News stories

Against the odds, the UK's network of disused railway lines continues to make the news as the 21st Century throws up a host of transport, environmental and health challenges.

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December
Heathrow rail link planned 15/12/09 This is Local London
A rail firm has announced radical plans to link High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport and restore the old line to Maidenhead.
Bridge to remain closed 13/12/09 Norwich Evening News
An old railway bridge carrying the Marriott's Way over the River Wensum in Hellesdon will remain closed for six weeks longer than expected because of its poor condition.
Bid to reopen Alnmouth-Alnwick 12/12/09 Journal Live
A long-running bid to reinstate a historic Northumberland rail link is building up a head of steam, with the submission of plans.
Crab & Winkle disappointment 10/12/09 This is Kent
Campaigners have vowed to appeal after their plans to create a wildlife reserve on a former railway line were refused.
Station posed to become museum piece 09/12/09 BBC News
A Victorian railway station in Raglan, which has been closed for half a century, is poised to become an exhibit at a Welsh museum.
City Whitehall plan a step nearer 07/12/09 BBC News
Plans have been drawn up for a civil service campus at the abandoned Mayfield railway station, close to Piccadilly, in Manchester city centre.
Bus route work halted 04/12/09 The News (Portsmouth)
Work on the controversial Gosport-Fareham bus route, to be build on a disused railway trackbed, has been halted after a Gosport woman won the right to appeal against the scheme.
Doubts over viaduct cycleway 02/12/09 Northern Echo
The rocketing cost of reopening Durham’s spectacular Belmont Viaduct as a cycleway and footpath has led council chiefs to consider dropping the scheme.
Big step forward 01/12/09 Banffshire Journal

Plans to develop a Banffshire Way walking route on some of the area's former railway lines is gathering support.
£50,000 plea to get line back on track 01/12/09 Lancashire Telegraph
Rail campaigners have urged county council bosses to safeguard the old Colne-Skipton trackbed.

November
Minister backs railway campaign 28/11/09 BBC News
The business secretary Lord Mandelson has backed a move to reopen the railway line between Beverley and York, campaigners have said.
Go-ahead to reopen tunnels 27/11/09 BBC News
Plans to reopen four old railway tunnels on the Monsal Trail in the Derbyshire Peak District have been given the go-ahead.
Much-needed viaduct repairs delayed 26/11/09 Hampshire Chronicle
Restoration work to save the Hockley Viaduct - the longest brick structure in Hampshire - has been delayed whilst the local council awaits the results of ecological surveys.
Work starts to save old viaduct 19/11/09 This is North Devon
Work has finally begun to repair the crumlbing Coles Mill Viaduct which could help transform tourism and regeneration in the area.
'Chuffer nutters' clear signal 18/11/09 Devon 24
Two enthusiasts have been working hard to return an old railway signal to its former glory.
Walk this way 17/11/09 Banffshire Journal
Walkers could be making tracks to Banffshire if ambitious plans to transform a disused railway line into a new path become a reality.
Farmers outraged by rail trail 17/11/09 North-West Evening Mail
The Lake District National Park Authority is asking for public opinion on a suggested traffic-free route to link Coniston and Foxfield via an old railway, but farming families are against the idea.
Disused cutting still under threat 14/11/09 Journal Live
Calls for a disused railway line in Northumberland to be protected from housing development because of its potential as a future transport link have been rejected by a planning inspector.
Reopening 'not just a pipe dream' 12/11/09 Craven Herald & Pioneer
Plans to restore the Skipton-Colne rail link are realistic according to politicians from all parties who joined industry experts at the reopening campaign group's third annual conference.
Bridge demonstration woman arrested 10/11/09 This is Leicester
A woman has braved freezing temperatures and spent 12 hours chained to a bowstring bridge in Leicester in an effort to save it from demolition.
Monsal tunnels to reopen? 10/11/09 Grough
Four old railway tunnels could be reopened as part of a £3.785m new cycle trail across the Peak District National Park, linking the stations in Matlock and Buxton.
Museum plan for old station 08/11/09 South Wales Argus
A former Monmouthshire railway station building could find a new home and a new lease of life at the National History Museum in St Fagans.
Old tracks could see trains again 06/11/09 BBC News

The Welsh Assembly Government has asked Network Rail to conduct feasibility studies into the reopening of two disused lines.
Bideford-Barnstaple reopening support 01/11/09 This is North Devon

Councillors have given the thumbs up to getting the old railway link from Bideford to Barnstaple back on track at a possible cost of £80 million.

