Heathfield station - long lost Devon rail branch may reopen in 2020

[editor]

Good to see that the future of this little-known freight only line seems secure for another few years at least.
http://www.urban75.org/blog/heathfield-station-and-teignbridge-level-crossing-devon-a-rail-survivor/

 

[editor]

Eve better news:

Passengers train could soon be running on a disused rail line from Newton Abbot to Heathfield for the first time in 60 years.

The four mile stretch of line was closed in 1959, and in recent years, use of the line has dwindled to just the occasional freight train.

But the Heath Rail Link have been given permission by Network Rail to lease the line and trains could resume running by 2020.

Network Rail have told the group that providing the group can find the funding for the rolling stock and for a park and ride station in Heathfield, they will ensure that the line is in working order for the group.

Michael Cooke, chairman of Heath Rail Link said: “Network Rail have given us permission to open the line and have granted us a long term lease. This is fantastic news for us and everyone who has supported us.

“They will carry on maintaining the line, with some help from us, for the foreseeable future, and with the added option also to buy the line off of Network Rail when everything at our discretion has taken off.

“We are absolutely gobsmacked for words. Now though is the next hard battle to start funding it, running it, and getting business investment.

“The line is still in place and it is realistic that services could resume by 2020, providing that we get the funding.”

Fair bit of work to be done in plasces!

Visit by the Newton Abbot to Heathfield Railway Revival Group to the old Heathfield line

 

[editor]

Some recent-ish footage:

 

[editor]

As it once was:

Heathfield (Devon) railway station - Wikipedia

 

[Poot]

It's good news but it sounds as though there will be a LOT of fundraising to do. You would have hoped that NR would have been a BIT more helpful.

 

[editor]

It's good news but it sounds as though there will be a LOT of fundraising to do. You would have hoped that NR would have been a BIT more helpful.

Yeah it's a tough call but at least there's dialogue going on and (apparently) a fair bit of local interest.

 

[Poot]

Yeah it's a tough call but at least there's dialogue going on and (apparently) a fair bit of local interest.

I'm delighted that there is interest but I'm surprised that NR agreed to it - presumably NR won't be liable for any part of this and probably don't think it will actually happen (they are very are usually very obstructive about giving permission for anything at all).

If it gets off the ground might it form a precedent? The question is, shouldn't NR be sorting this out rather than leaving it to a local group? Or maybe they're expecting local groups to run various lines... Which would be interesting...

Nothing wrong with local groups of course and this would not be in the pipeline if they hadn't shown courage and willing, and fair play to them. But still... It's an expensive business and a bit of help would be useful.

 

[Idaho]

Heathfield itself is a.. Er... How should I put it... Shit place? A large industrial estate with a small housing estate tacked on to back of it.

 

[editor]

Heathfield itself is a.. Er... How should I put it... Shit place? A large industrial estate with a small housing estate tacked on to back of it.

Stick a rail link and you'd be surprised how an area can change and develop!

 

[Idaho]

There is a nice cycle path that runs from there to Newton abbot... Oh... I think that might be along that line.

 

[Dogsauce]

Presumably NR's stake in this is that it keeps their options open for a potential diversionary route between Exeter and Newton Abbot, avoiding the sea wall.

This is unlikely to be the favoured option however. The dismantled bit between Heathfield and Exeter would cost a fair amount to put back and was only built to branch line standards, not really suited to expresses, so would need some serious re-engineering. I think they do have a bit of a stub at the Exeter end which has kept potential for a connection there.

(*goes off to play with Google maps*)

 

[editor]

Presumably NR's stake in this is that it keeps their options open for a potential diversionary route between Exeter and Newton Abbot, avoiding the sea wall.

This is unlikely to be the favoured option however. The dismantled bit between Heathfield and Exeter would cost a fair amount to put back and was only built to branch line standards, not really suited to expresses, so would need some serious re-engineering. I think they do have a bit of a stub at the Exeter end which has kept potential for a connection there.

(*goes off to play with Google maps*)

I took a look earlier. it would be a monster task.