Minehead Rail Link Group

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Must be a bit dim this morning.  What does the * mean in the poll and how do you choose between the two options in each question in the poll?

Click the box if you want things "as they were in the past" which is the option marked with (*), please.   I have duplicated that instruction into the question rather than having it just in the descriptive post with the poll.

[SandTEngineer]

Must be a bit dim this morning.  What does the * mean in the poll and how do you choose between the two options in each question in the poll?

Click the box if you want things "as they were in the past" which is the option marked with (*), please.   I have duplicated that instruction into the question rather than having it just in the descriptive post with the poll.

Thanks for clarifying that Grahame. Need to drink some more coffee when I wake up on a Sunday morning

[grahame]

The present management and directors of the WSR seem to be asserting their authority now in a way not seen before.  I'm not convinced this is for the better.  But they do have the laws of finance to contend with, and this may have concentrated their minds somewhat.  The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, who have been sub-leesees of the site at Washford Station since the 1970's, have been given a year's notice to quit very recently

From Rail Advent posted earlier today

The Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust (S&DRT) have posted the sad news they have been asked to leave the Washford site.

The S&DRT received a letter from solicitors on behalf of the West Somerset Railway PLC, owners of the Washford site, with a Notice to Terminate on the agreement allowing S&DRT to use the Washford site, giving the S&DRT a years notice.

The one reason the WSR PLC have stated so far for asking the S&DRT to leave is to allow the WSR PLC to use the site for its own purposes, but no further details have been added. The S&DRT have sent a response and are now seeking legal advice.

The West Somerset Railway has issued a statement over them giving the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway notice to leave their Washford site says Rail Advent

The West Somerset Railway has said that ‘The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway Trust seems governed in such a way that it meant they felt unable to assist us financially other than allowing the WSR to hold and retain the modest profits from the Real Ale Festival last year’

The West Somerset Railway has also said that the SDJRT acted like a ‘cuckoo in the nest’ during their crisis period, which the PLC found unacceptable.

As a result of this, they have given the railway a year’s notice to remove themselves from the Washford site.

Currently, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust occupies some of the land adjacent to Washford railway station, and have done so for many years.

However, the West Somerset Railway has said that the rent the SDJRT pays is far lower than any other organisation occupying space elsewhere on the railway.

The WSR has a plan to develop the Washford site to meet their needs which will include P-Way vehicle and equipment storage, workshops and covered winter accommodation.

[johnneyw]

At least prospects look rosier for the West Somerset Railway according to this BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-51630832?fbclid=IwAR0ccRlaXRMMMJG68vSmJ1F-jzZtg9-AZc-nb1G9eRqY83JI-KEs2q-uky0

Good to read about their aims and successes with getting younger people involved as well as new revenue streams.

[TonyK]

At least prospects look rosier for the West Somerset Railway according to this BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-51630832?fbclid=IwAR0ccRlaXRMMMJG68vSmJ1F-jzZtg9-AZc-nb1G9eRqY83JI-KEs2q-uky0

Good to read about their aims and successes with getting younger people involved as well as new revenue streams.

Harsh reality meets heritage railway operation. It is very good to read that a plan is in place, with what looks like a very good chance of success. The WSR is a very large business in terms of a lot of things, and needs some of the practices of a business to keep going, even if that wasn't the intention at the outset. That holiday cottage will be popular, turning a liability into an asset.

Apprentices are a good idea, giving skills in exchange for labour. The BBC could benefit from that - the article is one of the worst written or edited that I have seen from the Beeb.

[Witham Bobby]

Harsh reality meets heritage railway operation. It is very good to read that a plan is in place, with what looks like a very good chance of success. The WSR is a very large business in terms of a lot of things, and needs some of the practices of a business to keep going, even if that wasn't the intention at the outset. That holiday cottage will be popular, turning a liability into an asset.

Apprentices are a good idea, giving skills in exchange for labour. The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) could benefit from that - the article is one of the worst written or edited that I have seen from the Beeb.

