Alton Towers by Train?

[rob666]

...It probably won't cost millions, ...

It absolutely would.
At least several.

 

[flyingguitar]

The tunnel apparently needs a lot of work, the planning permission side of this would also br expensive along with countering the no doubt multiple complaints from various individuals, land owners and public bodies.

As I said this is the biggest factor, and frankly none of us will have any idea how hard it is to get through the tunnel, it could be millions in relocating bats, or a few thousand for clearing debris in the path it is very hard to say,

They’d potentially need to purchase the old station house just outside the tunnel oakamoor end which is currently an air bnb. They’d need barriers installing there as well as red road crosses the old track bed path. This is a very busy road due to it being the road that provides access to The Ramblers Retreat/Dimmingsdale.

Do they have to buy it though, if they have the moneystone station close by and have it as an oakmoore station it could serve as a replacment (the air bnb could benefit if it becomes know for the railway)

As for the barriers, they could litterally have a gate similar to theat used in farms and have it manually operated (either by a crossing guard or the train crew) it wouldn't cost that much to install and the crossing guard would probably be volunteer, if they wanted automation they could at a later date go for some PLC based crossings which are far simpler, compact, etc than the relay based older automated crossings.

They’d need to build a new bridge across the Churnet which would be used for car access to oakamoor cricket club.

Again would they need to, the bride was double tracked there would probably be room to have half the bridge rail the other half road.

They’d need to buy sections of land off multiple private individuals who have been purchasing land such as the lake by oakamoor cricket club just so ‘it never changes’.

They could be an issue as I thought Staffordshire moors Council owned the track bed, however if they wanted it to not change they could lease the running rights to the railway or it may not be that expensive or part of a planning deal (such as with leak) however I don't think the land would cost millions for what they need

Alton station again would also be an issue and would no doubt need to be purchased from the the landmark trust who run it as an air bnb, the station platform itself is also owned separately by staff moorlands council if I remember right.

Would it be an issue? Maybe the air bnb however the railway didn't own cheddleton station until arround 2017, as it was owned by the council or they could buy it (cheddleton station apparently cost them £50,000 although it was a bit worse for ware.

Honestly you’re talking millions and a whole load of legal hassle which for what is essentially a volunteer led organisation (soon to be charity) is a lot of work. Oakamoor/Moneystone sidings and their current ambition is probably as far as it’ll ever go.

I don't necessarily think millions, you also have to realise that I am not saying the railway should move to alton this seccond, I was more saying slowly moving closer over decades where even if it costs millions it can be afforded by the railway.

 

[Blackrock]

As I said this is the biggest factor, and frankly none of us will have any idea how hard it is to get through the tunnel, it could be millions in relocating bats, or a few thousand for clearing debris in the path it is very hard to say,

From what I’ve heard some repairs would need to take place to the roof, it’s obviously quite vast and hasn’t been used for a a fair while but I can’t imagine it being cheap.

Do they have to buy it though, if they have the moneystone station close by and have it as an oakmoore station it could serve as a replacment (the air bnb could benefit if it becomes know for the railway)

As for the barriers, they could litterally have a gate similar to theat used in farms and have it manually operated (either by a crossing guard or the train crew) it wouldn't cost that much to install and the crossing guard would probably be volunteer, if they wanted automation they could at a later date go for some PLC based crossings which are far simpler, compact, etc than the relay based older automated crossings.

Well the building in question is literally right outside where the tunnel is, the carpark for the station house and its guests is exactly where the track would need to be positioned coming out the tunnel so something would have to be paid. And I don’t know if I’d want to take the risk if my air bnb was a bit of a gold mine (and it’s always busy) so I’d want to get rid of the whole lot, not just a carpark.

Mill Road by the bridge/old station house where the barriers would need to be is ridiculously busy especially during the summer. You have dimmingsdale, the ramblers retreat, Oakamoor cricket club, Oakamoor station carpark all of these things attract thousands of people every weekend over the summer and this tiny, tiny road is the only access they have. I don’t think a man on a gate would cut it personally.

Also why I don’t think the current bridge sharing access would be feasible, a new bridge for cars/pedestrians would need to be built. You also have a row of houses right next to this bridge in the island.