October
Public to have say on lakeland trail 17/10/09 North-West Evening Mail
The public is being asked for views on plans to create a traffic-free route to link two South Lakeland villages via a disused railway.
Upgrade puts path on right track 17/10/09 Think is Lincolnshire

Walkers who use a scenic path along a disused railway between Woodhall Spa and Horncastle are to benefit from a £200,000 upgrade.
Cycle path wins top award 16/10/09 Chard & Ilminster News

A railway cycle path project between Ilminster and Chard - which was heavily defended during the Second World War to try and stop any German invasion - has won a high-profile award.

Coxlodge waggonway reopens 16/10/09 About My Area

A disused railway line which once took coal from pit to port has been given a new lease of life as a community expressway, giving cyclists and pedestrians a fast track across Newcastle.
New rail link for Moorlands 15/10/09 The Sentinel (Staffs)

Moorlands and City Railways Ltd has bought about 20 miles of disused railway line between Stoke and Cauldon Low quarries which it plans to reopen.
Visitors get Bluebell extension peek 14/10/09 East Grinstead Courier

Progress on the Bluebell Railway's East Grinstead extension has been on display as hundreds of visitors walked the route the new tracks will take.
Bethesda railway to be restored 14/10/09 Holyhead & Anglesey Mail
Plans have been approved to reconstruct part of an historic railway in Bethesda despite concerns from local residents.
Bus link case to be heard 14/10/09 The News (Portsmouth)
The future of a high-speed £20 million bus link between Fareham and Gosport, along a disused railway line, is to be decided at a London court.
Trust fears for heritage 08/10/09 Shropshire Star
Cambrian Railway bosses have criticised proposals to build a supermarket and cinema in Oswestry, claiming it will destroy part of the town’s railway heritage.

September
Euston Arch to be rebuilt? 24/9/09 Daily Mail
The iconic Euston Arch could once again be the spectacular gateway to the London station after its remains were found in the River Lea.
Green Park display launched 23/9/09 This is Bath

Shoppers in Bath are being given the chance to learn about the history and heritage of the city's former Green Park Station which served the Somerset & Dorset Railway.
Housing plan for old rail yard 22/9/09 News & Star (Carlisle)
A disused former rail yard in Carlisle could be transformed by a major housing development.
Bridge demolition work to start 22/9/09 BBC News
The dismantling of a disused but listed bowstring bridge in Leicester's West End will get underway in October following a delay caused by engineering works.
Longridge station transformation 17/9/09 Lancashire Telegraph
Building work to turn Longridge's disused railway station into a heritage centre will begin in November, two months ahead of schedule.
Rail line reopening back on agenda 17/9/09 Express & Star
Plans to reopen a long-disused freight line between Walsall and Stourbridge could become a reality within 10 years, taking huge numbers of lorries off the roads.
Call to reconnect with Bideford 12/9/09 This is North Devon

Calls are being made to reopen the old railway line from Bideford to Barnstaple.
Wildlife halts bus link on old line 11/9/09 BBC News

Work on the controversial Fareham-Gosport bus scheme, running along an old railway, has been halted after environmentalists claimed badgers and bats may be at risk from the plans.
Homes fight still on track 05/9/09 Bolton News
A developer is launching a new bid for the right to build a housing estate in a disused cutting.
£220k tunnel project given go-ahead 04/9/09 Peeblesshire News

Another link in Tweeddale's proposed cycle network is set to be added in October as work gets underway to reopen the old railway tunnel beneath the A72 at Eshiels.
Plan to reopen old railway tunnel 02/9/09 Edinburgh Evening News
Work to reopen a historic tunnel in the heart of Edinburgh is set to get under way before the end of the year, 150 years after it was closed to the public.

