Post by wirewiper on Apr 1, 2020 9:42:48 GMT
Due to the large number of heritage steam and diesel railways now operating in the UK, one Devon-based operator is to announce today a radical plan to re-invent itself as an electric railway and operate heritage electric trains from past eras.
The Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, which operates between Paignton and Kingswear, will announce an ambitious £200million plan to electrify its 6.7 mile route with a unique system that will allow both 1,500v DC and 25kv AC trains to operate - although obviously not at the same time. This will allow a variety of heritage electric locomotives and multiple-units to operate in service and it is hoped this will attract large numbers of electric train enthusiasts, who are not currently catered for by teage railway industry, and bring more tourism area. The scheme has the full support of the local Torbay and Devon tourism agencies.
Said Pilar Lofo, the Railway's charismatic Spanish spokeswoman: "the Heritage Steam Railway market has become increasingly crowded, and to stand out and continue to be profitable we decided we really needed to do something different. It is clear that enthusiasts of electric traction, who are growing in number, are not currently catered for by the heritage railway sector; and whilst ambitious, our plans should ensure that we attract large numbers of visitors from all parts of the UK and also from abroad, which is good for our railway, and good for the local economy and small businesses".
Perhaps the most eye-catching part of the project - and the one likely to arouse the most controversy - is to reinstate most of the Churston to Brixham branch line,which closed back in May 1963, as a third-rail electric line. This the company says would vastly increase the attractiveness of the enterprise and would enable a more comprehensive coverage of the history of electric train operation The rail alignment is largely intact, although a couple of houses and the Churston end of the line would need to be acquired and demolished, and the line would need to stop short of the of the original terminus in Brixham as a sizeable housing development occupies the site of the former station and goods yard. The main objections would be loss of amenity, as much of the route is now used as a footpath.
Subject to consent and depending on how quickly overhead line can be installed, it is hoped that electric services could start running over at least part of the route by 1st April 2023. An official opening ceremony has been planned for that day, with a special class 86-hauled Pullman train for local dignitaries and invited guests departing Paignton at 12 noon for Churston, where the company's headquarters are located. After a short ceremony at Churston Station, guests would then board an ex-Southern Railway 2BIL for the short trip to Brixham and back.
The Paignton & Dartmouth Railway, which operates between Paignton and Kingswear, will announce an ambitious £200million plan to electrify its 6.7 mile route with a unique system that will allow both 1,500v DC and 25kv AC trains to operate - although obviously not at the same time. This will allow a variety of heritage electric locomotives and multiple-units to operate in service and it is hoped this will attract large numbers of electric train enthusiasts, who are not currently catered for by teage railway industry, and bring more tourism area. The scheme has the full support of the local Torbay and Devon tourism agencies.
Said Pilar Lofo, the Railway's charismatic Spanish spokeswoman: "the Heritage Steam Railway market has become increasingly crowded, and to stand out and continue to be profitable we decided we really needed to do something different. It is clear that enthusiasts of electric traction, who are growing in number, are not currently catered for by the heritage railway sector; and whilst ambitious, our plans should ensure that we attract large numbers of visitors from all parts of the UK and also from abroad, which is good for our railway, and good for the local economy and small businesses".
Perhaps the most eye-catching part of the project - and the one likely to arouse the most controversy - is to reinstate most of the Churston to Brixham branch line,which closed back in May 1963, as a third-rail electric line. This the company says would vastly increase the attractiveness of the enterprise and would enable a more comprehensive coverage of the history of electric train operation The rail alignment is largely intact, although a couple of houses and the Churston end of the line would need to be acquired and demolished, and the line would need to stop short of the of the original terminus in Brixham as a sizeable housing development occupies the site of the former station and goods yard. The main objections would be loss of amenity, as much of the route is now used as a footpath.
Subject to consent and depending on how quickly overhead line can be installed, it is hoped that electric services could start running over at least part of the route by 1st April 2023. An official opening ceremony has been planned for that day, with a special class 86-hauled Pullman train for local dignitaries and invited guests departing Paignton at 12 noon for Churston, where the company's headquarters are located. After a short ceremony at Churston Station, guests would then board an ex-Southern Railway 2BIL for the short trip to Brixham and back.
