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Dartmoor & Weardale Railways for sale

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Brush 4

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It shouldn't adversely affect the GWR plan to resume daily services to Exeter. The steam service was an entirely separate entity. With stone traffic also gone, the line is now clear for the daily service and, Okehampton station is restored and ready for trains. Signalling and track refurb aside, could hardly be simpler, when compared to other overgrown or lifted lines proposed for reopening.
 
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devonexpress

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Network Rail could buy it if enough MP's in the local area put pressure on the government to fork out the cash, It would be better overall as then GWR would have full control over Sampford Courtney and Okehampton stations and could put up PIS etc without having to get permission from Dartmoor Railway. The only thing is if Network Rail do buy it, I doubt much would happen with the Okehampton to Meldon viaduct section although it would be good to have GWR services to Meldon Viaduct.

I think DR has quite a few MK3,MK2 etc which will probably get sold on.
 
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Coleford Jcn to Meldon is owned by Aggregate Industries; Okehampton station by Devon County Council. There is very little in the way of assets for the Dartmoor Railway adminstrators to dispose of - some items of rolling-stock and track-maintenance equipment; the rest is owned by the voluntary supporters association. AI do not wish to sell the line ; they regard it as essential should the the quarry be revived. The have 'grandfather rights' to the quarry and do not need permission from the Dartmoor National Park Authority to do so, unlike a completely new quarry. It is a mess - the obvious solution would be for a compulsory purchase order of the line by Network Rail, but I can't see the current government authorising it.
 

devonexpress

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Coleford Jcn to Meldon is owned by Aggregate Industries; Okehampton station by Devon County Council. There is very little in the way of assets for the Dartmoor Railway adminstrators to dispose of - some items of rolling-stock and track-maintenance equipment; the rest is owned by the voluntary supporters association. AI do not wish to sell the line ; they regard it as essential should the the quarry be revived. The have 'grandfather rights' to the quarry and do not need permission from the Dartmoor National Park Authority to do so, unlike a completely new quarry. It is a mess - the obvious solution would be for a compulsory purchase order of the line by Network Rail, but I can't see the current government authorising it.

Unless Devon Live have it wrong ist said that DCC and Dartmoor Railway joint lease Okehampton Station, or does that mean DCC own it but Dartmoor Railway run & maintain it? If so GWR could take over that role. I'm sure Aggregate Industries could work with GWR, give that GWR do driving training on the Dartmoor Railway. So if the newspaper stories are a load of mush, Why isn't a daily service already running or about to, also where is the GWR report into making a case for a daily service, surely that should be out soon given the franchises ends in less than 6 weeks.
 

Ash Bridge

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Unless Devon Live have it wrong ist said that DCC and Dartmoor Railway joint lease Okehampton Station, or does that mean DCC own it but Dartmoor Railway run & maintain it? If so GWR could take over that role. I'm sure Aggregate Industries could work with GWR, give that GWR do driving training on the Dartmoor Railway. So if the newspaper stories are a load of mush, Why isn't a daily service already running or about to, also where is the GWR report into making a case for a daily service, surely that should be out soon given the franchises ends in less than 6 weeks.

As I understand it, DCC actually owns Okehampton Station. Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association lease rooms on platform 2 which I think they currently still have access to, they are also continuing to tend the gardens and maintain the platform area.
 

davetheguard

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As I understand it, DCC actually owns Okehampton Station. Dartmoor Railway Supporters Association lease rooms on platform 2 which I think they currently still have access to, they are also continuing to tend the gardens and maintain the platform area.

I wonder if they're still opening the cafe?
 

Ash Bridge

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I wonder if they're still opening the cafe?

Sadly I think that currently remains closed Dave as it's situated in the main buildings on platform 3 and which I'm presuming was leased to Dartmoor Railway CIC/BARS which are the ones that have gone into administration rather than DRSA, at least that's as I understood it.
 
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FQTV

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The Weardale Railway has been sold to The Auckland Project, and proposes to extend operations to Darlington in association with a train operating company:

The Auckland Project has launched a campaign to reinstate the western section of the historic Stockton to Darlington Railway, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary as the first passenger service in 2025.

The first phase of this ambitious project has been concluded with the purchase of the Weardale Railway, which stretches from Bishop Auckland westwards for nearly 20 miles into the heart of Weardale.

