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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 8:59:14 GMT 1
The transport minister was on TV talking about this but lines in the North were mentioned. rather than getting into the state of railways and other issues i was wondering which lines would you like to have re opened? www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport/2019/01/03/old-shropshire-railway-lines-could-be-reopened-under-new-plans/"Stations like Oswestry and Ellesmere in Shropshire, and Carno in Mid Wales were stations to feel the hit from the Beeching Cuts." "The Oswestry and Llanfyllin line from Gobowen disappeared, as did the Nantwich to Wellington route passing through Audlem and Market Drayton. "Buildwas, Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock, as well as Ellesmere, Market Drayton and Much Wenlock, all disappeared from the British railways map."
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Post by FloreatShrew on Jan 28, 2020 9:25:33 GMT 1
Oswestry to Gobowen would be perfect, given the new direct line to London starting at Gobowen.
Still the biggest shortsighted decision they made to close lines. Mothballing and creating "tram" like routes would have saved all this. 500 million isn't going to go very far .
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Post by Pilch on Jan 28, 2020 10:38:14 GMT 1
Oswestry to Gobowen would be perfect, given the new direct line to London starting at Gobowen. Still the biggest shortsighted decision they made to close lines. Mothballing and creating "tram" like routes would have saved all this. 500 million isn't going to go very far . I used to be a signaller in gobowen signal box, it was quite busy then with the coal yard still in operation , and even Whittington fuel depot and kronospan wood yard were still having trains there wasn't ever anything that ran from Gobowen to Nantmawr. (Oswestry) whilst I worked there and I dont think there has been since I would imagine the whole line, rails, crossings , barriers , and signalling equipment would been renewing so can't even see this as an idea for what would almost certainly run as a loss I dont think it being run by the heritage would even get off the ground, too much cost and H&S these days now a line from Shrews to Stafford would be a positive idea
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Post by frankwellshrews on Jan 28, 2020 11:43:41 GMT 1
Really positive news; just adding or re-opening a few stations on the existing lines would be a great start I think.
Locally, places like Hadnal and Baschurch would really benefit from a station. I've always said I'd like to see a little one next to Super Blues way and one at Battlefield too.
Between that and completing the relief road (and making the rest of the bypass dual carriageway) we'd see a major benefit in reduction of traffic and pollution in Shrewsbury town centre.
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Post by El Huracán!!!! on Jan 28, 2020 11:50:54 GMT 1
Oswestry to Gobowen would be perfect, given the new direct line to London starting at Gobowen. Still the biggest shortsighted decision they made to close lines. Mothballing and creating "tram" like routes would have saved all this. 500 million isn't going to go very far . I used to be a signaller in gobowen signal box, it was quite busy then with the coal yard still in operation , and even Whittington fuel depot and kronospan wood yard were still having trains there wasn't ever anything that ran from Gobowen to Nantmawr. (Oswestry) whilst I worked there and I dont think there has been since I would imagine the whole line, rails, crossings , barriers , and signalling equipment would been renewing so can't even see this as an idea for what would almost certainly run as a loss I dont think it being run by the heritage would even get off the ground, too much cost and H&S these days now a line from Shrews to Stafford would be a positive idea Agree, its a nice story and sound byte today, but the money beind discussed is a pittance to the costs of reopening lines... Rail infrastrure is hellishly expensive.
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Post by gainsparkshrew on Jan 28, 2020 12:04:13 GMT 1
Isn't part of the Shrewsbury to Stafford still in use from Wellington through to Donnington and the Euro Rail Hub that was built next to Donnington? Could see a benefit of extending that through to Newport to serve commuters,but maybe not to Stafford as,with the exception of Gnosall, its pretty rural.
The new development on the site of the Buildwas Power Station already has a line in place, and upgrading it and re-opening some of the old stations seems to have a lot of support so may well happen.
Other than that,and as previously referred to, some of Shrewsbury's growing outer villages, like Baschurch, would really benefit from having their stations re-opened as the roads are appalling and not built for the volume of modern day traffic
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 12:58:27 GMT 1
i think there is an economic and enviromental gain from doing this but as other have pointed out the inferstructure costs would be significant. we only have to look at the surge in housing over the last five years in shrewsbury and the growth in other areas to see what a difference we have witnessed in the volume of traffic.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2020 13:04:02 GMT 1
They reopened the old Waverley Route as far south as just beyond Galashiels in Scotland a few years ago which shows what can be done.
