From part of the report on the Railfuture (Taunton) meeting:

**Discussion of Tavistock extension. Funding not from DfT / some doubt as to whether the six miles / 6m to 10m pounds can be justified.**

Do the DfT not seriously get on your tits?? They'll pay endless amounts of money to bulldoze new roads through the countryside but never want to spend on opening new rail routes. The trackbed is in place to Tavistock and the road network between there and Plymouth is appalling, this route should of reopened years ago....

Newquay to St.Austell is another prime example of a route that shouldve opened years ago, about time the DfT were forced to spend on rail and not roads.....

 
Scooby ... how fitting you should post this at a time I am re-arranging the boards to make this board somewhat more prominent!

 
Tavistock should be the next big campaign, it's simply got to happen!

 
If a volunteer group got together, using slave (volunteer) labour then it could be done for a fraction of the cost that's going around! Look at the Helston Railway, started by two 17 year old enthusiasts, now it's a company with over 600 supporters!

 
I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed above re both Tavistock & Newquay-St. Austell. In both cases, these projects are no-brainers as the respective branch lines would be transformed not only into key elements of the C21st local public transport network but also improve access to the developing tourist centres in the Tamar Valley & Eden/Newquay. 

 
Tavistock back on the Railway Network, not just a Good Idea but essential!

Let's get some campaign up and Running, it's odd that Scotland and Wales have Railway reopenings in place yet England is STILL in the grips of the ROAD LOBBY.

Where are the Guys behind SOS (Save Our Sleeper) they sure gave DfT a bloody nose on that.
Anybody got contact details?

 
Go to www.andrewroden.com and get hold of him, he's the man who spearheaded the campaign to save the sleeper and has told me that his next campaign was to be Tavistock, lets do it guy's and gals, it can be done!!

 

This is because they have the backing of the national assembly, who tend to plough almost all of the money into it.

You don't have that in england, so it just doesnt happen

 
Go to www.andrewroden.com and get hold of him, he's the man who spearheaded the campaign to save the sleeper and has told me that his next campaign was to be Tavistock, lets do it guy's and gals, it can be done!!
[/quote]

Hi guys, I had hoped to tie a few more loose ends up before I got moving on this (like writing my next book!) but Vacman's right, I would like to help get the Tavistock line reopening moving again. If anyone's interested, contact me via the day job's website (www.railjournal.com) and let's see what we can do...

Andy Roden

 
Why do the DfT stick their heads in the sand?

They really p*ss me off how they simply RUIN the railways 

 
Hi Andy, welcome to the board and best wishes with the re-opening of this line. I don't live close to Tavistock but I and many others here are in support of the proposal.

 
Page 3 of Plymouth City Council's Plymrail strategy contains a section on Tavistock (link below.)
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/plymrail.pdf

Parry People Movers are known to want to run a Bere Alston-Gunnislake shuttle service in the event of Bere Alston-Tavistock re-opening.

 

Yes, that's the tricky question, isn't it? I've not had the chance to look into it in as much detail as I'd like yet, but I'd say a People Mover between Bere Alston and Gunnislake would make more sense than getting into the realms of splitting trains at Bere Alston, with all the crewing implications that'd involve... the question in my mind is whether People Movers could operate the whole service, with suitable derogations. With their light weight, it could bring the reinstatement costs down, after all.

Just a thought - I don't know the technical specs of people movers well enough to conclude one way or the other.

Andy Roden

 

As I understand it, there are signalling issues with PPM vehicles sharing lines with conventional trains, as they would have to running into Plymouth. This would explain why the Stourbridge and Bere Alston-Gunnislake (in the context of Bere Alston-Tavistock re -opening) lines are top of their agenda, largely because they are/would be self - contained. The PPM website can be found in the link below.
http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/

By the way, I would also like to wish you the best of luck with your campaign.

 
Why stop at Tav. What about the through route to Oxhampton?

How stupid was it to shut a section of line which turned a viable through route into two weak, isolated stubs!

Ok, it was a duplicate route, but there was the whole North Devon holiday traffic potential (Bude) that was lost.

Or has it been built on?

 

Two possible problems are development at Tavistock and issues regarding the Meldon viaduct.