The heritage railway, built in 1847, has been bought out of administration, securing its future and unlocking the potential for growth within the region’s tourism economy, as well as reinstating this transport link to Weardale’s rural communities.

Our purpose as a regeneration charity is to create opportunities and drive investment into Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area. The purchase of Weardale Railway will be a further catalyst for change and consolidate the investment to date of £200m in the region.

To deliver a full service from Darlington westwards, we aim to secure a partnership with a Train Operating Company, as well as working with Durham County Council. We will continue to call on the essential expertise provided by the staff of the former Weardale Railway Community Interest Company and volunteers of the Weardale Railway Trust, who operated the summer heritage service on behalf of its previous US owner.

More details will be announced in due course.

https://www.aucklandproject.org/news/future-secured-for-weardales-heritage-railway/
 

Ash Bridge

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That really is heartening news for the Weardale Railway, fingers crossed there is soon something to learn that is equally as positive regarding the Dartmoor Railway.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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It is good to hear this. I wish the project/plans success. I wonder if they would use their existing heritage stock? I went there a year or so ago and we traveled in a newly restored green diesel rail-car which they were very proud of. (Could they also go beyond Stanhope, I think towards Eastgate, Westgate and Weardale, I think the later was / is a beauty spot? )

(And good luck for the Dartmoor railway too.)
 

Meole

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Partnership with TOC suggests fresh stock, pity Northern can't be there with Pacers ?
 

harz99

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Partnership with TOC suggests fresh stock, pity Northern can't be there with Pacers ?

I would have thought more of a case of Northern relinquishing one of its hourly paths between Bishop Auckland and Darlington to allow Weardale to run through from Stanhope to Darlington. Don't forget that much of the line is single track with few passing places. Also inter availability of tickets.
 

duffield

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I would have thought more of a case of Northern relinquishing one of its hourly paths between Bishop Auckland and Darlington to allow Weardale to run through from Stanhope to Darlington. Don't forget that much of the line is single track with few passing places. Also inter availability of tickets.

There's a long double track section (about 4 miles, from Shildon to Heighington) roughly in the middle of the Bishop Auckland to Darlington line , so surely the hourly Northern train could easily pass any Weardale service going in the other direction reliably?
 

pdeaves

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There's a long double track section (about 4 miles, from Shildon to Heighington) roughly in the middle of the Bishop Auckland to Darlington line , so surely the hourly Northern train could easily pass any Weardale service going in the other direction reliably?
The way I understand the situation from the original statement is it is easier to ask a main line TOC (in practice, Northern but maybe someone like West Coast Railway) to run trains under contract, rather than the Weardale people jump through all the hoops to run southeast of Bishop Auckland in their own right. To keep franchise and non-franchise separate, I would expect to see Northern run the usual Bishop Auckland service with an entirely separate service overlaid that goes onto the Weardale line. There is precedent in keeping separation - Chiltern and Wrexham & Shropshire got into a tangle with the powers that be through (effectively) combining services without permission, though the circumstances were different.
 

E759

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The Weardale Railway Trust now have a statement online

North East charity, The Auckland Project, has launched a campaign to reinstate the western section of the historic Stockton to Darlington Railway, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary as the first passenger service in 2025.
The first phase of this ambitious project has been concluded with the purchase of the Weardale Railway, which stretches from Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham westwards for nearly 20 miles into the heart of Weardale.
The heritage railway, built in 1847, has been bought out of administration, securing its future and unlocking the potential for reinvigorating the regional tourism economy and reinstating connectivity between rural communities and urban economic hubs.


The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity which for the last nine years has sought to create opportunities and drive investment into Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area. It believes that the purchase of Weardale Railway will be a further catalyst for change and consolidate its investment to date of £200m in the region.
The Auckland Project has no experience of running trains and to deliver a full service from Darlington westwards it will require a partnership with a Train Operating Company. This consortium could lead the way in demonstrating that the ‘Beeching Cut’ in the UK railway service could soon be reversed and potentially be the first of many such enterprises up and down the country.


The Project will work with Durham County Council and will continue to call on the essential expertise provided by the staff of the former Weardale Railway Community Interest Company and volunteers of the Weardale Railway Trust, who operated the Summer heritage

service on behalf of its previous US owner. Together with new potential partners such as, the Science Museum Group’s National Railway Museum in York and Locomotion museum in Shildon, whose history of passenger railways goes back to the pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway, a new era for the railway will be born.
At a time when the Darlington to Bishop Auckland train franchise is about to become available and investment in the North East transport infrastructure has been named as a priority for the current Government, this project is consistent with their declared intent. The Auckland Project has already received warm support from many of the Members of Parliament representing constituencies on the rail route.