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Post by tvor on Jan 28, 2020 14:22:26 GMT 1
Sadly no longer possible/practical but it would be great to reinstate the line between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Steam trains could then occasionally run from Kidderminster through to Shrewsbury and further afield too.
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Post by thesensationaljt on Jan 28, 2020 15:16:56 GMT 1
I've always been a fan of the railway. I prefer "live" stations where people work on them. I remember Craven Arms having a goods yard. My Uncle used to drink in the buffet in the evening, he always said the beer was cheaper there. I'd love to see stations re-opening. www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/craven_arms/
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 15:31:11 GMT 1
Sadly no longer possible/practical but it would be great to reinstate the line between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Steam trains could then occasionally run from Kidderminster through to Shrewsbury and further afield too. considering how popular the severn valley line is this would be wonderfull if it hapened.
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Post by gainsparkshrew on Jan 28, 2020 15:36:31 GMT 1
Just for you jaytee,because I think that you are old enough to remember the original ( it only closed in 1935) I think that they should spend most of the £500 million on a total rebuild of the Craven Arms to Bishops Castle line, quite a lot of the trackbed is still visible at the Craven Arms end alongside the main road as you drive up towards the Caaastle .It never made any money in its entire life but hey ho ! Additional when they get to Lydbury North they can then extend to wherever they were planning to go in the first place !, with the line to Bishops Castle being the branch line Any money left can be used to restore the Old Potts from Shrewsbury Abbey station(still there) through to Llanymenech,another major white elephant in its day
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Post by venceremos on Jan 28, 2020 15:54:27 GMT 1
An edge of town station for Shrewsbury would be wonderful, avoiding the need to clutter up the town centre trying to get to a train and cutting journey times considerably. Those people moving to the new houses around Oteley Road will find it quicker to take the M54 to Telford for a train (if the car park has any spaces), which makes no sense.
Hadnall's expanded too - the old station's still there. Not sure if it's residential or part of the Salopian Brewery but the village should have a request stop.
Elsewhere, I'd love to see the line between Porthmadog/Pwllheli and Bangor restored. They're 30 miles apart but, to get a train from one to the other, you have to go via Chester and Shrewsbury!
Restoring that link would connect the entire North Wales coast as far south as Aberystwyth.
Got to replace the EU funding for these areas out of all those budget contributions we've been told will be saved. Get on with it, Johnson.
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Post by thesensationaljt on Jan 28, 2020 15:56:37 GMT 1
Just for you jaytee,because I think that you are old enough to remember the original ( it only closed in 1935) I think that they should spend most of the £500 million on a total rebuild of the Craven Arms to Bishops Castle line, quite a lot of the trackbed is still visible at the Craven Arms end alongside the main road as you drive up towards the Caaastle .It never made any money in its entire life but hey ho ! Additional when they get to Lydbury North they can then extend to wherever they were planning to go in the first place !, with the line to Bishops Castle being the branch line Any money left can be used to restore the Old Potts from Shrewsbury Abbey station(still there) through to Llanymenech,another major white elephant in its day There is a bloke walking the old rail line available on you tube. I do know some Juan who travelled on the train. She got off by the Long Mynd to go wimberry picking, then caught the train back. Still a very active Railway Society in the town. bcrailway.co.uk/
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Post by davycrockett on Jan 28, 2020 16:18:40 GMT 1
An edge of town station for Shrewsbury would be wonderful, avoiding the need to clutter up the town centre trying to get to a train and cutting journey times considerably. Those people moving to the new houses around Oteley Road will find it quicker to take the M54 to Telford for a train (if the car park has any spaces), which makes no sense. Hadnall's expanded too - the old station's still there. Not sure if it's residential or part of the Salopian Brewery but the village should have a request stop. Elsewhere, I'd love to see the line between Porthmadog/Pwllheli and Bangor restored. They're 30 miles apart but, to get a train from one to the other, you have to go via Chester and Shrewsbury! Restoring that link would connect the entire North Wales coast as far south as Aberystwyth. Got to replace the EU funding for these areas out of all those budget contributions we've been told will be saved. Get on with it, Johnson. Pretty sure (haven’t checked) the festiniog railway now runs from Porthmadog to Caernarfon as well as from Porthmadog to Blaenau so only 9 miles to go It does www.festrail.co.uk/route.htm
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2020 16:43:15 GMT 1
I would rather we spent any monies available on upgrading some of our existing lines. Pacer trains, for example should have been pensioned off years ago!
