Clive
My other strong view is that once open it should be run as a circular route connecting Devon Nth, Sth, East and West. i.e. Plymouth, Ivybridge (which currenty has a woeful service), Totnes, NA, Teignmouth, Dawlish Exeter, Crediton, Okhampton, Lydford, Tavistock, Bere Alston Plymouth. What a fantastic choice of journeys that would opportune. No reversing of trains at Exeter or Plymouth and no ...
My long term view is that with Tavy already on the cards it is a no brainer to reconnect the remaining 15miles. Some steam preservation lines are longer than that!!! In 10, 20, 50 years time it will be seen as a massive failure of initiative to not have done so. With many cost numbers floating around it is important to appreciate that there are two very different solutions to a re-opening, ...
To quote Mr Osbourne in Plymouth this week, '...I am working with the Secretary of State for Transport to establish a south-west Peninsula Rail Task Force, to develop a comprehensive rail strategy for the region. And I want this to look at the case for re-opening the inland rail route between Exeter and Plymouth via Okehampton and Tavistock.' - Hmm, still still only looking then to keep the ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-31042325 Any views on how serious to take these generous words about providing rail resilience?
Yay, all power to Margaret for giving Dawlish a big thumbs-up :)
It is a 'cracking job'. Crisis management is no way to run such vital infrastructure though.
@Stephen - Answer to your first question - Both lines will always be sub-optimal, but at least there will be an 'heir and a spare' providing resiliance. Also plenty of extra happy Devon communities. @flo - as for the plymouth bashing, remember that all the same arguments from plymouth and cornwall for wanting a reliable service apply to a far greater extent to na and totnes and torbay. and ...
My hunch is it's all just a bit of an election tease that Oke-Tavy will be re-built anytime soon. Snag is that there are a lot of costs involved from building a brand new Meldon Viaduct, track raising Exeter to Crediton to make it flood proof, improving earthworks to modern standards, signalling, oh and not to mention that small matter of demolishing the shortsighted placing of council offices ...
There will be very many property owners (ill conceived Tavistock council offices et al built on the line excepted) in mid-Devon rejoicing if the Oke-Tavy line is actually reconnected. Also, at least Plymouth will be able to rejoice in having an alternative line for whenever there are disruptions ANYWHERE on the South Devon line and cheaper fares by a competing SWT line. i.e. Just look at the ...
@wondering - it is perfectly technically possible to push the waterfront away from the line - spend permitting!! Beach would look somewhat different though Think Dutch - problem solved. Can then electrify. Chudleigh - am sure they too would love their station back - so too would most of north Devon and Cornwall !!! But it is not the correct strategic solution @ MC - On the premise ...