 

Absolutely - reopening the inland route would be great, but would be too much for the moment. Bere Alston to the edge of Tavistock, however, is pretty much unencumbered by development, and looks achievable (at a price). And who knows, if Tavistock is reached, maybe the missing link would look more viable...

Andy

 
It is also worth noting that an alternative Plymouth-Exeter route may need to be found if erosion scuppers the existing route via Dawlish (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/5099454.stm

What slightly worries me is that the trackbed including Shillamill Tunnel & Viaduct is currently being sold and appears on the register of surplus public sector land (links below.)
http://www.brb.gov.uk/property/property_listings/index_html?keyword=Shillamill+Tunnel+%26+Viaduct

http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/rspsl.htm

I have been unable to find out who the buyer is.

 

Thanks to research conducted by Global Moderator Nick Field, we now have a pretty good idea.

As you can see from the link below, the Bere Alston-Tavistock trackbed is marked as a "Proposed future National Cycle Network route."
http://www.sustrans.co.uk/default.asp?sRegion=The_West_Country&map.x=-4.14163098163359&map.y=50.5437450157002&bLarge=&nZoom=5

If this is the case, then it may not be the best of news, especially considering the problems being encountered with reopening the Bodmin-Wadebridge line alongside the Camel Trail (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=685.msg2468#msg2468

 
Sustrans have big plans to turn just about every ExRailway line into a Cycle Trail, and Problems of converting Cycle Routes into a Dual system such as the Camel Trail just don't happen, NOT WHEN the Cycle trail is already open on a closed track bed, if the South Devon Railway or West Somerset Line were former Double Lines SUNSTRANS would want to run a Cycle route alongside the Railway.

However the ONLY time I ever spoke to a Sustrans Man at an RDS meeting years ago it was stated that Sustrans would have NO PROBLEMS with the Railway coming back IF a replacement Cycle route was built.
And a Cycle route would be a lot cheaper to build than a Railway Line.

The BIG thing about going back to TAVISTOCK that everybody seems to be missing is that Bere Alston-Tavistock is a Former DOUBLE TRACK MAIN LINE so bags of room for Both Rail and almost unused Cycle Trail.

 
Surley the whole point of a former rail line being preserved as a cycle route is to do just that: preserve it, so a railway can be rebuilt easily when the time comes (population/traffic rise).

As far as I am concerned, I thought that these cycle routes were all temporary and just prevented the track-bed being destroyed.

I, therefore, was in full support of "Sustrans."

However, reading about the Wadebridge line, I now do not like Sustrans at all, and hope they do not purchase any more track as they seem to be preventing the opening of railways!

Goodness knows how many more reopening opportunities have been lost due to this dreadful company!

And in the meantime, congestion gets worse..........

 
I've never liked Sustrans and have seen through them from the start, they seem to think that everyone should cycle to work, well when you have to travel 50 odd miles then it won't happen!

Tavvy REALLY needs it's railway back and we should all get together and form a group to start the ball rolling! Slightly different but bear in mind that the Helston project was started by two 17 year old lads who just went for a walk along the track bed in 2002, and now it's one of the fastest developing preservation projects in the UK! And at least one person on this board (andrewr) was involved in the Helston project from nearly the very start and it was a lot of his influence that is to thank for it's rapid progress! Come on guys, lets get crackin, I'm sure the Tamar Belle heritage group at Bere Ferrers could provide the venue for a meeting?

 

I totally agree. The quicker an effective reopening campaign group is formed, the more influence over any upcoming decisions it will be able to exert.

 
The bit that gets me is ^6-^10m to reinstate 6 miles of track.... Why on earth so much???

 
Probably payments to Save the Trees for removing some shrubbery 

 

This is proven by the section from Meldon Quarry to Okehampton where the railway and cycle path already run side by side.

 


Two possible problems are development at Tavistock and issues regarding the Meldon viaduct.
[/quote]


Say all you good people out there, I've been in touch with Andy Roden (Save Our Sleeper HERO).

He's real busy with a Book, but will lend what time he has, so let's not sit on our backsides and do little.

One suggestion was hold a meeting at Bere Ferrers, good Idea any one got contact details?

Let's Have some names of people who would attend a meeting on say a Saturday.