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Post by venceremos on Jan 28, 2020 16:50:43 GMT 1
An edge of town station for Shrewsbury would be wonderful, avoiding the need to clutter up the town centre trying to get to a train and cutting journey times considerably. Those people moving to the new houses around Oteley Road will find it quicker to take the M54 to Telford for a train (if the car park has any spaces), which makes no sense. Hadnall's expanded too - the old station's still there. Not sure if it's residential or part of the Salopian Brewery but the village should have a request stop. Elsewhere, I'd love to see the line between Porthmadog/Pwllheli and Bangor restored. They're 30 miles apart but, to get a train from one to the other, you have to go via Chester and Shrewsbury! Restoring that link would connect the entire North Wales coast as far south as Aberystwyth. Got to replace the EU funding for these areas out of all those budget contributions we've been told will be saved. Get on with it, Johnson. Pretty sure (haven’t checked) the festiniog railway now runs from Porthmadog to Caernarfon as well as from Porthmadog to Blaenau so only 9 miles to go It does www.festrail.co.uk/route.htmTrue, but it's very much a heritage railway for tourists. It operates from April to October and takes about an hour to get from P to C. Beautiful route though!
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Post by northwestman on Jan 28, 2020 17:18:16 GMT 1
One of the last lines to run steam locomotives before they were withdrawn from service was the Stourbridge to Wolverhampton line.
The line ran goods trains for a while after it had been closed to passenger traffic.
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Post by gainsparkshrew on Jan 28, 2020 18:34:24 GMT 1
Just for you jaytee,because I think that you are old enough to remember the original ( it only closed in 1935) I think that they should spend most of the £500 million on a total rebuild of the Craven Arms to Bishops Castle line, quite a lot of the trackbed is still visible at the Craven Arms end alongside the main road as you drive up towards the Caaastle .It never made any money in its entire life but hey ho ! Additional when they get to Lydbury North they can then extend to wherever they were planning to go in the first place !, with the line to Bishops Castle being the branch line Any money left can be used to restore the Old Potts from Shrewsbury Abbey station(still there) through to Llanymenech,another major white elephant in its day There is a bloke walking the old rail line available on you tube. I do know some Juan who travelled on the train. She got off by the Long Mynd to go wimberry picking, then caught the train back. Still a very active Railway Society in the town. bcrailway.co.uk/ yep seen that, he's done a whole series of them including most of the long forgotten lines in Shropshire. Funniest moment of them is him standing in the car park at Morrisons in Lawley looking a bit confused while trying to explain that the old line from somewhere to nowhere ran through what is now the bread and cakes aisle
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Post by gainsparkshrew on Jan 28, 2020 18:38:28 GMT 1
One of the last lines to run steam locomotives before they were withdrawn from service was the Stourbridge to Wolverhampton line. The line ran goods trains for a while after it had been closed to passenger traffic. The old Wolverhampton diversionary route? through Wombourne ,station still standing with a cafe inside and the trackbed used as a green space for walkers etc
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Post by thesensationaljt on Jan 28, 2020 19:28:40 GMT 1
One of the last lines to run steam locomotives before they were withdrawn from service was the Stourbridge to Wolverhampton line. The line ran goods trains for a while after it had been closed to passenger traffic. The old Wolverhampton diversionary route? through Wombourne ,station still standing with a cafe inside and the trackbed used as a green space for walkers etc A lot of years ago, I used to run down the Aldersley to Wombourne disused line, from Wolvo to Common Road, Womourne and back, a distance of just over 6 miles each way. I was that daft, I'd run it several times a week. The Juan day, a friend of mine who I used to run with but had suffered an injury, said he thought he was fit enough to run it again, but he was working till six, so could I wait till he'd finished work so we could run together? I met him at Aldersley and we set off, but it was plain he wasn't up to it, but he wouldn't give in. On the back up the line, he was in real distress and we'd slowed considerably. Then it started to pour down with rain, and when we got to Merry Hill where he lived, about two and a half miles short, he had to abandon the run and go home. I continued to Aldersley, and now not held back, was flying. By this time with trees overhanging the line, it was pitch black, but I knew the course like the back of my hand, so I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Then, up ahead there was a small bright red glow. I couldn't make it out at all, so I slowed down. Lucky I did, there was a man dressed in black with a black umbrella smoking a cigarette walking up the path. If he hadn't been, I'd have clattered right into the back of him! Lesson learned, I never ran down the track in the dark again. sites.google.com/site/familyfriendlycycling/south-staffordshire-railway-walk