The intention at the start was for the WSR to run a year-round service of DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) trains between Minehead and Taunton, six round trips per day.  It was intended, and costed, as a public transport service, replacing what BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))(WR) had removed.  The year round service would have been subsidised by seasonal steam train services at both ends of the line.  Somewhere in my loft are all the plans from 1974 onwards.

And we'd have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those pesky kids at Bristol Divisional HQ^▸ (Headquarters), aided and abbetted by the NUR

[broadgage]

Yes.
Todays supporters, friends, volunteers, and paid staff on the WSR often forget, or are unaware, that the original intent of the WSR back in the 1970s was to run to run a year round public transport service.
Over the years, this has been gradually forgotten in favour of a heritage railway with a limited operating season.

I would hope that a year round public transport service could co-exist with the heritage operation.
If that cant be achieved, then I would prefer a year round public transport service, preferably with a new loop or branch into the holiday camp, so as to reduce road traffic, and the carbon emissions thereof.

[TonyK]

I am indebted! At last, I can stop learning. The emphasis has changed somewhat over the years.

[SandTEngineer]

This bit in that BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report made me chuckle a little bit......

He added that loaning the Odney Manor engine to create a £200,000 overdraft, as a buffer if needed.

[TonyK]

This bit in that BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report made me chuckle a little bit......

He added that loaning the Odney Manor engine to create a £200,000 overdraft, as a buffer if needed.

#MeToo! At firsdt, I thought it sounded expensive, but this is railway after all...

[grahame]

The intention at the start was for the WSR to run a year-round service of DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) trains between Minehead and Taunton, six round trips per day.  It was intended, and costed, as a public transport service, replacing what BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))(WR) had removed.  The year round service would have been subsidised by seasonal steam train services at both ends of the line.  Somewhere in my loft are all the plans from 1974 onwards.

And we'd have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those pesky kids at Bristol Divisional HQ^▸ (Headquarters), aided and abbetted by the NUR

From my observations (from afar) at the time, the year round DMU service was an integral part of the scheme.  Noting that the landlord of the railway is Somerset Council, would I be right in thinking that they bought it in order to help the provision of a public rail service linking Minehead to the main national network for daily use, and not just for a heritage service to Bishop's Lydeard?

[Southernman]

I would suggest that the way things have evolved, that the current set up of heritage steam & diesel is worth far more to the local economy than trying to compete with a frequent, faster and free to seniors (after 9.30am?) bus service could ever be! It is impossible to run a realistic heritage and DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) service as the infrastructure is set up currently - indeed what would be the purpose?

[johnneyw]

If it came to one or the other I would favour a heritage WSR as it would have greater benefit to the local economies and , selfishly, it would be of more benefit to me as a visitor/tourist.  Even better IMO^▸ (in my opinion) if there could be access to the national rail network at Taunton but I know that is difficult.

[RichardB]

I would suggest that the way things have evolved, that the current set up of heritage steam & diesel is worth far more to the local economy than trying to compete with a frequent, faster and free to seniors (after 9.30am?) bus service could ever be! It is impossible to run a realistic heritage and DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) service as the infrastructure is set up currently - indeed what would be the purpose?

If I were a local, I'd certainly want someone to look seriously at how the railway could be modified to allow a reasonable year round local service to Taunton and keep a really strong heritage steam tourist operation - and also what likely usage and benefits a regular service would have.  Just what this Beeching Reversal Fund is there for - I wonder if the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) has put an expression of interest in.

[broadgage]

The ideal outcome IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) would be to offer a regular timetable, all year round. But to vary the type of train used according to the season.
High tourist season=heritage coaches hauled by a steamer.
Shoulder season=Alternate heritage and modern DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).
Off season=modern DMU, with a battery train as a longer term ambition.

The occasional local traveller would simply need to know that a train leaves at say 09-30, it might be heritage or modern according to the season.
I would charge higher "turn up and go fares" for the expensive to run heritage trains. to avoid hardship to local customers, season tickets would be based on the DMU fares. Tickets purchased 10 days or more in advance would be also be at the lower rate.

Some form of derogation would be needed to allow heritage trains on the short bit of main line to Taunton.