Railfuture (Severnside) branch meetings

Meeting notes

https://cirentrain.org.uk
Jane and Richard Gunner, plus Peter Langman / Rail expert

12 audience

Meeting (so notes) agenda:
Aim - link Cirencester to Kemble
History
Very light rail
Feasability

History:
1841 initially main line then branch
Reduced 1959 Closed 63 and 64. Land and material sold off

Plan:
NOT steam trains but people
Pop Cirencester growth 640 car park spaces. by 2023 will be full
More will work from home BUT people moving out from London
Also lack of parking in Cirencester
C not very visible to outside world as international tourist
Poor connection to buses at Kemble at present.
Weakness of buses - short term cuts. Dangerous to cycle at present
Also pollution even with dust off tyres. 40% particualtes from tyres. Oslo effect.
Accessabily lack damages trade. 3 [natex] coaches a day now.
Want regular, reliable. Encouraging modal shift to what is green.
Run probably single train, wait @Kemble as train calls

Very Light Rail:
Battery powered. Very small vehicle. Similar to Parry PM
As being developed at Dudley. Quite a few alternatives.
Compare to Revolution BUT that is near to ground and no need for platforms
Stourbridge operation is helping.
Super capacitors also possible, ditto Hydrogen.
Slab track, improves initial cash flow.
2 vehicles; part of development process, so maybe 3
Around £1m per vehicle
DfT^» VLR team

Route
Follow old track. 70m bridge needed. partway then across fields to corner of new developemnt. Station and maintenance depot. Easy to call at request stops with mobile phone tech. The following / alongside rail. 350 paces to Market Place.
72% of route belongs to Bathurst. Puts value to 2350 houses.
Develeoper may donate land. Lots of other spends in town, but may lean on
Hopefully funds from DfT
Some other land - need to negotiate and highways into town will be tough
ALSO looking at turning old car park into the new station
ALSO Cycle path and footpath all the way (almost - not over new bridge)
? Space for cycles on train ? ? Cycle lockers at stations ?
Green corridor; nature ; also not comproise the canal and interchange

-> Who's going to own railway, very often local council and lease back
Maybe national contract
GLC^▸ not councillors but officers are an issue - "not pro public transport" says DR
Dursley - just withdrawn bus links.
Aim for 2024.
? public enquiry.
"We have learned a huge amount"

Primary feasabily done. Looking at patronage.
Model with Uni Soton to model.
DR - do not rely on commuter market looking at leisure.
ALSO look at holidays of Cotsword CC
Link to Water park too.
No business case now for London commuters?
Restoring your railway / SOBC. Next OBC.

Talk of easier guidelines - less than WebTag