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 20:00:19 GMT 1
I would rather we spent any monies available on upgrading some of our existing lines. Pacer trains, for example should have been pensioned off years ago! i fully understand your point of view, i use the trains a lot and the infastructure needs upgrading. in the interview the transport ministers responce to that points was this; www.gov.uk/government/news/new-48-billion-funding-for-britains-railways"Railway investment to boost reliability and punctuality, for major upgrades and for new, faster, more comfortable trains." sorry to go off topice but the most comfertable train i whent on was the wrexham and shropshire train company ,the seats were more like armchairs ! it was a lovely train service with so many nice staff a real shame when it folded.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 20:07:53 GMT 1
Sadly no longer possible/practical but it would be great to reinstate the line between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Steam trains could then occasionally run from Kidderminster through to Shrewsbury and further afield too. , the line once ran to linley station , the station is now a private residence but i belive the track is part of mercian way shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercian-way-bridgnorth-to-ironbridge-2013.pdf "the old Linley Station is still an interesting piece of SVR history. The station was built at the request of Thomas C. Whitmore of Apley Park Estate, who strongly opposed the construction of the railway, originally requesting for tunnels to be built to avoid destroying the privacy of the park and grounds. In 1855 plans to build tunnels were finally abandoned in exchange for significant compensation plus the construction of a station at which passenger trains in each direction could be stopped on request. Linley Station was the result! Passenger trains ceased running in 1963." .
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Post by tvor on Jan 28, 2020 20:11:43 GMT 1
Sadly no longer possible/practical but it would be great to reinstate the line between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Steam trains could then occasionally run from Kidderminster through to Shrewsbury and further afield too. , the line once ran to linley station , the station is now a private residence but i belive the track is part of mercian way hropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercian-way-bridgnorth-to-ironbridge-2013.pdf "the old Linley Station is still an interesting piece of SVR history. The station was built at the request of Thomas C. Whitmore of Apley Park Estate, who strongly opposed the construction of the railway, originally requesting for tunnels to be built to avoid destroying the privacy of the park and grounds. In 1855 plans to build tunnels were finally abandoned in exchange for significant compensation plus the construction of a station at which passenger trains in each direction could be stopped on request. Linley Station was the result! Passenger trains ceased running in 1963. " . There are some videos on youtube where the presenter tracks the route of the old Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth line. Lots of sections of it, particularly as the line left the town of Shrewsbury, have since been built over and would prevent it from be reinstated.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Jan 28, 2020 21:21:49 GMT 1
, the line once ran to linley station , the station is now a private residence but i belive the track is part of mercian way hropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercian-way-bridgnorth-to-ironbridge-2013.pdf "the old Linley Station is still an interesting piece of SVR history. The station was built at the request of Thomas C. Whitmore of Apley Park Estate, who strongly opposed the construction of the railway, originally requesting for tunnels to be built to avoid destroying the privacy of the park and grounds. In 1855 plans to build tunnels were finally abandoned in exchange for significant compensation plus the construction of a station at which passenger trains in each direction could be stopped on request. Linley Station was the result! Passenger trains ceased running in 1963. " . There are some videos on youtube where the presenter tracks the route of the old Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth line. Lots of sections of it, particularly as the line left the town of Shrewsbury, have since been built over and would prevent it from be reinstated. fair enough and thanks for the links
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Post by shrewsace on Jan 28, 2020 21:32:31 GMT 1
Another ruse to con people into thinking we’re going back to the proverbial good old days...
