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Spa Valley Railway - Eridge opening Fri 25 March!

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by paulmck, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. TonyMay

    TonyMay Member

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    why isn't there a run-round? surely there's space by using both platform faces? 'Im sure it would give the SVR better operations?
     
  2. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    The footpath from the Station car park crosses the running line.
     
  3. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    If the GCR and Severn Valley can have footpaths and barrow crossings over their lines I do not see why it would preclude the Spa Valley - it's all in the risk assessment. Surely there must be more to it than that?
     
  4. Jonnie

    Jonnie Member

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    It became apparent very early on in our operation to Eridge that the reinstatement of the former Platform 4 line should be a priority of the society. The railway has since looked into the installation of the former Platform 4 line which has now lead us onto the designing stage. We purchased a set of points last year which will form part of the project however the biggest issue that we did face was the access path across the former line from the car park. Eridge station belongs to Southern so anything we wish to do there, such as the reinstating the former line, must be approved by them first.

    The solution to the access is that we plan to construct a swing bridge similar to what there currently is at Brockenhurst over the former line, I have recently completed the signalling design work which necessitates the bridge being protected in both directions through signals and points.

    More on this project will become apparent in the very near future once we work out the overall costs however if you wish to know more regarding the S&T aspects then please do PM me.

    In the mean time do pay us a visit to our ever growing railway to see the other projects continuing such as the Groombridge Signalling Scheme, another priority of the railway with both this and the Eridge loop working as one to greatly improve the railways operation, along with various overhauls/projects in the shed at the West to keep our hard working volunteers busy.
     
  5. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    For the benefit of anybody not familiar with this most interesting feature still in use at Brockenhurst:
     

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  6. Jark91

    Jark91 Member

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    Pardon my naivety but would it not be considerably cheaper and easier to have a basic timber footbridge constructed over the platform four line? I can't imagine it would cost an insane amount of money, nor would it need any signalling installing...
     
  7. steamybrian

    steamybrian New Member

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    There is an important need to provide access for wheelchair users . The above mentioned swingbridge will provide step free entrance/exit between platform and car park to meet modern requirements for visitors with restricted mobility.
     
  8. Selsig

    Selsig Member

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    True, but only for the Spa Valley. Southern users, and it is, after all, their car park, still have to go over the footbridge to the other platform, so either extending the current footbridge (if this is feasable) or building a new one over to the Southern platform wouldn't be all that much of an extra hardship, and could even incorporate a lift to truly allow access.

    John
     
  9. steamybrian

    steamybrian New Member

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    At Eridge it is not possible to extend the current footbridge into the car park because the route is obstructed by former railway cottages and their gardens.
    What would be the cost of the providing an additional footbridge with three lifts (one for the car park, one for Spa Valley Rly platform, one for NR platform)...?? Probably mega pounds more than the cost of the swing bridge.
    The footbridge would also take up a large space in the car park which on Mondays- Fridays is full of commuters cars but the surrounding roads are also full .
     
  10. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Used to be something similar at Malton.
     
  11. TonyMay

    TonyMay Member

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    well the other possibility is that you build a run-round loop just beyond the station, and run trains in through the platform without stopping, run round them, and pull them back into the station. Might involve a bit of digging though and maybe a slice of farmland land to purchase, but it's an alternative to consider (and reject if it's more expensive)
     
  12. Selsig

    Selsig Member

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    The option I wondered about was using the long siding alongside the SVR running line just outside Eridge station as a run round. The train could be timetabled to propel out of Eridge, run round, and propel back in during the turnaround.

    John
     
  13. steamybrian

    steamybrian New Member

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    It would require planning permission before beginning to think how expensive land is to buy in the South East then the cost of building a run-round loop using contractors. Total cost-mega pounds
     
  14. Jonnie

    Jonnie Member

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    We're going to be installing the former Bay line, the other options suggested aren't ideal for everyday operation. We are going to be putting the Bay line back in which is something that'll become apparent in the near future.
     
  15. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    I think a runround is the infinitely preferable solution, and I am glad that such is currently being planned. It will end the need for expensive top and tail working - which I always find quite unappealing visually - and when the signalling is completed allow for nice busy timetables.
     
