Rother Valley Railway

Though you're correct regarding any requirement to observe purdah, when there are local elections, I suspect you rather underestimate the political gerrymandering reflex. They just can't help themselves.

The makeup of the current Rother DC is atypical. 14 Con 13 Ind 7LD 3 Lab 1 Grn. With the rest in coalition, apparently as the 'Rother Alliance', the tories are the opposition. The population served by RDC was 86505 at the last census.

If the decision on the A21 crossing isn't finalised before the next LA elections, things could get (relatively) interesting.

 

Is the A21 crossing is the most likeliest stumbling block, I've been up and down that road many times, and i don't think the crossing will have that much of an impact It would be visible from quite a way away heading towards Tunbridge wells, and heading towards Hastings you have a roundabout before the location of the crossing, so already traffic speed should be low, the only pinch point is tail backs onto the roundabout blocking traffic from North bridge Street, but for the short time the gates will be closed, i would think delays and congestion should be minimal.

 

The next Rother Elections are on 4th May 2023. The current Council support the Railway - in fairness so did the previous Tory administration. The exception was Sally-Ann Hart who is now MP for Hastings.

I would expect the TWAO to be resolved before the elections next year.

 

I know that stretch pretty well too. I suppose when compared with the 1001 other things which can royally stuff up traffic flow, a predictable 60sec or so, likely never more than a couple of dozen times a day at most (rarely, special events aside, encroaching into either morning or afternoon peaks) and the LC isn't even going to feature in the top 10 of things causing repeated grief to drivers on the A21 .... way behind dodgy junctions, tractors and roadworks

A few years down the line and even tho' thankfully t'ain't Beddingham (A27 ....remember that?) I could easily see the crossing being part of the justification for any future improvements. There's logic and then there's government logic!

 

Interesting you should mention Beddingham - this was mentioned by one of the objectors to the RVR planning application who stated that the railway had been reconstructed to flyover the road - clearly they had never been there or realised that it would be impossible in view of the gradient required on the railway to do so.

 

If the TWA Order is granted there will be no more stumbling blocks, only technicalities. And if it’s refused the RVR will be stuffed, perhaps not for ever but for a very long time. All these arguments were had at the inquiry so that the Minister can now decide.

 

Some folks have the oddest ideas. Just as well that one was appearing for the opposition!

Probably worth mentioning for folks unfamiliar with Sussex that getting shut of the bane which was Beddingham LC didn't involve any deviation of the railway in any plane.

Driving that section of A27 now, those hideous traffic queues, way worse when the barriers got clobbered, or just threw a fit of the sulks, seem like a mostly forgotten bad dream. Slight difference in service intensity between the East Coastway and the K&ESR.

Just to prove the point, here's live service info for Polegate, next station east of the location of the former LC at Beddingham and nearly everything stops there:

https://m.nationalrail.co.uk/pj/ldbboard/dep/PLG

Contrast with a dozen K&ESR trains to/from Robertsbridge on a gala day!

 

Yes, at 60 seconds every half hour, an A21 crossing will be very small beer, compared to things like Flimwell lights (how will that one ever be resolved?), and the dreadful Blueboys double roundabout. There are far bigger fish on the A21 than Robertsbridge. Still, ultimately it is National Highways which will, probably, ultimately carry the day.

 

It's been a long time since I've been on that section of the A27, but it seems that RVR objector seems to have got confused, but the flyover at Beddingham takes the A27 over the railway rather than the other way round I think? I certainly remember the problems the level crossing had on traffic.

 

Is it the ORR, or National highways who have a policy to not have level crossings on Major roads, unless there is not an viable alternative ? what were National highways main grounds of concern at the time of the Public enquiry ?

 

I think it is ORR that have the policy - but RVR have an agreement with them that there is no viable alternative to a level crossing over the A21. National Highways were in discussions with RVR at the time of the Public Inquiry and if I recall correctly most but not quite all of the issues were resolved. I have heard nothing since which I suspect will be the case until the Inspector's report is published.

 

Further turntable update including pictures here.

 

The latest aerial view shows quite a wide gap between the turntable and the running line. Considering that the ground level had to be raised on the other side, why wasn't the whole thing positioned slightly closer to the line? (I'm sure there's a good reason, but what was it?)

 

I believe it is to accommodate the track layout leading into the shed that's going there

John

 

The extra space for overhang is so you can turn an LMS Princess ;-)

 

Na, its so that a 9f can fit, oh and an A2/3 , King , and MN .

 

The proposed track layout including the shed and turntable is here: http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2022/01/turntable-and-pit-71-plans.html

It's not clear from the plans but in earlier posts I believe it was mentioned this layout would also include space for a public viewing area, which would therefore also require a safe walkway for access from the station area or car park.

 

Thread drift. Isn't the Princess the longest UK, non articulated, preserved steam loco? At around 74 1/2 feet overall it's quite a beast. Even the P2 does not reach that length.

 

If the shed is to be on the far side from the running line, wouldn't that be a reason to squeeze the turntable as close to the line as possible?

 

Isn't it a bit late to be asking that?