August
Public to get answers over bus route 26/8/09 The News (Portsmouth)
Concerned residents are being given the chance to meet the contractor that will build a £20m high-speed bus route along an old railway formation between Gosport and Fareham.
Controversial plans for Crab & Winkle 24/8/09 This is Kent
A third set of plans has been proposed for a cycle path along the old Crab & Winkle line as councillors struggle to reach a decision on the first.
Job hope in work on old line 22/8/09 Scarborough Evening News
A project to improve Scarborough's most popular walking and cycling route - along the former line northwards to Whitby - could create 24 jobs, according to an environmental charity.
Renovation for Thornton station 21/8/09 Telegraph & Argus

Hard-working volunteers have completed a project to revitalise the site of Thornton's former station revealing a pleasant cobbled area where people can sit and relax.
Wycombe-Maidenhead plans dealt a blow 21/8/09 Local London
Plans to resurrect the Maidenhead-High Wycombe line with a modern ultra-light railway have been dealt a blow after transport chiefs said it was not financially viable at present.
Torrington extension on radar 18/8/09 Devon24
The Tarka Valley Railway Group is in discussions regarding planning permission for an extension of track at the former Torrington Station.
Bridge receives out-of-character rebuild 13/8/09 Daily Mail
Furious parishioners have accused a rail authority of penny pinching after they rebuilt half of a historic traditional stone railway bridge using modern red brick.
Deeside railway is making tracks 12/8/09 Press & Journal
Volunteers who are restoring a historic Deeside railway line have reached the second phase of the project, five years after building work began.
Reconnection by light rail? 10/8/09 Local London
A new rail service in the mould of the Docklands Light Railway could reconnect Maidenhead and High Wycombe nearly four decades after the line between them was closed.
Rail link work derails cyclists 07/8/09 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advrtsr
Cyclists have been displaced from the 14-mile Airdrie-Bathgate path because Network Rail is reopening the line for trains.
Protest aims to save old bridge 03/8/09 BBC News
Protestors have said moves to demolish an old railway bridge in Leicester would rob the city of a landmark which gives it some character.
Bringing back historic era of tube travel 03/8/09 London Informer
A lawyer has launched a campaign to reopen Brompton Road tube station because of the huge numbers of people now using the two adjacent stops.
Plan to link airport and rail network 03/8/09 Liverpool Echo
Transport chiefs in Liverpool hope the arrival of tram-trains in the UK will allow disused Victorian tracks to come back into use.
Government will not rule on bus link 01/8/09 The News (Portsmouth)
Plans for a £20 million bus corridor between Fareham and Gosport will not go to a government planning inquiry.

July
Bus corridor gets go-ahead 29/7/09 The News (Portsmouth)
Hampshire County Council has agreed to a bus link along the old railway trackbed through Fareham and Gosport despite opposition from residents.
Boost for Middlewich station campaign 28/7/09 Middlewich Guardian
A report by a consultancy firm has established a business case for the upgrading of the Northwich-Sandbach freight route for passenger services.
Station plan is too expensive 26/7/09 Evesham Journal
Plans to relocate Bourton-on-the-Water's old station building to Broadway have been shelved after the move was deemed too costly.
Old line could provide vital link 21/7/09 Northern Echo
A study is looking into the possibility of the old Leamside line being reopened to connect a Nissan factory directly to the Port of Tyne.
Station goes self-catering 14/7/09 This is Plymouth
A couple has spent the last two years renovating and upgrading Tavistock's old railway station, transforming the site into five-star self-catering cottages.
Cycle plan for disused railway 14/7/09 BBC News
Bristol-based Sustrans wants to convert the former Wye Valley Railway into a traffic-free route through Tintern and Tidenham tunnels.
Architects pedal cycle way idea 08/7/09 Edinburgh Evening News
An eye-catching new bridge over Leith Walk - following the path of a disused railway - is on the drawing board as a way to improve cycle links in the city.
End of the line for Bourton's old station 08/7/09 Cotswold Journal
About 40 years after the last train left Bourton railway station, the disused building is set to be demolished to make way for a new care home.
Landmarks under threat 07/7/09 Teesdale Mercury
Sections of disused railway in Teesdale are under threat from decay or neglect according to English Heritage's annual 'At Risk' register.
Campaign to restore Welsh rail link 06/7/09 County Times
A campaign group in North Wales is fighting for a direct rail link from Holyhead to Cardiff via Bangor, Rhyl, Ruthin, Llangollen, Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes and Brecon.
Tunnel vision for Edinburgh passage 06/7/09 The Scotsman
A 1,000-yard tunnel running from Scotland Street to Princes Street is to get a new lease of life as an exhibition, theatre and music venue.
Bridge collapse during heavy rain 01/7/09 BBC News

A builder had a lucky escape after part of a disused railway bridge collapsed onto the Old Station house at Castleside, County Durham during heavy rain.

