would require either a level crossing (frowned upon of course) ot an expensive grade separation solution.

The site of Ventnor station was never very convenient being at the top of a hill as it is. I honestly wonder whether there is sufficient potential traffic to justify an extension south of Shanklin.

I can't think of a good place where you could put a station in Newport these days, leaving to one side a diversion or removal of quite a bit of housing development n the final approach to the town.

Just don't hold your breath folks.

The feasibility study into reopening the Portishead Line was carried out in 2009. 11 years later and there's still no trains.

In a wider context, do these sort of loud public proposals hint at the current administration's intention to address the economic implications of the current crisis with a rather more Keynsian or "New Deal" solution than with the previous monetarist/austerity orthodoxy?

Might be - but a bit early to say IMHO

Of all the options listed, the Isle of Wight looks the boldest.   I'm not sure if any of the others selected consider adding route mileage by relaying line on a trackbed out of use since Beeching's time.  An initial look at numbers like "what is the population of towns added to the network?" and questions like "can people make long distance journeys - get to the main network with a single change?" would suggest that this is an unlikely candidate to succeed BUT this one screams "Special Case" due to the ferry crossing. 

There is a repeating precedent of the IoW rail being special -  look at its different but parallel path to the main network with hand-me-down trains  from the London area (parallel to hand-me-down London suburban stock in Portsmouth - Cardiff).   There are also other special cases with an element of similarity where a ferry link to quite a small population makes for an unexpected good case.  I recall learning so much from an ACoRP (as it was) event talking to someone from the West Highland line ... and learning about the notable car-less resident traffic the line carries off the small island ferry service - Eigg, Muck, Rhum and Canna (and there may be park and ride at Armadale, and passengers from Inverie).  There may also be comparators to offshore traffic from Millport, Brodick and Rothesay.

I thought of alternative modes of power, but thought it didn't hang together with the money already committed to replacing existing Island stock and upgrading infrastructure.

I am not sure the population figures neccasarily add up to the increase in track mileage, unless it is predicated on the tourist market, but . Like a lot of tourist destinations showing their true colours at present, could the tourists just send the money but not come themselves!

Some old gags never lose their relevance  ;D

I personally think that the proposed Newport link is the one to keep an eye on. It might be all sweetness and light "we must coordinate with the steam railway" at this early stage, but the focus of Council Leader Dave Stewart (presumably with the backing of Annie Lennox and Barbara Gaskin) looks clear - He wants Newport as the priority to bolster the harbour regeneration project.

With a council leader singing "Here Comes The Train Again", and a euphoric "Missionary Man" MP who must feel like shouting "I Saved The World Today", how long will the Steam Railway Railway be able to insist that "Sisters Are Doin It For Themselves", when frequent daily services will have to run "Right By Your Side" ?

Hopefully rather than one thinking the other to be a "Thorn In My Side", the parties will "Come Together" with a joint plan in the end, and the "Revival" of Isle of Wight Railways will be well truly underway "When Tomorrow Comes"...