Tavistock MUST happen, as for buildings in the Way, that didn't stop the NET (Nottingham Trams)
and a Cost of ^6m that's loose change to Mr A Darling.

What did the 6 1/2 mile A30 Goss Moor by-pass cost almost ^100m

Andy did suggest an on-line petition any out there with the Brains to start one.

To wet the appetite, Bere Alston-Gunnislake could cause a problem with reopening Tavistock, Two trains serving Tavy and Gunnislake would knock heavy price wise on the Scheme, PPM has been suggested but I would think with the step climbs on the Bere Alston-Gunnislake line PPM isn't man enough.

My Suggestion is Install Overhead Cable and put a Tram on the Bere Alston-Gunnislake section.

There's B***** All wrong with MELDON viaduct, the condition of the Viaduct was used as an EXCUSE to close the Line, same was tired with Ribblehead, and that was only Singled as a token to justify the early closure scam.

 
To get in touch with the guys at Bere Ferrers try here: http://www.tamarbelle.co.uk

Many sites provide online petitions, try something like: http://www.petitiononline.com

 

The PPM's are suprisingly powerful, they operated fine on the Stourbridge line which is quite a stiff gradient!

 

 
Something else about PPM, on their web site they quote how far can 50 people go on 1 gallon of Fuel and quote Diesel Railcar 2 miles and PPM 15 miles,

Question is, is that a 1, 2, 3 or even 4 car Railcar, in the case of it being a 4 car railcar then 400 people can go 2 miles on a gallon of fuel, where as PPM would move 400 people only 1.875 miles!!!

If it's based on a 2 car Rail car then 200 people can go 2 miles on a gallon of fuel where as PPM can manage 3.75 miles, it's amazing what can be done with figures!
Not such a Rosey concept me thinks.

 

The two problems mentioned above would not stop Bere Alston-Tavistock reopening. I gave them as examples of why reopening through to Okehampton would be more difficult.

I think you will find that the line over the viaduct was retained as a head shunt for Meldon Quarry traffic, and the rails werent actually lifted until 1990.

When deciding on plans to build the cyclepath over the viaduct, it was considered that (source - Dartmoor Railway) :



Lets be clear on one thing - I am NOT trying to put the mockers on this. I fully support (and would love to see) Tavistock line reopening.

I am merely pointing out some of the problems that lie ahead, one of which could be avoided if a reopening campaign is formed quickly, and worked on a joint plan with Sustrans before they decide to go it alone.

 
I think the reopening of Tavvy-Okehampton should be put on the back burner, the main thing is to get Bere Alston-Tavvy reopened which would be relatively simple, and at ^10m isn't massive money today, FGW make that in a week!

 

Totally agree. My main point is that you will have to move quickly to ensure that both the railway and cyclepath are incorporated in the same plan at the same time.

 
If you want to do a petition. Do one on the number 10 website (like I did with the Cotswold Line redoubling campaign).

I do not think that just reopening to Tav. is worth it (ie, I can't see it getting consent). Surely the whole route would be better value for money, in terms of construction/labour costs, amount of traffic generated (North Devon), and the possibility for a "climate change proof" line to the West Country.

Why not stick a 153 on the Guin-Bere line? I always feel that putting a "bus" on a branch is almost signifying its closure (they have given up on it)!

Sorry, a spare 153 should be used in Bristol/Trans Wilts!

NB I fully support the Tav. reopening by the way!!!!!!!!

 
dewarw, I glad you have put the Beeching 2 map up, I've had arguements in the Past saying that IT was planned to finish the Railway at Exeter St David's with no rails west there of.

 

Here is a map that gives an indication of what has already been lost (link below.)
http://www.systemed.net/atlas/

 
Theres one mistake, it shows the fowey branch as being totally closed, it's still open to clay traffic, 2 trains a day I believe??

 
What about new services to Fowey?

I am glad you like the map. Beeching must have been very stupid and short sighted, if he thought that a busy country like the UK could survive on a rail network like that! London to Plymouth via Bristol only! ECML closed north of Newcastle?

It is interesting to note, however, that the Woodhead route (Sheff. to Manch.) is shown as being kept open.

I suppose this was due to the electrification...