June
Step forward for tunnel scheme 27/6/09 This is Bath
Rail enthusiasts, walkers and charity workers have entered Combe Down Tunnel which will form part of a new 'shared path' in Bath, due to open in the spring of 2012.
Appeal for Rosegrove-Padiham greenway 22/6/09 The Citizen (Burnley)
Walking and cycling experts at Lancashire County Council are keen to launch a new friends group for a greenway being created along the former Rosegrove-Padiham railway.
Firms want to reopen axed lines 15/6/09 Times Online

With passenger numbers up by half since privatisation, train companies are proposing to reopen at least 14 lines closed by Dr Beeching more than 40 years ago.
Highs and low before railway cuts 06/6/09 Hunts Post 24
Just as a guided busway nears completion in St Ives, another transport milestone is about to be reached - the disappearance of the town's railway.
Fans relive old line's last day 05/6/09 Oxford Times
Train lovers are to recreate the moment regular passenger services stopped on the old branch line linking Wallingford to the national railway network, 50 years ago to the day and minute.
Composting plant for disused cutting 03/6/09 This is Hull
East Riding Council has gave the green light to the region's first In Vessel Composting (IVC) plant in the Hull & Barnsley's former cutting at Eppleworth near Willerby.

May
Old line to be converted into cycle path 29/5/09 Lancashire Evening Post
A disused railway linking Preston with Grimsargh is to be transformed into a cycle route with the help of funding from various partners.
Housing refused on disused railway 29/5/09 News Post Leader
Plans to build new housing on a former mineral line in Blyth have been turned down.
Construction work starts on Metrolink 22/5/09 GMPTE

The first stages of work to build a new Metrolink line along the disused railway from Smedley Viaduct to Central Park will get underway in June.
Work progressing on Airdrie-Bathgate 20/5/09 Airdrie & Coatbridge Advert'
Work to restore to old railway between Airdrie and Bathgate is well under way and on schedule for completion by December next year.
Riverside bus section shelved 16/5/09 This is Bath

Council chiefs have temporarily shelved plans to run a controversial bus system on a mile-long section of old railway route through Newbridge.
A new ride along the line 12/5/09 Whitby Gazette
The old line from Scarborough to Whitby has been a firm favourite among cyclists for years but families can now swap two wheels for four.
BRT decision day looms 12/5/09 This is Bath
Politicians meet soon to decide whether to give planning permission to the Bus Rapid Transit scheme which would create a new dedicated route along an old railway line through Newbridge.
Plan for old signal box 06/5/09 The Press (York)

The owners of Stockton-on-the-Forest's disused signal box have applied to convert it into a house and create an extension which gives a nod to its one-time role on the railways.
Vision of rails across the Dales 01/5/09 Yorkshire Post
Rural public transport is typically sparse and poorly co-ordinated but grassroots action brought trains back to Wensleydale.
Crab & Winkle anniversary DVD 01/5/09 This is Kent

April
Railway draws closer 30/4/09 Tavistock Times
The reinstatement of the Bere Alston-Tavistock line has moved a step closer after councillors agreed to support the principle of entering a joint venture partnership with a property developer.
Opposition to station demolition 30/4/09 Ely Standard
Opposition is mounting to plans to demolish the old station at Fordham and replace it with a recycling centre.
Controversial plans to be debated 28/4/09 This is Bath

