Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

Richard Fairhurst

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Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« on: June 11, 2025, 11:57:17 »

Two interesting current proposals for cycle routes/greenways on former GWR^▸ lines in Gloucestershire.

The first is for a greenway from Kingham to Bourton-on-the-Water along the former Banbury & Cheltenham Direct Railway. Sustrans has done a series of studies and there's a very brief summary here: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/jsqoexxc/sustrans-kingham-to-bourton-on-the-water-greenway-design-summary.pdf

The second is along the former branch line from Kemble to Cirencester. Designs are being taken forward in two stages, one from Kemble to a new estate on the edge of Cirencester, the other from there into the town centre. Both have received funding for design work: https://meetings.cotswold.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=10855

Still some way off construction but interesting projects nonetheless.


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grahame

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Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2025, 18:08:09 »

Quote from: Richard Fairhurst on June 11, 2025, 11:57:17

Two interesting current proposals for cycle routes/greenways on former GWR^▸ lines in Gloucestershire.

[snip]

The second is along the former branch line from Kemble to Cirencester. Designs are being taken forward in two stages, one from Kemble to a new estate on the edge of Cirencester, the other from there into the town centre.

Interesting indeed - what does this do for very light rail proposals from Kemble to Cirencester?


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johnneyw

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Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2025, 18:30:47 »

Quote from: grahame on June 11, 2025, 18:08:09

Quote from: Richard Fairhurst on June 11, 2025, 11:57:17

Interesting indeed - what does this do for very light rail proposals from Kemble to Cirencester?

Is there room for both if the VLR is a single track shuttle service or with a passing loop?


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Chris from Nailsea

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Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2025, 19:35:20 »

Quote from: johnneyw on June 11, 2025, 18:30:47

Quote from: grahame on June 11, 2025, 18:08:09

Quote from: Richard Fairhurst on June 11, 2025, 11:57:17

The second is along the former branch line from Kemble to Cirencester. Designs are being taken forward in two stages, one from Kemble to a new estate on the edge of Cirencester, the other from there into the town centre.

Interesting indeed - what does this do for very light rail proposals from Kemble to Cirencester?

Is there room for both if the VLR is a single track shuttle service or with a passing loop?

I don't think so.

I am a great fan of the historic Kemble to Cirencester Line, but we have to be practical. That line was, probably, never really financially viable as a railway, and particularly towards the Cirencester end, the trackbed has been chopped and changed.

However, I can see the possibilities for a 'green way' cycle and footpath. Several overbridges would have to be replaced, and a load of vegetation would have to be pruned - but that could be done.

CfN. Wink


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Richard Fairhurst

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Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 10:16:49 »

The new estate will be about 3 miles from Kemble so absolutely prime territory for cycling. But I wonder if the Coventry VLR trials will tip the balance in future (insert usual gadgetbahn disclaimer here).


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Red Squirrel

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Re: Rail trail proposals in Gloucestershire

« Reply #5 on: Yesterday at 15:10:19 »

Quote from: Richard Fairhurst on Yesterday at 10:16:49

Kemble is the railhead for Cirencester and Tetbury, and (without researching this) I’d bet a fiver that part of the justification for closing both lines was that a bus could do the job. But the 882 - which looks like the modern incarnation of that substitute bus - does not integrate with the hourly train service at Kemble, so an onward connection is hit-and-miss.

So before committing to any kind of rail-based connection to Kemble, maybe it would be good to market a bus service from Tetbury to Cirencester via Kemble which connected to the trains, similar to the Bodmin and Okehampton services?


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