This development also follows the recent announcement of proposals to create a Rail Heritage Quarter in Darlington. In 2019, the Tees Valley Combined Authority signed off £20m towards the first phase of these regeneration works. And a bid by the Combined Authority for funding a £100m overhaul and transformation of Darlington Railway Station was approved as part of the Budget this week.


The Auckland Project is committed to bringing about real and long-term change to County Durham. To date, this has come to fruition through the development of Bishop Auckland as a visitor destination, currently comprising the open air, live action spectacular Kynren – an epic tale of England, the recently re-opened Auckland Castle and Deer Park, the UK’s first Mining Art Gallery and Auckland Tower welcome centre.
Work is also underway to create a new Faith Museum, Spanish Gallery and Walled Garden, further enhancing the destination’s national and international appeal and expanding the charity’s ongoing commitment to delivering an extensive community and education programme alongside skills development and training through apprenticeships and volunteering. This will include the creation of 50 new roles within Weardale Railway Ltd, increasing the total number of opportunities across the charity to in excess of 1300.
David Maddan, CEO of The Auckland Project, said: “The North East’s magnificent industrial heritage offers a unique opportunity for change. By linking with other major transport infrastructure projects and working with partners, including the dedicated team at the Weardale Railway Trust, we can ensure an immediate impact is felt right across the Tees Valley and throughout County Durham.”
3
Jonathan Ruffer, Founder of The Auckland Project added: “This is the latest initiative to restore vibrancy to the region, giving visitors a wide range of experiences around the Castle at Auckland, the Kynren nightshow, the Spanish and Mining Art Galleries – something for everyone. And soon they’ll be able easily to arrive by train!” Kevin Richardson, Chair Weardale Railway Trust, added: “We at Weardale Railway Trust were initially disappointed when the previous owners announced the decision to offer Weardale Railway for sale. We had enjoyed a successful relationship, which has been beneficial to both parties. However, the arrangement had not been without its difficulties, particularly given the six-hour time difference between Chicago and the UK. We were delighted, therefore, to learn that The Auckland Project had taken over ownership of the railway. To bring the line back into local ownership will, we feel, be a major positive step. We believe that doing so will encourage local people to join us in preserving this important part of our local heritage. “We have followed the progress of The Auckland Project with great interest. Here we have an organisation, which has already proven at Bishop Auckland what commitment and vision can achieve. Their aspirations for the railway going forward are very impressive and we look forward to working with them to take the Weardale Railway into the next chapter of its fascinating history.”
ENDS


For more information please contact Claire Morrell, Head of PR, The Auckland Project on 01388 600 529 or


About the purchase of Weardale Railway
David Willis and Martyn Pullin of FRP, were appointed as Joint Administrators to Weardale Railway CIC and secured the sale of the business and assets of that company.


BARS was the controlling member of the Weardale Railway Community Interest Company from 2008 but its major shareholder, Iowa Pacific Holdings, entered insolvency in the US last year, leading to funding difficulties. This ultimately resulted in business advisory firm FRP being appointed to manage an accelerated sale process for BARS’ subsidiaries, including Weardale Railway.

David Willis, partner at FRP, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to secure the sale of the Weardale Railway, allowing this unique heritage railway to continue to operate. We would like to thank the employees for all their support in recent weeks and wish The Auckland Project every success in the future.”
Overseeing the transaction from a legal perspective was Swinburne Maddison LLP’s Martyn Tennant, Partner and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Team. He said:


“Our priority was to ensure that the client was supported throughout a challenging process and that we were able to deliver the best outcome, whilst being mindful of other influencing stakeholders.
“We were able to apply a detailed and highly creative solution on the acquisition of the Weardale Railway with the support from FRP. We wish The Auckland Project every success with the project.”
About Weardale Railway Trust


Weardale Railway Trust was incorporated in July 1996. Its mission statement is to assist any owner of the line to preserve what it believes is an important piece of Britain’s railway history.
Since 2014 the trust has operated the summer heritage service on the line.
In 2016 Trust volunteers, in conjunction with local residents, reopened the station at Witton-le-Wear – the first time in 63 years that the village has been served by a regular passenger service.
The service was subsequently extended to Bishop Auckland and became the only public transport serving Weardale on a Sunday.