Four planning applications making up the Bath Transportation Package -including use of a disused railway line - will be debated by a meeting of the council development control committee.
Line receives new lease of life 27/4/09 Warwicks Indst'l Arch'lgy Scty
The former line linking Kenilworth Jnc and Berkswell has taken on a new lease of life following a £50m lottery grant to Sustrans.
Minister hears Beverley-Hull case 25/4/09 This is Hull
Council fights for Carlisle link 23/4/09 Southern Reporter (Borders)
Scottish Borders Council demands that Holyrood does not slam the door on any future extension of the Borders railway south of Tweedbank.
Tintern's old station gets tidy sum 22/4/09 South Wales Argus
Design contract advertised 14/4/09 Transport Briefing

Plans to create a new rail route between Oxford and London Marylebone have taken another step forward with the advertisement of a tender for a design and build contract.
Steam train returns after 50 years 14/4/09 Norwich Evening News

Train lovers can take a step back in time after a steam service was relaunched at Whitwell & Reepham Station, five decades after it closed.
Trackside cottage finds new home 13/4/09 The Sentinel (Staffs)

A Grade-II listed crossing keeper's cottage, which has stood empty alongside the West Coast Main Line for 10 years, is to be moved brick-by-brick to the Churnet Valley Railway.
Approval for reopening old line 09/4/09 This is Plymouth

A scheme to reopen the disused line to Tavistock in West Devon has moved a step forward after members of the area's district council provisionally gave it their approval.

March
Primrose Line unearthed 18/3/09 This is South Devon
Watchdog reconsiders airport link 17/3/09 The Gazette (North Essex)

A commuter watchdog is revisiting proposals for a train link between Braintree and Stansted Airport via a link closed in the 1960s.
Funding plea for tourist link 12/3/09 EDP24 (Norfolk)
Pressure is mounting for Norfolk County Council to help fund a £136,000 scheme to link the Bittern Line and North Norfolk Railway at Sherringham, boosting local tourism.
Speedy decision on tunnel needed 12/3/09 Sheffield Telegraph
A Sheffield MP has called on the government to make a speedy decision on whether to reopen a railway through Woodhead Tunnel or risk losing the route forever.
Plan for traffic-free path on old line 10/3/09 Bridport News

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans wants to resurface ten miles of disused railway between Bridport and Maiden Newton for cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users.
Cycle path almost linked up 05/3/09 Tavistock Times Gazette
Ambitious bid to restore old line 04/3/09 Gazette & Herald (Malton)

The Malton economy could be in line for a big boost if an ambitious plan to restore a Wolds railway becomes a reality.
Old railway prepared for bus route 03/3/09 The News (Portsmouth)
Work to clear the old line through Gosport and Fareham has now finished, with Hampshire County Council hoping it can secure millions of pounds from the government to build a bus route.

February
New viaduct plans given thumbs up 27/2/09 Halifax Courier
Locals have welcomed plans for a cycle route and footpath over West Vale Viaduct.
Tavistock-Plymouth rail link plan 27/2/09 This is Plymouth
Council urged to buy trackbed 26/2/09 The Citizen (Burnley)
Pendle councillors have urged Lancashire’s leaders to buy a £50,000 section of the old railway line running from Colne to Foulridge.
A trip down memory line 26/2/09 Eastbourne Herald
A production company wants your old video footage of the Cuckoo Line which ran from Polegate-Eridge until it was axed in the 1960s and is now a popular cycle route and footpath.
MPs call for trans-Pennine link move 25/2/09 Cranswick Today
Station's new lease of life 23/2/09 Dereham Times
Whitwell & Reepham Station will reopen for the first time in 50 years, with 1,500ft of track and a steam train to puff and hiss along it.
Wear Valley breakthrough 23/2/09 Northumberland Gazette
Footpath plan for West Vale Viaduct 21/2/09 Huddersfield Examiner
Hundreds oppose BRT plan 18/2/09 This is Bath
A petition signed by 3,000 people and nearly 400 letters have been handed to council officials by campaigners fighting a controversial bus route along a disused railway line.
Land for a line 17/2/09 Railfuture
Campaigners want to buy a strip of land with two disused rail bridges so the Norfolk Orbital railway can become a reality.
Station heritage project on track 12/2/09 Lancashire Telegraph

Work to transform the old station building at Longridge into a heritage centre will begin this summer if a tendering process is successful.
Blue plaque for Yarmouth station 12/2/09 The Advertiser (Norfolk)
Ambitious main line rail plan 12/2/09 Loughborough Echo