  16. steamybrian

    steamybrian New Member

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    Still does not solve the question of providing step free access to the Spa Valley Railway platform for wheelchair users which there is an urgent requirement.
     
  17. svr1317

    svr1317 New Member

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    Of course whatever we do will cost a significant amount of money, not least due to the requirement to use contractors, so if anyone would like to make a donation to the Eridge project fund, or know a wealthy benefactor, the railway would love to hear from you.
     
  18. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    I am pleased that something is being planned for this. The current arrangements looked rather expensive and inconvenient when I visited recently. The swing bridge sounds relatively cheap and an interesting bit of innovative thinking.
     
  19. matt41312

    matt41312 Member

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    All,

    To summarise what my fellow volunteers have said. This is my "little baby" and I have been working hard on the project for over a year already with some of their help, so what I say is straight from the horses mouth.

    Location
    We explored a number of locations both sides of the station along with the former Down loop line.
    1. Uckfield side of station - Currently the railway's lease runs to the end of the former down line. Unfortunately this is in a cutting and is unsuitable and there is nowhere beyond to consider unless we buy some land.
    2. Former engineers siding - Yes we looked at this but the operation poses too much risk to run at weekends, let alone the midweek with all the propelling moves that would be required. This would mean "turfing" all our passengers off, which would be unpopular.
    3. Former down loop - The ideal situation as it means the train remains at the station and it will complete the setting at our terminus.

    Unfortunately this option does pose a problem with the footpath from the car park. We have already had a preliminary meeting with Southern TOC and they have indicated their willingness to consider the project on the proviso we don't affect their customers getting to their trains. Therefore they will not entertain relocating the access right up the end of the Spa Valley platform and foot crossings are not flavour of the month with the ORR/Inspectorate. Plus they don't want to lose any car parking spaces.

    We have also taken the opportunity to discuss our ideas with the local neighbours and although in agreement, again they have raised a few comments. Each time something like this happens, it means we have to rework everything. One example of this is moving the bridge by 5m towards London in order to get it off land owned by the cottages. This in turn has a different impact on the car park which then needs looking at.

    Design
    As the volunteers have already confirmed, we have an outline design for the track, signalling and swing bridge. This allows us to source costs and to ascertain a rough estimate for the works.

    Already the signalling looks set to be an expensive element along with the track works by our contractors. We currently have costings for track installation and track materials. We hope this will be followed by costings for the signalling and swing bridge.

    So as already alluded to we have procured a point to be installed for the loop which has cost the railway nothing in terms of money and to date the project has cost nothing. We do anticipate this changing soon as we use the money as and when equipment/materials become available. However there isn't much money currently available and if this project is to become reality we need your help, either in terms of donations or labour. I would be interested to hear from a quantity surveyor. If we can get sponsorship of use the design/installation as a training ground exercise, this will help reduce costs further and therefore ensure we are running round trains sooner at Eridge.

    So there we are, that is the current status. I can't put a completion date on the project at the moment as it all depends on the fundraising and the possession availability to carry out and complete the works. The run round loop offers many benefits to the railway. It reduces the cost of the second loco which will be offset by the additional coal we will burn, but we will be able to offer a full steam service and run more often to Eridge for events like dining trains, which has been a problem with our lucrative special bookings. We will also be able to reduce the dependency on crews by two people who could potentially be released to run the second train service with the diesel upon completion of the passing loop at Groombridge.

    Both of these projects are crucial and at the forefront of the Spa Valley Railway's plans and guarantee our future as a serious operation. I hope you will support us.

    Matt
     
  20. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Putting my signalling hat on for a moment, could you tell us a bit more about the planned signalling?

    Will both sides of the platform be able to be used by passenger trains? This would give the greatest flexibility as it would mean that at galas you could have one train sat ready to go, another arrives and the first one leaves, freeing up the opposite line for the runround. The disadvantage of this I suppose would be that you would lose access to the car park all the while something was sat in the way of the swing bridge. Will you be putting token/tablet working in?
     

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