Fermiboson
Member
In the western Cotswolds area, there are two closed branches (among others): Oxford - Whitney - Lechlade - Fairford, and the Highworth branch.
All the talk of Oxford - Swindon - Bristol direct services got me thinking while staring at a map: why not reopen and connect the two branches? (Apart from cost, obviously.)
Whitney, Eynsham and Carterton have all grown significantly since the Beeching days, and Carterton serves the large RAF base at Brize Norton. Whitney and Eynsham contribute significantly to the horrible North Oxford commuter traffic down Woodstock/Banbury Rd. Indeed there are several proposals for reopening the line which seem to have attracted local attention.
Highworth was never successful as a passenger service, but the town has also grown, and the connection between Lechlade-on-Thames and Highworth is not that far. It would also enable Oxford - Swindon directs bypassing the need to reverse at Didcot.
So, the idea is as follows: Reopen the Whitney branch along the old route, up until the crossing of the River Leach outside Lechlade. Have the track curve southwards, passing north of the knoll and south of Manor Farm Nursery, and cross the A417 (where the station will be) east of the cricket club. Then cross the Thames, and go in a reasonably straight line southwards crossing the River Cole somewhere northeast of Upper Inglesham. Then go in a south-southwest direction, crossing the A361 just north of the roundabout and south of the slight terrain raise. After passing by the junction of Pentylands Ln and Blackworth, curve south to enter Highworth just east of Fitzgerold Ave, cross St Michael's Ave and thread the needle between the various schools and bars, cross St Michael's Ave again to arrive at the old station site. After that reopen the old Highworth branch track to South Marston (which appears to still be in use as a freight line). The stations along the line will be Eynsham, Whitney, Brize Norton for Carterton, Lechlade-on-Thames, Highworth, South Marston & Kingsdown, and Swindon. With the push for reopening Wantage & Grove, perhaps one could run a shuttle service of Oxford - Swindon via Whitney - Didcot stopping at all stations, and also use the branch for a fast direct to Bristol, calling at Oxford, Whitney, Brize Norton, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol.
How bad is this idea, and why?
All the talk of Oxford - Swindon - Bristol direct services got me thinking while staring at a map: why not reopen and connect the two branches? (Apart from cost, obviously.)
Whitney, Eynsham and Carterton have all grown significantly since the Beeching days, and Carterton serves the large RAF base at Brize Norton. Whitney and Eynsham contribute significantly to the horrible North Oxford commuter traffic down Woodstock/Banbury Rd. Indeed there are several proposals for reopening the line which seem to have attracted local attention.
Highworth was never successful as a passenger service, but the town has also grown, and the connection between Lechlade-on-Thames and Highworth is not that far. It would also enable Oxford - Swindon directs bypassing the need to reverse at Didcot.
So, the idea is as follows: Reopen the Whitney branch along the old route, up until the crossing of the River Leach outside Lechlade. Have the track curve southwards, passing north of the knoll and south of Manor Farm Nursery, and cross the A417 (where the station will be) east of the cricket club. Then cross the Thames, and go in a reasonably straight line southwards crossing the River Cole somewhere northeast of Upper Inglesham. Then go in a south-southwest direction, crossing the A361 just north of the roundabout and south of the slight terrain raise. After passing by the junction of Pentylands Ln and Blackworth, curve south to enter Highworth just east of Fitzgerold Ave, cross St Michael's Ave and thread the needle between the various schools and bars, cross St Michael's Ave again to arrive at the old station site. After that reopen the old Highworth branch track to South Marston (which appears to still be in use as a freight line). The stations along the line will be Eynsham, Whitney, Brize Norton for Carterton, Lechlade-on-Thames, Highworth, South Marston & Kingsdown, and Swindon. With the push for reopening Wantage & Grove, perhaps one could run a shuttle service of Oxford - Swindon via Whitney - Didcot stopping at all stations, and also use the branch for a fast direct to Bristol, calling at Oxford, Whitney, Brize Norton, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol.
How bad is this idea, and why?