A £350,000 grant has been secured from the East Midlands Development Agency for a feasibility study into Great Central Railway’s ‘Bridging the Gap’ scheme.
Tories would protect disused lines 11/2/09 New Civil Engineer
Railway plan hits buffers 11/2/09 Press & Journal (Aberdeen)

An ambitious project to restore a railway that once ran in the foothills of Ben Nevis has been abandoned because of funding issues.
Strawberry path plans progressing 10/2/09 This is Somerset
Enthusiasts hope to buy trackbed 09/2/09 Eastern Daily Press (Anglia)
Enthusiasts hoping to create a Norfolk orbital railway have set their sights on what could be their first purchase of track bed.
Pendle railway plan back on track 02/2/09 Lancashire Telegraph

January
'Olympic' line might be lost 30/1/09 BBC News
A historic disused railway in Dorset, which could be used to take spectators to the 2012 Olympic sailing events, may be lost before the games get under way.
Council 'disappointed" over victory 28/1/09 Bucks Free Press
A council which won a battle to stop homes being built on a disused railway track says it is “disappointed” the plan was not thrown out on the issue of the line.
Rail opening moves a step closer 28/1/09 The Weston Mercury
Plans to reopen the Portishead-Bristol railway have taken a step forward with Network Rail being commissioned to carry out a technical evaluation.
High-speed bus link to be approved 28/1/09 The News (Portsmouth)
A £20 million high-speed bus route on the disused railway between Gosport and Fareham is set to get county approval.
Plans drawn up for railway path 27/1/09 Scarborough Evening News
The Scarborough-Whitby railway path is in line for a makeover by university students.
Developer loses appeal 26/1/09 Local London
A bid to build 29 homes on a disused railway in Wooburn Green has been thrown out after a developer's appeal.
World's longest busway 26/1/09 The Times
The st. Ives-Cambridge guided busway will open for business in the late summer.
Rapid bus route reaches milestone 26/1/09 Hampshire Chronicle

A new £20m bus rapid transit scheme, linking Fareham and Gosport via a disused railway line, comes before Hampshire County Council for approval on Thursday.
East-west clearance work starts 23/1/09 The Bucks Herald
Ten-mile cycle path for the South-West 22/1/09 BikeBiz
Strathpeffer-Dingwall path a step closer 17/1/09 Press & Journal (Aberdeen)
Kenilworth's makes Connect2 progress 16/1/09 Kenilworth Weekly News
Homes approved for on station site 16/1/09 Diss Express
Council close to buying GN warehouse 15/1/09 Manchester Evening News
Manchester City Council is understood to be close to a deal to buy the city's landmark Great Northern Warehouse, which is Grade II listed.
Back on track after Beeching 14/1/09 Yorkshire Evening Post
A retrospective looking at Beeching's impact on the rail network around Leeds.
Dump approved in railway cutting 12/1/09 Evening Leader (Flintshire)
Warning as Amman Valley line reopens 12/1/09 South Wales Guardian
Walkers and motorists are being reminded that the six-mile disused Gwuan-Cae-Gurwen railway is reopening for freight.
Rent a train-spotter's haven 12/1/09 Yorkshire Post
Film tracks railway memories 09/1/09 Great Yarmouth Mercury
A vanished railway has inspired two artists to record a short film in the line which once ran through their home village of Belton.
Heritage line link up 08/1/09 Rail News
At Easter, passenger trains will run between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge for the first time in many years, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the Spa Valley Railway Society.
LibDems unveil wishlist of reopenings 08/1/09 Rail News
Full steam ahead for station reopening 06/1/09 Bolton News
Cutting landfill plan sparks fears 06/1/09 Evening Leader (Flintshire)
Borders railway branded 'a scandal' 06/1/09 Borders Telegraph
Campaigners shocked by demolition 02/1/09 Ham & High 24
Residents are furious that the historic Primrose Hill Station has been demolished by Network Rail days after the launch of a campaign to reopen it.
Manager appointed for viaduct scheme 01/1/09 Sunderland Echo
Project manager sets about opening Durham's Belmont Viaduct as a foot and cycle route.

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