Weardale Trust currently has a membership of around 430, with around 50 active volunteers working in various roles, including train driving, guard, crossing keeper, ticket inspector, track clearance, gardener, shop assistant, engineering and building maintenance.
All train crew volunteers undergo rigorous training to run the passenger services and special events on the Weardale Railway.


About The Auckland Project:
The Auckland Project is working to create positive change for those living, working and visiting Bishop Auckland and to ensure the town’s future is as magnificent and vibrant as its past.
To do so we are creating a visitor destination in Bishop Auckland, incorporating Auckland Castle (once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham), a Spanish Gallery, Faith Museum, Walled Garden, Deer Park, Mining Art Gallery, Auckland Tower visitor centre and an outdoor spectacular Kynren – an epic tale of England, is also performed every summer on a 7.5-acre stage.

Kynren launched in 2016, followed by the Mining Art Gallery, in October 2017 and Auckland Tower in October 2018. Bishop Trevor Gallery, a temporary exhibition space within Auckland Castle, opened in June 2019, with the Castle re-opening to the public on 2 November 2019 following a three-year conservation programme. The other attractions will follow in stages in the years ahead.


Alongside the visitor destination, The Auckland Project regeneration charity is also working directly with the local community to deliver a wide range of formal and informal learning for adults and young people, create jobs and apprenticeships both directly and via our supply chain, support sustainable living, including community-supported agriculture and the Incredible Edible scheme and promote general health and wellbeing.
To date approaching £200m has been committed to achieving the project’s long-term ambition, with support from a wide range of organisations, charitable trusts and individuals, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Visitors to the destination will also play a crucial part in helping bring it to life.
For more information about The Auckland Project, please visit aucklandproject.org or search Auckland Project on Facebook and Twitter.


The Auckland Project’s sister charity, Eleven Arches, runs open air spectacular Kynren – an epic tale of England.
Unique in the UK, this world-class performance takes place on a 7-and-a-half-acre outdoor stage and is set against the magnificent backdrop of Auckland Castle.


Be swept along by this award-winning, family-friendly tale of invasions, royal splendour, wars, heroic sacrifice, daily life and seismic change and watch legends come to life in a thrilling tale told on an epic scale - 2,000 years in the making.
New for 2020, the Park is an exciting new development at Kynren, offering visitors an action-packed afternoon including an electrifying Horse Stunt Show, immersive family attractions and all-new dining experiences.


Named in TripAdvisor's "Top 5 performances to see in the UK", The Park and Kynren take place every Saturday from 1 August to 12 September 2020 and is supported by a cast and crew of around 1,000 volunteers.


For more information, or to book visit or call 0333 300 3028. For media enquiries about the show please contact Amanda
 

duffield

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The way I understand the situation from the original statement is it is easier to ask a main line TOC (in practice, Northern but maybe someone like West Coast Railway) to run trains under contract, rather than the Weardale people jump through all the hoops to run southeast of Bishop Auckland in their own right. To keep franchise and non-franchise separate, I would expect to see Northern run the usual Bishop Auckland service with an entirely separate service overlaid that goes onto the Weardale line. There is precedent in keeping separation - Chiltern and Wrexham & Shropshire got into a tangle with the powers that be through (effectively) combining services without permission, though the circumstances were different.

Yes, I guess I wasn't very clear, when I said 'a Weardale service' I wasn't implying anything about who would run it, just noting that the long double track section would probably make it easy to schedule without interfering with the existing service. Any scheduling constraint would likely be joining the main line and platforming at Darlington.
 

harz99

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There's a long double track section (about 4 miles, from Shildon to Heighington) roughly in the middle of the Bishop Auckland to Darlington line , so surely the hourly Northern train could easily pass any Weardale service going in the other direction reliably?

Not sure that the signalling allows that, the only time in recent years I can recall trains passing on the branch was the Sunday evening return journey from Whitby which no longer runs. from experience that always passed with both trains in platforms at Heighington.
 

EvanDMU

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I think you will find that the idea of a connecting Weardale to Darlington service is a very long-term aspiration for the new owners of Weardale and not something that will happen in the forseeable future.
 

xotGD

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You might be able to run to North Road, but getting the paths in and out of Darlo will be the big challenge.

