Project Wareham

Fire up that snowplow and check the"lost railways may be restored" thread on NP South Wales to Aberystwyth!!. TFW has some very good incentives for using PUBLIC transport and that is what is needed at all levels to bring about a "through" service from Wareham to Swanage,not turfing the punters (either direction) off at Norden. Reading the"Royal Wessex" news from the SR they even give the times and timings of the connecting services..is it beyond 21st century intelligence to make an already existing branch line(funny enough when you type in Swanage Railway search on your PC it returns "branch line"despite all the convoluted arguments against on this thread) into a working entity of benefit to all of the population, just as those users of the branch and the main line enjoyed all those years ago.. Royal Wessex to Norden Gates then off you get!!

 

I notice you still ignore the question of the fundamental nature of that branch line. Post Beeching minimum railway, or thriving heritage operation?

As for that proposed line to Aberystwyth, I note both the publication, and the very vague commitment - a plan for a north south railway in 5 years time. The plans that have been suggested for part of that line (south from Aberystwyth) are both phenomenally expensive, deliver very little of real use (the line does not actually serve many communities, certainly not of any size) and destructive of the existing strong heritage railway.

 

You can read into it what you want. I choose to be optimistic especially when i hear planners and government agencies talking of plans that will ultimately benefit everyone. Less car use. ;less space given over to parking lots, less fossil fuel burned. more opportunities for healthy lifestyle. Aberystwyth is a university town,lots going on, with the V of R resurgent and a very good Spoons in the old Station. Read the latest surcharge news on the SR? operating on the edge so no great hope for big things in 2023?
Two different visions. Some want stagnation at Norden Gates and others want SR to continue its mandate to get connected with the wider world.

 

Sorry, What Mainline stock are we talking about here? I assume you mean the five coaches that went to Yeovil and back with 31806. Iam not aware that any Swanage Railway coach is Main line registered to carry
fare paying passengers.

 

Some of us also want the SR to survive. And living in Ontario, you'll be aware that what happens in one province may well bear little relationship to what happens in another. Just as what Welsh authorities are doing bears little resemblance to what happens in Dorset.

 

from this link, the intention is to run steam (as well as DMUs), at Wareham, the Mk1 carriages will need a lot of work and cost on central locking doors, retention toilets (which is a good thing for heritage railways) and other items. Maybe some time in the future?.
http://swanagemoguls.com/2018/04/17/31806-takes-to-the-mainline/
"With No. 31806 equipped with the required signalling and monitoring equipment required to run on Network Rail, the upgrade work to the locomotive and carriages gives the Swanage Railway the potential to run special steam trains to Wareham in the future."

 

But that link you posted was 2018. A lot has happened in the world since then, let alone upcoming regulation changes from NR & ORR.
Would have been the aim then, now who knows.

 

The 5 Mark 1 coaches are registered to run on Network Rail metals - hence their availability to operate with 31806 and D6515 of course.
As mentioned by others, before they get licenced to carry passengers, a massive amount of specialist work is needed at some considerable extra cost.

 

if one pays attention to the Gricers and NP CME;s Swanage Railway will be back to running saddle tanks to Herston Halt soon!~ That would kill Project Wareham but good!! Given the latest statement from the SR chairman NOTHING will happen in 2023
Lets face itne steam train and one DMU does not make for big excess profits T/F

 

Have you been drinking again?

 

..and the question is what will change this stasis?? Or does SR continue down the road of ever dwindling numbers?

 

Drink would cloud the cool wind of realism sweeping across the sleepers of the SR, Adapt or perish simple as that. One Steam Train One DMU going to where?? Norden??
What is YOUR proposition for survival>

 

Well what’s YOURS?

 

Yes, just a temporary ban. Actuarial tables indicate that nine years should be just about adequate.

People only get wound up because they read his provocative nonsense. People who respond to his provocative nonsense encourage him to post more provocative nonsense, and so his little game continues. It's the classic troll strategy, played by countless people like him since the days of Usenet (remember that?).

If the mods refuse to take action (as is their prerogative), don't read, don't respond. Just IGNORE.

 

Correct! There are however other factors to be considered.
How are the Swanage Railway going to be able to run a 45 minute two train service internally if one of the prime sets is going to venture on the big railway.
There would have to be more locomotives fitted with OTMR/TPWS equipment, both steam and diesel.
The OR&R are not happy about more Mk1 rolling stock venturing out onto the national network.
And more importantly who would fund the upgrade of Locomotives and rolling stock, we are probably talking tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds here.

 

Slight problem!
I "Ignored" another person from one of the other threads only to see response comments posted that did not make an item of sense.
Might it be better if everytime he posts his wibble, everyone pressed the report button?

 

Or everyone could just not reply?

 

Is someone hinting at something

 

ooooh the feeling of power to BAN s person from a hobbyist blog!
I am merely advocating the reestablishment of a Through service train from Wareham to Swanage.. even as recently described in the latest SR handout on its Royal Wessex launch, is that heretical?
Is there something offensive about that POV?

 

As you thoughtfully point, there's lots going on in Aberystwyth but what's happening at Wareham - or even Swanage! What most of us would like, I suggest, is a heritage centric, thriving Swanage railway!

The secret to success in changing people's habits is to give them what they want, not what you want them to have. They days of public transport for leisure purposes are all but history now. The fact is, though it may be unacceptable to you, people nowadays prefer to use their personal transport,, and that personal transport is going through a rapid evolutionary phase now with electric vehicles becoming more and more practical. There'll still be parking and traffic issues, and the Norden interchange will have an important role to play - Wareham won't because it doesn't have much of a car park. Nothing is ever black and white, of course, but anyone who thinks that having trains running to Wareham is going to make an earthshattering difference is sadly deluded. It may make a small difference, but will it make enough of a difference to be viable longer term?