Demand for revival of rail link between Kingham and Cheltenham questioned despite campaign
5:00pm Monday 24th June 2013 in News By Tom Jennings
COUNCILLORS have questioned whether there is sufficient demand to warrant reopening the disused railway line between Kingham and Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire County Council was asked to consider the plan at a council meeting on Wednesday following a Facebook campaign.
Liberal Democrat Dem councillor Paul Hodgkinson said the line would bring a "much-needed west-east public transport link, which is sadly lacking".
But the council's cabinet member for infrastructure, Will Windsor-Clive, a Conservative, said it could cost £300m to £500m to reinstate the 24 miles of track.
He said: "In 2008, proposals to reinstate the Lewes-Uckfield line in Sussex, which is about nine miles in length, were costed at £141m.
"Reinstating the Cheltenham to Kingham line would additionally require substantial new track through both Cheltenham and Bourton-on-the-Water where the old route has been built over, the rebuilding of the Dowdswell viaduct and the recommissioning of the Sandywell Park tunnel.
"I would question whether there is sufficient demand, particularly given it would not provide a faster route to London, to persuade any Government that this is a good investment."
The Facebook group, Reopen the Cheltenham to Kingham Railway Line, has gained 58 "likes".
The line was closed west of Bourton-on-the-Water in 1962, with the section between there and Kingham seeing its last train in 1964.
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or