Railway Re-openings (ELR)

[andyw823]

On the news tonight there was something about opening up old stations and railways, one of the lines mentioned was the preserved East Lancs Railway from Bury to Rawtenstall, this would provide a direct route in Manchester. If all goes to plan changes would take place in around 5 years

[jbilton]

Hi Andy
Sounds interesting.
Imagine the sound of a Class 40 in Manchester again.

Cheers
Jon

[kieranhardy]

On the news tonight there was something about opening up old stations and railways, one of the lines mentioned was the preserved East Lancs Railway from Bury to Rawtenstall, this would provide a direct route in Manchester. If all goes to plan changes would take place in around 5 years

I very much doubt all the routes mentioned will reopen, they even said the line to Ringwood would be reopened, it wouldn't be able to follow the old trackbed and they would have to build new tracks in the New Forest...building lines in a national park... i don't see that as likely somehow!

[terrycunliffe]

The report can be found here

http://www.atoc.org/general/ConnectingC ... rt_S10.pdf

Interesting reading, but sadly, I suspect, pie in the sky

[energize]

they even said the line to Ringwood would be reopened, it wouldn't be able to follow the old trackbed and they would have to build new tracks in the New Forest...building lines in a national park... i don't see that as likely somehow
!

Although it probably won't happen (until we elect a railway enthusiast as PM!) opening the line to Ringwood would benefit the town since it has around 12,000 inhabitants and no railway. There aren't even any buses to Southampton from there. At the same time the line from Salisbury to Poole through Fordingbridge and Wimborne could be reopened since it would be quicker than going via Southampton (and taking cars off the roads)

[salopiangrowler]

there is talk of opening the line from wellington to stafford in tonights shropshire star, last nights star had me laughing with a proposed £80 million tram scheme for Shrewsbury.