Bere Alston – Change for Gunnislake
At a most interesting presentation given to Cornwall Railway Society on Saturday 8 September 2012 Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Partnership, gave not only a very detailed account of how the partnership came to be and how it has flourished, but also of possible solutions at Bere Alston once the Tavistock extension has come into being.
The requirement is for a signal free junction. A proposal might see the Gunnislake branch line being swung across to serve the currently disused island platform. Gunnislake would be served by a train operating on a shuttle from Bere Alston – the unit on this service being locked in on the branch for the day having travelled up to Bere Alston with the first service of the day to Tavistock. A small change of trackwork would be required with an additional point off the existing Gunnislake branch to serve the island.
Tavistock would be the normal destination for trains from Plymouth. In order to facilitate an easy change to the Gunnislake trains, the island platform, at the Tavistock end, would extended across the former trackbed to form a new platform alongside the metals of the existing track. Trains to and from Plymouth would therefore find a platform on both sides of the train. Coming from Plymouth, to the left the new extended island platform would provide access to the Gunnislake service and the existing Bere Alston platform on the right would provide access to the village as at present. This would avoid the need for an expensive ramped footbridge. Pedestrian access to the ‘new’ Gunnislake platform would be via a foot path up from the roadway.
At a most interesting presentation given to Cornwall Railway Society on Saturday 8 September 2012 Richard Burningham, Manager of the Devon & Cornwall Partnership, gave not only a very detailed account of how the partnership came to be and how it has flourished, but also of possible solutions at Bere Alston once the Tavistock extension has come into being.
The requirement is for a signal free junction. A proposal might see the Gunnislake branch line being swung across to serve the currently disused island platform. Gunnislake would be served by a train operating on a shuttle from Bere Alston – the unit on this service being locked in on the branch for the day having travelled up to Bere Alston with the first service of the day to Tavistock. A small change of trackwork would be required with an additional point off the existing Gunnislake branch to serve the island.
Tavistock would be the normal destination for trains from Plymouth. In order to facilitate an easy change to the Gunnislake trains, the island platform, at the Tavistock end, would extended across the former trackbed to form a new platform alongside the metals of the existing track. Trains to and from Plymouth would therefore find a platform on both sides of the train. Coming from Plymouth, to the left the new extended island platform would provide access to the Gunnislake service and the existing Bere Alston platform on the right would provide access to the village as at present. This would avoid the need for an expensive ramped footbridge. Pedestrian access to the ‘new’ Gunnislake platform would be via a foot path up from the roadway.
Additional news, not from the
Truro Yard Developments
It is reported that the yard is being cleared of much engineering material previously left stored alongside the siding. It is rumoured that this might be to facilitate the development of a freight facility. Lets hope so.
Truro Yard Developments
It is reported that the yard is being cleared of much engineering material previously left stored alongside the siding. It is rumoured that this might be to facilitate the development of a freight facility. Lets hope so.