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Post by venceremos on Jan 28, 2020 22:00:33 GMT 1
Just for you jaytee,because I think that you are old enough to remember the original ( it only closed in 1935) I think that they should spend most of the £500 million on a total rebuild of the Craven Arms to Bishops Castle line, quite a lot of the trackbed is still visible at the Craven Arms end alongside the main road as you drive up towards the Caaastle .It never made any money in its entire life but hey ho ! Additional when they get to Lydbury North they can then extend to wherever they were planning to go in the first place !, with the line to Bishops Castle being the branch line Any money left can be used to restore the Old Potts from Shrewsbury Abbey station(still there) through to Llanymenech,another major white elephant in its day There is a bloke walking the old rail line available on you tube. I do know some Juan who travelled on the train. She got off by the Long Mynd to go wimberry picking, then caught the train back. Still a very active Railway Society in the town. bcrailway.co.uk/For a moment I thought you were going to say "she got off by the Long Mynd to go wimberry picking and was never seen again". When we were kids we used to pick wimberries on Frodsham Hill (Cheshire) when we were out on Friday evening family walks. Haven't heard anyone mention wimberries for years! I'd almost wondered whether I hadn't imagined it all and made up the name. Can't remember what we did with all those wimberries though.
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Post by staffordshrew on Jan 28, 2020 22:36:56 GMT 1
An edge of town station for Shrewsbury would be wonderful, avoiding the need to clutter up the town centre trying to get to a train and cutting journey times considerably. Those people moving to the new houses around Oteley Road will find it quicker to take the M54 to Telford for a train. You mean the Parkway on the dual carriageway just out towards Telford with the park and ride, emergency hospital, business park and new football stadium? If only our leaders had the forethought to do this sort of thing, all those years ago, when the car was king, they were closing down lines in and around the proposed Dawley (later Telford) new town. Barmy. Strangely they also managed to build the Telford Town Centre shops a fair old walk from "Telford Central" railway station? Then there is the HS2 white elephant. How many people need to be in London a few minutes quicker? In comparison to the carbon emissions for building all that track it would probably have less effect on the planet to fly the few who need it down from Manchester to London City airport in Flybe planes.
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Post by Exkeeper on Jan 28, 2020 23:15:25 GMT 1
Oswestry to Gobowen would be perfect, given the new direct line to London starting at Gobowen. Still the biggest shortsighted decision they made to close lines. Mothballing and creating "tram" like routes would have saved all this. 500 million isn't going to go very far . I used to be a signaller in gobowen signal box, it was quite busy then with the coal yard still in operation , and even Whittington fuel depot and kronospan wood yard were still having trains there wasn't ever anything that ran from Gobowen to Nantmawr. (Oswestry) whilst I worked there and I dont think there has been since I would imagine the whole line, rails, crossings , barriers , and signalling equipment would been renewing so can't even see this as an idea for what would almost certainly run as a loss I dont think it being run by the heritage would even get off the ground, too much cost and H&S these days now a line from Shrews to Stafford would be a positive idea Kronospan at Chirk still has daily freight trains which run through Shrewsbury. The most recent came through at 19:42 this svening. This was listed as Ballantine Bay (South Wales) to Chirk Kronospan and is operated by Colas Rail.
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Post by Exkeeper on Jan 28, 2020 23:21:28 GMT 1
I used to be a signaller in gobowen signal box, it was quite busy then with the coal yard still in operation , and even Whittington fuel depot and kronospan wood yard were still having trains there wasn't ever anything that ran from Gobowen to Nantmawr. (Oswestry) whilst I worked there and I dont think there has been since I would imagine the whole line, rails, crossings , barriers , and signalling equipment would been renewing so can't even see this as an idea for what would almost certainly run as a loss I dont think it being run by the heritage would even get off the ground, too much cost and H&S these days now a line from Shrews to Stafford would be a positive idea Kronospan at Chirk still has daily freight trains which run through Shrewsbury. The most recent came through at 19:42 this svening. This was listed as Baglan Bay (South Wales) to Chirk Kronospan and is operated by Colas Rail.
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