End for the Weymouth Trammway?

[Hentis]

It looks as though the end is possibly near for the Weymouth trammway. Reports indicate that renewal of rails + road resurfacing, line painting and cleaning up the line would cost around Two Millions pounds (GB Sterling). Network Rail state "There is no financial business case. The rarity of a street trammway operation to the charter market is recognised but such a market is unlikely to generate a commercial case to fund the full restoration of the trammway."

From February 18th 2007 - February 17 2009 Network Rail have imposed a Short Term Network change to the trammway. The stretch of line to be closed temporarily is from Melcombe Regis Level Crossing to Weymouth Quay Station for the 2 year period. There is a section that will remain open to allow the proposed Daily Stone train from Merehaead to Weymouth in conjunction with construction of the Weymouth Relief road to go ahead. After the 2 year period a further decision will be made on the trammway. Personally a refurbished rake of Mark 3's A dedicated pair of locos top and tailing the train from Weymouth Quay station to the Olympics in London for cruise ships from America filled with tourists and moored in Portland / Weymouth Harbour and then traveling from the Quay to the Olympics and vice versa would be a likely and worthwhile business cause wouldn't it?

Before anyone asks this was taken from my latest news on my site.

Cheers

Hentis

 

[thefab444]

Do you work for Network Rail?

On a more serious note, how would a Merehead - Weymouth stone train get to its destination, via Maiden Newton, or via Wareham/Salisbury? As for refurbishing Mk3s with locos, surely a pair of 159s would be easier to procure and cheaper.

 

[Hentis]

Do you work for Network Rail?

On a more serious note, how would a Merehead - Weymouth stone train get to its destination, via Maiden Newton, or via Wareham/Salisbury? As for refurbishing Mk3s with locos, surely a pair of 159s would be easier to procure and cheaper.

1). No
2). The planned route is via Slisbury and Poole & Weymouth. This train is apparently to run everyday and run onto the Quay Branch just before the level crossing (where the buffer stop will be placed) reverse into Jersey sidings, run round then reverse out of Jersey sidings (just like the 37's used to do a few years ago) back upto the buffer stop , unload then leave the same way it came in.

Cheers

Hentis

 

[thefab444]

Is that a quote in the 2/3 line of your post?

 

[Hentis]

Is that a quote in the 2/3 line of your post?

What this line?

"There is no financial business case. The rarity of a street trammway operation to the charter market is recognised but such a market is unlikely to generate a commercial case to fund the full restoration of the trammway"

Then yeah, My grammar aint that good
Tony.

 

[GeoffM]

Personally a refurbished rake of Mark 3s A dedicated pair of locos top and tailing the train from Weymouth Quay station to the Olympics in London for cruise ships from America filled with tourists and moored in Portland / Weymouth Harbour and then traveling from the Quay to the Olympics and vice versa would be a likely and worthwhile business cause wouldn't it?

Er, no. Two or three shiploads/trainloads at best per week, for a couple of weeks at most, does not a business case make. Nor does the odd summer charter train. Much as I'd like to see it stay open, financially it just doesn't make sense.

Geoff M.

 

[5872]

Do you work for Network Rail?

On a more serious note, how would a Merehead - Weymouth stone train get to its destination, via Maiden Newton, or via Wareham/Salisbury? As for refurbishing Mk3s with locos, surely a pair of 159s would be easier to procure and cheaper.

I said about 159s for swanage!rofilel:

 

[thefab444]

I'm talking Weymouth Quay Olympic Additionals.

 

[ChrisM]

Do you work for Network Rail?

No, the original story was about converting the tramway for use as a proposed light railway scheme linking Dorchester to Weymouth and going via the stations and using some of the Weymouth quay line in connection with the Olympics to ease parking problems first reported in the Dorset evening Echo March 6th.
The rest is just wishful thinking OL.