The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is to hold discussions with the local parish council along with a public consultation with residents to answer questions about the railway's proposed extension to Cricket Field Lane at Parracombe in Devon.
So that the railway can address any concerns about the proposed extension, a meeting has been arranged with parish councillors on Tuesday, 9th July and public consultation meetings for local residents in Parracombe village hall on Friday, 12th July between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm and Saturday, 13th July between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm.
A series of illustrative boards will be on display, and the meetings will be open and collaborative engagement sessions where a team from the railway will be in attendance to answer questions and discuss ideas and concerns with attendees.
Construction of the extension to Cricket Field Lane will not disrupt current train services.
The current train service terminates at Killington Lane Halt, but when the train service is extended to Blackmoor, Killington Lane Halt will be removed and the area revert back to farmland.
A new bridge designed for the railway by engineering design consultants Atkins will need to be constructed for the railway to pass underneath Killington Lane.
Planning permission for the new bridge has already been approved, and once sufficient funds have been raised, construction can begin, although cuttings will also need to be dug out.
After leaving Killington Lane the railway passes through a cutting and sweeps through fields to Parracombe Lane, where an original bridge is still intact, although it requires a new parapet wall on one side and the fill excavated from both sides.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway originally opened in 1898 and closed in 1935. The current terminus at Woody Bay is just the beginning of the project to rebuild one of the world's most famous and picturesque narrow-gauge railways.
The journey between Woody Bay station and Killington Lane is one mile each way and takes approximately 25 minutes.
Services between Woody Bay Station and Killington Lane are in restored heritage carriages behind a narrow-gauge steam locomotive.
Visits can ride as often as they like on a single ticket, as they are valid all day. They also allow a return visit anytime within 28 days and travel all day for half-price.
The section of line in service allows visitors to experience a taste of what the line originally offered, with a view above the delightful Heddon Valley near Parracombe in Exmoor's National Park.
Although only one of the smaller heritage railways, the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is doing its bit for the environment by progressing towards being carbon neutral.
Us anyone considering renewing the line to include Sidmouth? The morning driveinto Exeter from 6am onwards is a joke! Bumper to bumper.. We nay as well be on a train! Thirteen miles can take well over an hour in the morning and just as bad at night. Why anyone moves here to work in Exeter is beyond me! A train service would be fantastic and for holiday makers too. The bus service is hopeless. Our son doesn’t drive and works for NHS at the RDUH Exeter. We leave home atound 6.30am. There’s never a bus at that time. His shift begins at 7.30 am or 8am depending where he is needed. Stagecoach lets down people who don’t drive. A train along the coast again oh! would be wonderful!
Brilliant news!
Just got back from this railway and not a steam nut! It’s very good and run brilliantly and is a great addition too a stunning place!
Hopefully they can get the people holding the 1/2 mile of land at paracombe to sell it but they still have to build paracombe bank
Had this line survived for a few more years it would have become a major tourist attraction and would probably have still been open today. All rail lines that close should have their route protected so that a future reopening is possible, otherwise all the work that went into its building is wasted. There should be no problem re-opening a former rail route as it is part of our national heritage.
The L & B has been thwarted for too long by NIMBY’s and red tape. Lets hope they can make some progress at last!
I hope this is fully supported. The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is almost unique in England, line extensions are a most welcome development to this beautiful and very classy attraction.
Perchance it really doth just sleepeth.