Alton station being an Airbnb is extremely lucrative for the landmark trust, summer time and tbh a lot of winter it’s very full. Summer time you’re looking at thousands of pounds for the week so imo they’d ever be objecting or they’d want a fortune to be paid out.

Also on the track bed itself staffs moorlands do own it, but it also now provides vehicular access to farms as well as the forestry commission. It’s obviously a very, very popular walking spot and the easiest way by foot to get from Oakamoor, Alton, Denstone as well as the ramblers retreat/Dimmingsdale etc.

People aren’t going to lose that without contesting it, if a pathway was to be built next to a line then land would need to be purchased as space is limited.

I think their current plans are probably the best they can hope for and tbh living in Oakamoor having it potentially end up here is great news, and I’m not personally against it going to Alton. I just think there’s way too many obstacles in the way.

I just hope when it’s done they also build a path, it’d mean you could walk Consall, Froghall, Oakamoor, Alton, Denstone on one largely uninterrupted path. I’ve walked it a few times this year but it’s in a right state and not something I’d recommend.

 

[flyingguitar]

Well the building in question is literally right outside where the tunnel is, the carpark for the station house and its guests is exactly where the track would need to be positioned coming out the tunnel so something would have to be paid. And I don’t know if I’d want to take the risk if my air bnb was a bit of a gold mine (and it’s always busy) so I’d want to get rid of the whole lot, not just a carpark.

Ok let's say they have to buy it, the size isn't too large (more akin to a signal box) and compared to millions probably not that much.

Mill Road by the bridge/old station house where the barriers would need to be is ridiculously busy especially during the summer. You have dimmingsdale, the ramblers retreat, Oakamoor cricket club, Oakamoor station carpark all of these things attract thousands of people every weekend over the summer and this tiny, tiny road is the only access they have. I don’t think a man on a gate would cut it personally.

You do realise that manual barriers aren't that much longer than automatic barriers, and with a line that has 2/3 services per day I doubt the minute or 1 more spent opening the barriers will have that much of an impact, many more herratige railways use similar crossings over busy roads.

Also why I don’t think the current bridge sharing access would be feasible, a new bridge for cars/pedestrians would need to be built. You also have a row of houses right next to this bridge in the island.

I don't see what you mean by the bridge,
The road is already what appears to be a single lane asphalt road, the houses do look quite weird setup (I think they use a carpark as I can't see any road access) however if they do have road access they can have a small crossing, it isn't that uncommon.

If a bridge is required, it would probably add substantial amounts to the required budget, I think there is a way in which the railway and road can share the bridge which would save the cost.

Alton station being an Airbnb is extremely lucrative for the landmark trust, summer time and tbh a lot of winter it’s very full. Summer time you’re looking at thousands of pounds for the week so imo they’d ever be objecting or they’d want a fortune to be paid out.

It may be lucrative in the summer, however how full is it int eh winter, there are also costs such as cleaning and utilities paid for air Bnb if the railway were to rent it, it may be less per week than in summer or combined, but it is essentially guaranteed income and not going to vary depending on how alton or tourism varies making a much less risky income.

Also on the track bed itself staffs moorlands do own it, but it also now provides vehicular access to farms as well as the forestry commission. It’s obviously a very, very popular walking spot and the easiest way by foot to get from Oakamoor, Alton, Denstone as well as the ramblers retreat/Dimmingsdale etc.

So is the leak section, they have built it such that half the line is the track, the other half is a fenced off walking route, crossing for farms are quite easy and cheap (often just a fence and gate) if they needed to use the rail line as a road I would imagine there is a compromise where they split it for a part walking trail/road thing

People aren’t going to lose that without contesting it, if a pathway was to be built next to a line then land would need to be purchased as space is limited.

For space it was a double tracked line, there is plenty of space for only a single tracked line as most heritage railways (including churnet) as I said they did the same with leak where the path litterally goes through one of the tunnels.

I think their current plans are probably the best they can hope for and tbh living in Oakamoor having it potentially end up here is great news, and I’m not personally against it going to Alton. I just think there’s way too many obstacles in the way.

I think there are more expansions first (such as the line to Stoke) however I think it will be more of a slow progress taking decades such as spending e.g a decade or so reopening the tunnel, then going past the cricket club, and so on.

 

[rob666]

And all that won't cost millions.
HS2 bat tunnel, estimated at 100 million pounds.
Same pipe dreams running on.