From the Bristol Evening Post website: http://tinyurl.com/3bj6u
BY SARAH KEY
11:00 - 29 April 2004
A 400-yard extension to a railway line run by volunteers between Bitton and Saltford is to open this weekend after plans to unveil it at Easter were foiled by red tape. Managers of the Avon Valley Railway were about to open the line earlier this month when they were delayed by a regulation.
This stated that they would have to wait 28 days to allow other railway operators to bid for use of the track.
Avon Valley Railway had already printed 150,000 leaflets announcing the opening of the track at Easter.
The extension of the line from Bitton to the middle of the Avon Valley has been built to allow tourists to catch pleasure boat trips and stop at a picnic area.
The railway, which runs steam trains on its own private line, has also built a ú150,000 platform for the extra track. This means the three-mile line now has three platforms.
Avon Valley spokesman David Cole said: "I have to say, I doubt Richard Branson and the head of Great Western Trains will be thanking the Office of the Rail Regulator for allowing them the chance to run their trains on this bit of track, but we appreciate they were doing their job.
"We are absolutely delighted to be able to open the line this weekend after so much hard work and are expecting quite a few people to come along."
Before the scheduled Easter opening, Avon Valley had also booked several groups to come on boat trips linking up with services travelling to the new platform.
But now the first train will leave Bitton train station on Saturday at 11am.
The railway project has been funded and built entirely through donations and voluntary work over more than 20 years, and many of those volunteers will be out in force this bank holiday weekend to see the fruits of their labours.
From Bitton, the former LMS line extends northwards to Oldland Common and now south, crossing the River Avon, to the new platform due to be named Avon Riverside.
At the moment, trains can stop on the former Midland Railway route - the line that used to serve Green Park station in Bath - only at Oldland Common and Bitton stations. For more information about Avon Valley Railway, call 932 5538.
Avon valley Railway opens new extension.
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pannier57
What a bloody fiasco!!
I read with disbelief bordering on incredulity the report of the new extension at A.V.R. which was delayed because of 'regulations' I do NOT find this remotely amusing.It IS pathetic and very sad that some ***hole is being PAID to oversee these absolutely stupid and brain-dead so-called regulations! What the HELL do we put up with kind of crap for? How much did this regulation cost you and I? We wonders, yes precious, we wonders!! It's about time this goverment and others that are 'mainstream' were voted out for good! They don't give a toss about railways or much else that really is important with crazy legislation like this. No wonder Britain is the laughing stock of the rest of the world!If we are going to have a decent rail system, unencumbered by bull**** then let people who CARE about them and would give thier eye-teeth to be able to earn thier living in service of them, take the bloody mess over!! FUMING MAD and all the stars are mine!!
The regulation referred to here is probably a home-grown one, but it is stupid enough to be a European Union one. Once you all vote for the European Constitution and the Euro, which your fearless leader will talk you into, thereby abandoning your sovereignty and independence to Brussels, THEN wait and see what stupid, crippling regulations you'll be labouring under! And it will be TOO LATE to go back! In that context, stupid home-grown regulations seem tolerable.
Martin
Martin
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guest