British Regional Transport Association (BRTA)
The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) a voluntary unincorporated membership based association seeking to restore strategic missing rail links and improve the environment as a result. We advocate passenger and freight by rail, unblocking our roads and improving air quality we all have to breathe! Enquiries can be sent to E. ceo@brtarail.com
About Me

- British Regional Transport Association (BRTA)/Richard Pill
- Bedford, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Thursday, 2 October 2025
Development galore, but no rails east of Bedford?!
Thursday, 25 September 2025
Please wade in! Trackbeds for reopening chiefly! We need your help!
re: https://yorkmix.com/old-dales-railway-line-route-to-be-turned-into-a-cycle-path-despite-opposition/
Yorkshire National Park Strikes Back! BUt will the railway if pursued for reopening be given priority? Email your MP and demand it is:
Thank you for your email. The report you highlight was presented to the National Park Authority yesterday and approved. Members did raise the issue of the how any new multi-use route might affect the future re-instatement of the Upper Wensleydale railway.
In terms of addressing the points you raise:
- We are in regular contact with local railway campaign groups, such as Upper Wensleydale Railway, to update them on our plans. I understand that group members are broadly supportive of the proposed multi-use route, with assurance from the Authority (both in terms of Local Plan policies and an additional recommendation to the Authority report presented yesterday) that it ensures the development of the Garsdale – Hawes multi-use route will not compromise any future opportunity for railway reinstatement.
- In terms of a cycleway-walkway alongside the railway – this option was considered as part of a feasibility study carried out in 2020. This concluded that the former Hawes branch railway line infrastructure would not be able to accommodate both.
I trust these answers are helpful and offer some re-assurance that the Authority understands your and others concerns regarding the Upper Wensleydale railway. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get back in touch.
Yours sincerely
Elliott Lorimer
Elliott Lorimer Direct line: 01969 652365 |
Here's a taste of what happens when we lose trackbed and settle for second best: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10286668 Guided Busways are not as versatile as conventional, local railways which connect to and from a nationwide network, bringing in footfall and spend in a sustainable manner. https://www.gosport.gov.uk/article/2829/Regenerating-Gosport-s-Waterfront Many called for reopening the rail link, now too late?! Sadly, the model repeats. Daft some may call it, but tragic when rail delivers both versatility, masse footfall and spend to regenerate places and the possibility alive of more freight by rail great and small - let your area be wiser!
Northern Update of a similar vein:
Join our free email loop via info@brtarail.com
re: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Press Release - Government gives go-ahead for Gatwick expansion
How much is government taking into consideration this? https://www.ice.org.uk/news-views-insights/inside-infrastructure/how-can-the-uk-remain-a-global-leader-in-net-zero
re: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Sunday, 21 September 2025
Government's Infrastructure Push? What about local rail infrastructure and capacity on existing lines?!
Is there a cohesive rail reopening plan in government?
re: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Yet more! At 28-09-25 but what about more local rail infrastructure and capacity enhancements?
Please get onto this:
Thursday, 18 September 2025
Oxon keeping on with the rails?
This must be, apart from photos, one of the shortest reports I have ever seen? https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/
- Oxford Station - We must increase capacity to support more services across the county and redeveloping it into a landmark station and national gateway. This would be a catalyst for housing, jobs, and public services, while strengthening connections to Oxford’s universities, hospitals, and innovation clusters.
- Oxford-Didcot - Four-tracking is a top priority.
- The Electrified Railway – We must build a zero-carbon network for Oxfordshire, anchored by the Electric Freight Spine.
- The Oxfordshire Metro – We should create an integrated transport network that brings together rail, bus, walking and cycling.
- Oxford Railreight Interchange - The former Upper Heyford Air Base (between Bicester and Banbury) is a top priority. Meanwhile the proposed station at Ardley is adjacent to that interchange and that should go ahead. Meanwhile some of its freight could be coming off the new East-West Rail from the Midlands and the north.
- Cowley Branch - This should be re-opened and there must be a new station at Oxford Cowley.
- Wantage & Grove Road (between Didcot and Swindon) - That station is a top priority, since the surrounding population has increased due to new housing.
- Oxford-Witney Branch - That line had closed to both passengers and freight about 60 years ago and we would like to see it re-opened. A study commissioned by West Oxfordshire District Council found that a new line could reduce congestion on the A40 while offering a more affordabe alternative to car travel. Also, new housing developments will increase the population which will in turn increase more road traffic. The proposed rail link will boost access to jobs, essential services ,education and reducing congestion and CO2 emissions.