 
The line to Tavvy from Bere alston would be the best thing to do as there are no complications with buildings on the line/missing bridges etc, between tavvy and Okehampton there aren't many town's villiages that would generate much traffic, At Tavvy it's self the old station is now offices and the track bed has been built on, the proposed "new" station was earmarked to be built on the edge of the town with a bus link to the town centre as the track bed has been built on near the old station. Also, I doubt a 153 would be adequate, the morning Gunnislake services are usually a 150 full, a town the size of Tavvy with it's dire roads to Plymouth would probably generate a large amount of traffic!

 


No, I meant a 153 on the branch form Bere to Guinn, while a 150 goes to Tav.

Why did they build on the track-bed? How incompetent are the council? General rule: never build on trackbeds, esp if your town is congested!!!!!

 
Just north of Bere Alston is the BR vandalism, to prevent reopennings it seemed to be BR policy to take out a Bridge and between Bere Alston and Tavistock there is One (under?) bridge missing.

But the Estimated ^6-10million includes replacing this bridge.

On the Old GW Plymouth-Tavistock line they took out the Walkham Viaduct.

On the Truro-Newquay line bridge out at Blackwater.

Gwinear Road-Helston, bridge gone near Praze, more followed.

Par-Fowey 999 lease on turning tunnel (Cornwall longest) into a road.

Lostwithiel-Fowey track bed lost under enlarged docks.

Barnstaple-Ilfracombe Bridge out between Barnstaple Junc and Town.

Shanklin-Ventnor (IoW) water main  placed under trackbed.

 
the two bridges missing on the Helston branch are only girder bridges, and the abutments are still there, which are the main structural part of the bridge, to replace one is relatively cheap and simple, also, one of the bridges at Praze was removed because it was VERY low, i.e. only about 8ft!

 

Woodhead is very much a live issue (link below.)
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/save_the_woodhead_tunnel

 

Not so much signalling issues, but PPMs require a possession to operate in normal service AFAIK due to their very light weight and the consequences that could occur with whamming into say, a HST...

Tom

 

I was also told that there could be a problem with PPM's and track circuits.

 

Good luck with finding a track circuit between Bere Alston and Gunnislake 

The line at Bere Alston could be kept totally separate from the Plymouth to Tavistock line as there are in theory three platforms that could be used...

 

You misunderstand me, oooooo. I was talking about the general question of PPM's sharing the line with conventional trains, and wanted clarification on what someone had told me.

If you look back, you will see that I am fully aware of the Bere Alston-Gunnislake situation :

 

Not really an issue - it can be sorted with the use of track circuit actuators, IIRC most of the Sprinter fleet have these...

 
It seems as if West Devon is testing the water on potential local support for a reopening to Tavistock.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144143&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144131&contentPK=19479250&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 
Interesting that the media has picked up specifically on the railway issue, given that the planning roadshows mentioned in the article seem to cover a wide range of issues.

 
Yes - and I also noted the expansion proposals for Okehampton...

 

Isn't it? If and when I get the chance, I'll get an online petition running, and possibly a page on my website too. As has been mentioned already, I'm deeply into researching and writing my next book, but once that's signed, sealed, and delivered (hopefully by June), I'll be able to commit more fully to a concerted go at the Tavistock line.

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to get things moving sooner, I'll be happy to offer my services...

Andy

 

Devon County Council have informed me that they are negotiating to buy the trackbed.

 
Really does sound promising, ashamed to say I'm not brilliant with the geography of Tavistock, only been there once. Think a look on Google Maps is necessary.

 
Buying it for what? railway or cycleway?

 

Well as Devon County Council was very interested in Re-opening to Tavi back in the early 1990's we can only hope in it being for Rail use, or at worse Joint Rail/Cycle route!

 

I dont know. To coin a phrase, "enquiries are continuing."

 
Hi all,

Well, it looks as if there's a groundswell of support on the forum for a concerted effort on the Tavvy line, so, does anyone fancy a go? As Smokey mentioned a while back, I'm a little tied up writing my next book, but I think we need to get something off the ground sooner rather than later. So, if anyone's got the time and inclination to help do some digging, establish some contacts and write letters, do let me know: you can contact me via my website (www.andrewroden.com).

