Could the KWVR be upgraded and become a commuter railway?

[billio]

Moderator note: Split from Heritage railways that will probably be still running in 25 - 30 years time


If the current covid-19 epidemic does serious damage to heritage railway finances, I think the railways that could contribute to an extension of the national railway network would probably be able to come to some compromise on the running of heritage trains in conjunction with normal services.

I am thinking of commuter services on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) into Keighley and services to Bury and possibly Heywood/Rochdale by the ELR, but I am sure there are other lines.

It would be a great shame if the demise of a heritage line resulted in the loss of routes that could be very useful in the longer term development of national railway services or tram/metro networks.

 

[E759]

If the current covid-19 epidemic does serious damage to heritage railway finances, I think the railways that could contribute to an extension of the national railway network would probably be able to come to some compromise on the running of heritage trains in conjunction with normal services. I am thinking of commuter services on the KWVR into Keighley and services to Bury and possibly Heywood/Rochdale by the ELR, but I am sure there are other lines. It would be a great shame if the demise of a heritage line resulted in the loss of routes that could be very useful in the longer term development of national railway services or tram/metro networks.

KWVR: Transdev already run Bronte Bus B1/2/3 along the route and they are not limited to 25 mph.

 

[billio]

KWVR: Transdev already run Bronte Bus B1/2/3 along the route and they are not limited to 25 mph.

I was thinking more that the integration of services would lead to an upgrade of the line so that higher speeds were permitted and with staff from the train operating companies and Network Rail performing some of the more important duties. I wasn't imagining these heritage lines carrying on with the restrictions they have now..

 

[pdeaves]

It would be a great shame if the demise of a heritage line resulted in the loss of routes that could be very useful in the longer term development of national railway services or tram/metro networks.

I am not sure that heritage and public transport function sit comfortably side by side (I have done some work in a professional capacity on this very issue - it starts to get too complicated for the heritage line). I think it will not be that long before there is immense pressure on 'useful route' heritage railways to give up their line for main line or tram networks. As but two examples, there are periodic calls to reopen Lewes-Uckfield (affecting the Lavender line) and Matlock-Buxton (affecting the Peak Railway). In both cases, of very different character and scale, I think if the public transport route goes ahead the heritage lines will ultimately be forced to close or at the least attempt to relocate somewhere else.

 

[Halifaxlad]

I think the use of the kWVR really ends at Ingrow.

It could become a very useful park and ride for Keighley since parking at the station is very limited and in the town centre for that matter. Once I read somewhere that about a 1000 cars a day go down the road past the station, although I don't know how true it is.

Although any use would probably mean the end of their summer running as I can't imagine it being compatible. Alternatively if the old GN line was reinstated to Ingrow East, then the conflict between the preserved line and national rail services could be kept to a minimum whilst still benefiting the railway through track access charges into Keighley Station.

 

[gazthomas]

No, it takes no time at all to get to Keighley by car or preferably bus

 

[30907]

KWVR: Transdev already run Bronte Bus B1/2/3 along the route and they are not limited to 25 mph.

Though they get caught in traffic on the way in and don't serve the station.

The idea has been talked about since before reopening. The problem is that you'd not be able to run a decent frequency with a single train - even if you upgraded the line maybe every 45min but no more - and while hourly might have been OK in 1968 I don't think that would wash now.
And with 2 manual level crossings it's staff intensive by NR standards. Please don't suggest automating them .
Another issue is the location of the stations relative to housing - Oakworth in particular.
Shame, but...

 

[yorksrob]

Me and the family did actually use the K&WVR as a means to visit Haworth one Wednesday, rather than as a destination in itself (although I did appreciate the 1st gen DMU).

The problem wasn't so much the frequency, rather the early finish in the afternoon, which meant we ended up getting the bus back to Keighley (and having to find our way from bus to rail station, rather than effortless platform to platform interchange).

 

[Belperpete]

The idea has been talked about since before reopening.

At one time the possibility of a through service to Leeds was being seriously talked about. The main problem being that the junction faces the wrong way, so trains would have to stop and reverse back to Leeds.

 

[bluenoxid]

There was a report completed into KWVR completed in the mid to late noughties. I FOI’d it and the issues have been covered above.

There is a bit of interest in the ELR having commuter services.

 

[satters]

Upgrade isn’t really the right term, the 25mph limit comes from heritage railways running under a “light railway order” the track is often much better maintained than many national lines due to having to carry much heavier steam locomotives rather than just multiple units