Anyway, I look forward to the top and tailed 37s...
 

E759

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The way I understand the situation from the original statement is it is easier to ask a main line TOC (in practice, Northern but maybe someone like West Coast Railway) to run trains under contract, rather than the Weardale people jump through all the hoops to run southeast of Bishop Auckland in their own right. To keep franchise and non-franchise separate, I would expect to see Northern run the usual Bishop Auckland service with an entirely separate service overlaid that goes onto the Weardale line. There is precedent in keeping separation - Chiltern and Wrexham & Shropshire got into a tangle with the powers that be through (effectively) combining services without permission, though the circumstances were different.
I tend to agree. This is pitched as a community project first and foremost not a heritage railway. You only need to get a timetabled service running between Stanhope and BIA West to achieve the principle aim.
 

harz99

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I tend to agree. This is pitched as a community project first and foremost not a heritage railway. You only need to get a timetabled service running between Stanhope and BIA West to achieve the principle aim.
And in time possibly an end on connection at BIA station similar to Ormskirk.
 

E759

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You might be able to run to North Road, but getting the paths in and out of Darlo will be the big challenge.

Anyway, I look forward to the top and tailed 37s...
Both times I visited it was wall-to-wall Class 31. But I've never understood if they are part of the heritage trust or owned by BAR?
 

fireftrm

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I've heard a rumour that the Auckalnd Project, before they closed down for the present due to Conronavirus, had secured a deal with a Train Operator and the NRM for services along the line, anyone got any further details on this?
 

trainmania100

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Looking to go back to the Dartmoor Railway again next year hopefully its all up and running again. Even if its not theres usually quite a bit of stock residing outside Meldon sheds, ive changed my profile picture to AI/DR's industrial shunter with high hopes...taken around 2005 when it was parked up alongside the buffet cars down by the viaduct. Its hidden away now unfortunately...
 

Chris125

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I've heard a rumour that the Auckalnd Project, before they closed down for the present due to Conronavirus, had secured a deal with a Train Operator and the NRM for services along the line, anyone got any further details on this?

I'd be highly sceptical any meaningful agreement could be negotiated that quickly.
 

fireftrm

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I'd be highly sceptical any meaningful agreement could be negotiated that quickly.
So would I, but if you were buying a bankrupt railway you would want a plan and simply hoping that someone would join you in running services is not a plan, so I racceopt completely that The Auckland Project had these discussions and some form of agreements in place before purchasing the railway. The source I heard it from has direct contacts with the NRM and the train operator, apparently both are saying this is in the running, but that they are coming up with iussues around some of the working practices of the WRT, especially around level crossings. We will see, but I hope whatever the problems are can be solved and trains running again on the beautiful line. I would imagine that The Auckland Project will want the WRT for assistance but if I was them it would be bvery muich in the background, after all it is the AP who will be responsible
 

Chris125

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So would I, but if you were buying a bankrupt railway you would want a plan and simply hoping that someone would join you in running services is not a plan, so I racceopt completely that The Auckland Project had these discussions and some form of agreements in place before purchasing the railway.

I'd put that on the optimistic end of the scale - the impression I had was an ambitious organisation that grabbed an opportunity when it arose... but with little (if any) relevant experience it may be somewhat naive about the practicalities of it's plans.
 

FQTV

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I'd put that on the optimistic end of the scale - the impression I had was an ambitious organisation that grabbed an opportunity when it arose... but with little (if any) relevant experience it may be somewhat naive about the practicalities of it's plans.

I personally wouldn’t doubt The Auckland Project’s rigour.

They possess a level of acumen, and equity, that could, can, has and will run rings around those for whom inertia is the foundation of their position and status.
 

EvanDMU

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I'm surprised that no one has latched on the proposal to run a direct nightly Stanhope to London sleeper service, given that the coaches are already on site and being processed through the Wolsingham workshops. The idea is that people will visit The Auckland Project's attractions during the day and then be whisked back home down south overnight, probably hauled by 'Flying Scotsman' if the NRM can make it available. The two Mk3 kitchen cars which are already on site will be providing the evening meals and one of the ex-Caledonian day coaches will be attached as a mobile bar.

All I can say is don't believe all you read on the forums!
 
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