Lee, thanks ever so much for all the digging you've done already - it looks pretty darned positive from where I'm sitting... all we have to do is establish a rapport with Sustrans, win the confidence of local authorities and communities, generate a business case, get plenty of media coverage, and come up with (or persuade the DEpartment for Transport to do so) around ^10 million: easy!

That doesn't mean we shouldn't give it a bloody good go though - you never know...

Andy

 

You have my full support, and I will continue to help in any way I can.

 
Hi all.  Very interesting board.

Here's the latest on Tavistock.

Looking again at reopening Bere Alston - Tavistock is a key part of the Community Rail pilot project on the Tamar Valley Line.

Devon County Council commissioned consultants to do a study looking at potential passenger demand two years ago.   

In April 2007, Kilbride Community Rail came on the scene.  They are looking to fund rail reopenings through property development.  They have experience doing similar things to provide new freight sidings, but not passenger facilities to date. 

Kilbride Community Rail are very keen on Tavistock and have joined forces with ECT Group (owners of the Dartmoor Railway) to try and progress things.  In the meantime, the Tamar Valley AONB Partnership has obtained finances through their Devon Great Consols programme to create a cycleway along most of the trackbed.

Kilbride are regularly meeting Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council to discuss next steps.  As mentioned above, Devon County Council is in discussions to buy the remaining trackbed in railway ownership - this includes both Shillamill Tunnel and Viaduct.

As another poster has pointed out, the formation is doubletrack so there should be no problem having the cycleway and reopened railway next to each other.  The AONB completely supports the return of the railway.  Personally, I also think it is essential to get the cycleway into Bere Alston station to encourage tourism visits into the Tamar Valley similar to the Tarka Trail out of Barnstaple.

The latest stage of the process is the public consultation on the West Devon development framework announced this week.  I don't know what the detail is (ie how many houses and where) but the public reaction will be key.

As you can see, Tavistock reopening is looking positive.  I think there will be significant developments this year.


Richard Burningham,
Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.


PS - On Tamar Valley matters, we are celebrating the centenary of Bere Alston - Gunnislake this Spring.  More details at www.carfreedaysout.com

 

Hi Richard,

Thanks ever so much for the update - very much appreciated. Obviously, we don't want to tread on anyone's toes as far as Tavistock is concerned - what can people do to help generate some support for reopening the line?

Andy

 

Excellent to have you on board, Richard. Do keep us updated on the Partnership view of things.

 
Forget single track and cycle-way, bring back a double line!

 
Whats the point? double the costs for not much more real gain, an hourly service from Tavvy to Plymouth would be fine.

 

Actually with the labour cost of track laying the greater part is Labour and if it cost ^10Million to relay a single line it would only cost ^11-12 million to relay double track, it's not so much a cost thing as an operational problem to relay double track you would need points and signals and that will push up cost.

 
What I was getting at was:

If double track was restored, then the case for a link to Oxhampton would be increased (capacity would not be a problem).

 
TOTALLY AGREE, but let's not wake up the DfT that relaying to Tavistock is about 40% of the missing link!

If they get wise it just won't happen.

 
If we campaign for too much (reinstatement of Bere Alston to Okehampton) which could cost upwards of ^50m then it wont be taken seriously!!! if we campaign for a branch to Tavvy at ^10m then it may well happen, THEN you start campaigning for the next bit which will then only cost about ^40m. Lets not run before we can walk!

 
Vacman totally agree.

 

Thanks Andy and Lee.

Vacman - you have hit the nail on the head.

Andy - I don't there is anything useful that can be done just yet.  We need to see how West Devon residents react to the housing proposals and then, if that all goes OK, what Kilbride does in terms of putting together a scheme that they will either largely or wholly fund.

 
Phase three of the total reopening could be a branch to Launceston! another large town that was criminally axed from the network in the late '60's!

 

One for our great grandchildren, I think, Vacman!

 
Oh yes, but always on the back burner 

 
Definitely agree.

I can see (in the very distant future):

1tph Launceston to Plymouth via Tav, local

0.5tph Exeter to Plymouth, express

153 shuttle Bare to Guinislake

That would give North Devon (part of) the railway it deserves/needs.

 

You mean West Devon, surely?