- Cotswold Line - Although some of this is outside your Council, the reinstatement of the Stratford-upon-Avon - Honeybourne - Cheltenham rail link feeds into the Cotswold Line from Oxford to Worcester and will have a direct impact on Oxfordshire's services. The recent Stratford-upon-Avon District Council (Refresh study, Stantec, 2024) confirmed that fully realising the benefits of these new developments dependent on providing transport connectivity that maximises travel opportunities between areas of high economic concentration including Birmingham, Coventry, Oxford (which also provides interchange with East-West Rail), Worcester, Leamington, Warwick, Gloucester / Cheltenham and Stratford. At the same time Stratford’s poor public transport connectivity creates a dependence on car-based travel and can lead to inequalities associated with ‘forced car ownership’. This also locks in many of the negative external impacts of car travel including congestion and poor air quality which will be an impediment to future land-use development. Meanwhile Stratford-
Honeybourne also creates a Birmingham-Oxford alternative route, which is only 3 miles longer than the Cherwell Valley/Banbury route and severed for 6 weeks in 2015 by the Harbury slippage, a route which has a history of geological instability. Furthermore the double-tracking of that line between Hanborough and Wolvercote is also a top priority.
Meanwhile the road schemes which include a bypass to Ardley, a relief road to Middleton Stoney and improvements to Junction 10 of the M40 should not go ahead."
End.
Also, can I make a plea for a study into reopening too the former Oxford-Cowley-Wheatley-Thame-
1. Re-railing growing corridor populations
2. Makes a loop from London to Oxford via Bicester, through and out south towards London via Thame
3. Paddington and Marylebone could share trains and a new Chiltern Main Line to Heathrow and Guildford (Heathrow Southern - see: https://heathrowrail.com/
Government needs to switch the priority of funding from roads to rails, cutting congestion, giving modal choices more, cutting pollution and NHS waiting lists as well as the sustainable footfall and spend the rail choices offer.
It is deeply regrettable that Oxford-Milton Keynes and Bedford passenger services are not operating and of course a conductor /guard on a train can check and sell tickets, can give out information and reassure passengers accordingly, Driver Only Operation (DOO) abandons people to aftercare CCTV and pays yet more people with outlays on barriers, penalty fares and policing teams. We need to see a false economy and ensure our railways are properly staffed.
Please give us your support: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxrail-2040
Thursday, 11 September 2025
BRTA facilitated London Forum - help make the best even better!
re: https://clondoner92.
There were three apologies - Sam Moema (Greater London Authority), Andrew Bosi (Friends of Capital Transport Campaign) and Cllr. Adam Harrison (Camden Borough Council). Also David Start was unable to attend due to work commitments.
The following points were raised:
- Lower Thames River Crossing - This must be a road and rail crossing. This would link rail from Felixstowe Port to the Channel Tunnel to transport railfreight to/from UK to Europe and passenger services as well. Having redirected Mega Container ships to Felixstowe each ship carries 24,000 containers.
- Old Oak Common - Apart from an HS2 station, there must be access to the Elizabeth Line ( East - West Crossrail) including Heathrow and on to Staines and Woking, and also both the North London Line ( Stratford - Richmond) and West London Line ( Stratford - Clapham Junction) of London's Overground, Chiltern Railways, and LT Central Line.
- Willesden Junction Low Level - There is apparently space and capacity for new platforms which would be an opportunity for both London & North Western Railway services and Southern services from East Croydon to Watford.
- Docklands Light Railway - The extension to Thamesmead seems to be going ahead.
- Crossrail 2 (SW -NE) - The route should go from Clapham Junction, Victoria and Euston. Later the north-eastern extension should go on at least as far as Cheshunt where it joins up with the West Anglia Main Line which serves Seven Sisters and is already stretched to capacity. In fact the next station is White Hart Lane which is close to Tottenham Hotspur Football Ground and on match days that line is extremely busy.
- Croxley Link - Watford Stadium station is a top priority. Meanwhile I will write to both Watford Borough and Three Rivers District Councils to review the current situation.
- Muswell Hill Metro - I shall write to Haringey Borough Council to review the current situation.
- Extend LU Lines - The Central Line must be extended from Epping to Harlow.
- Sites close to railway lines offering potential locations for Railfreight terminals - There is spare land at Woking. Meanwhile there are plans for a new flyover separating the Portsmouth line and Southampton/Exxter lines.
Incidentally Peter McBeath also made a donation of £5 which included a copy of our London Pamphlet. Peter also mentioned that digital signalling on the railways will create capacity and real-time visibility more as well, and some of our rail network has already taken place like the ECML."
Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Please identify the threats of lands for reopening rail links
re: https://www.bbc.co.uk/