 

On that note, the links below give an indication of how the Tavistock issue fits into West Devon's local plans (thanks again to Nick Field.)
http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=11141&cat=2397

http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/352/A1L_BERE_A.pdf

 
This thread makes very encouraging (dare I say exciting) reading. Thanks for all the information shared. I do hope that Gunnislake/Calstock will retain at least a couple of direct services to/from Plymouth morning & evening to cater for commuters and day trippers.

 
The following link is to a story on a plan to fund a Bere Alston-Tavistock reopening entirely with private money.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144143&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144131&contentPK=19748525&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 
Also posted in Devon section: link to a report to fund Bere Alston-Tavistock reopening entirely with private money.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144143&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144131&contentPK=19748525&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 

Thanks go to RichardB for providing earlier info on the forum regarding Kilbride Community Rail's involvement.

 
Interesting!
Does anyone know much about Kilbride Community Rail, and if so, what is there track record in getting these types of schemes off the ground?

 

Background quote from RichardB :


Here is a relevant Christian Wolmar article (link below.)
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/tt/april27,07.shtml

 
BBC article link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7235082.stm

 
It was all over BBC Radio Cornwall today (yes, I know, Tavistock is in Devon, but it is almost in Cornwall).
It is sounding very positive and hopeful now.

 
This is who Kilbride say they are - rather playing down the property development side of things, it has to be said, eg Shipton-on-Cherwell Quarry, which is just north of Kidlington and Oxford, is being proposed to take a massive housing development, but because they say it would have a railway station, it would be eco-friendly. Hmm. Maybe if they paid for Kidlington station to reopen too and banned cars from the site, maybe it would be.

http://www.kilbrideresources.co.uk/index.asp

 
And here's a link to Kilbride Community Rail: some interesting stuff on the website - its approach is rather similar to that of Hong Kong, where they build, say a station, and then some property on or around it and recover some of their costs through the higher rental values they can get because of the infrastructure.

http://www.kilbridegroup.com/index.asp

Andy

 
There is also a parallel topic running in the link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1612.msg10590#msg10590

 
I think that it is this http://www.kilbrideresources.co.uk/case%20studies/Levy.pdf that has swung Kilbride's decision making.

On the one hand they are playing the green transport card to sweeten local authorities into ticking the yes box, but on the other it must be positive if they are serious about opening abandoned lines.

Only time will tell....

 
Looks like the local MPs have taken notice - is anyone able to go to the meeting?

http://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/today/options/news/newsdetail.cfm?id=52869

Andy Roden

 

More on the Shipton-on-Cherwell Quarry development (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2046026.0.ecotown_will_harm_wildlife.php

 

Here is a link on a similiar scheme.
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2064308.0.village_anger_at_ecotown_plan.php

 
The spotlight is now on the number of houses that Kilbride want to be allowed to build in return for restoring the railway to Tavistock (link below.)
http://thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133464&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133158&contentPK=20157227&folderPk=78031&pNodeId=133174

 


The following link is to an article about the current state of affairs in the project to reinstate the Tavistock line.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20175970&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 

The county council's executive is today due to consider supporting the plan but the town council has condemned it.

Interesting quotes :


See also link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2076.msg15541#msg15541

David Redgewell, South West spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport, said he too supported the idea of reopening the line, but would remain sceptical until operating details had been confirmed.

 
The link below is to a report of the County Council's positive response to the plan to reinstate the line yesterday.

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20185393&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

 

Good news, but trouble ahead I fear :

 

Could we translate the phrases used by Cller Harper as:
 
"It's the biggest folly I've ever heard of." = not in my back yard

"I don't think it's commercially viable." = it's my gut instinct - I don't care about qutoing figures. 

"Everyone I've spoken to is against this." = my circle of friends comes from a rather narrow socio-economic spectrum.

 
Yep, think you just about summed it up there Andy.

 
Interesting quote from the article :


Now I want to see this scheme go ahead, but in order for it to do so, someone really needs to go down to Tavistock and drum up some very visible local support for the re-opening of the railway.

If the views of Cller Harper and his friends are taken as being "local opinion" then that could sink the whole thing.

Quotes such as "We are going to fight it every inch of the way" do not indicate that they are going to concede defeat easily.