Olney Conundrum - answers on a postcard!

We need more volunteers to carry on.

Olney is a major issue because:

a. Old route lost

b. Handley Alignment compromised

c. Further outer route as yet un-proven

d. Olney people and town look north-south not east-west

e. Olney people are satellites of Milton Keynes, not Bedford and Northampton so much

f. A509 is busier than A428

g. People are sceptical and cynical/they lack faith

h. They want/have unrealistic expectations, all singing and dancing on a plate or it isn't a credible proposition

i. They are either hostile or indifferent to the rail proposition

j. Town Council seems at sixes and sevens with resignations, re-elections and chaos on the local plan/getting consensus

k. ERTA has neither the people, money or expertise to do business cases, commission £40k upwards studies and court other professionals beyond intrinsic interest in the strategic value of what if we re-railed a link between Brighton/Cambridge-Bedford-Northampton/West Coast Main Line and the West Midlands - only 21.5 miles of rebuild/new build could do it.

If interested in exploring further please email Richard richard.erta@gmail.com or join ERTA: https://ertarail.com/membership/

The only thing I can think of is to issue a question asking flyer which David could lead on delivering asking opinions on a cross-section including the railway and maybe, just maybe an odd new person more conciliatory may emerge for the next forum? The Bull Meeting Room is a good cosy venue, food was good quality and right opposite the local main bus stops.

Bedford-Northampton appeal

Phil Haigh in Rail Magazine Edition 849 page 6 said "[Market Led Proposals (MLPs) could be developed or promoted by ports, train operators, freight operators, housing developers, financial investors or consortia of the above." [  ] mine. Our Bedford-Northampton rail link project needs investors to seize the bull by the horns and invest in studies, make the case and grow consortia with a view to funding rebuild and reopening for income generation of passenger and freight over a new strategic missing link rail asset. Thameslink Brighton-Birmingham arc and scope in connectivities, 3 airports, Eurostar with Bedford and Northampton at the centre of the network and also linking with the proposed East-West Rail at Bedford for cross-country links between Oxford and Cambridge, Bristol and Felixstowe for example as well as Stansted Airport-South Midlands sub region. If you or your company feel they would like to explore further, our team stands ready to meet and entertain offers. The project stands on it's own feet and regardless of others can go it alone. All enquiries to Mr Richard Pill richard.erta@gmail.com Thank you. 

Bedford-Northampton Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSa9H_WEdgQ&feature=youtu.be

What people need to understand is that campaigns are only as good as people are willing to join and help out, pool talent and make contributions respectively. ERTA has an open membership and can facilitate talent applied to progression. Olney is the big issue, needs - must dictates a further north arc to the Handley Alignment, but reconciling that with steep slopes, crossing A509 and Lavendon Road and Great River Ouse and reconciling with old trackbed eastwards at Clifton Reynes area needs a study to evaluate engineer and other aspects and once confirmed, for a commitment from MK Council to be responsible and incorporate consideration of the railway into it's plans going forward which means tailoring development applications surely? Northampton Councils are on skid row/disarray and Bedford looks south with a London centric obsession - yes needed but must not put all eggs in one basket, we need diversity and other options too. Please help us, it would make a critical difference. https://ertarail.com/membership/ Ironically, Northampton, Olney and Bedford are very different and have different outlooks. Olney from a Northampton perspective is seen as an outback. Olney looks to Milton Keynes and Bedford has it's own focuses. Yet the missing link would link East-West Rail and Thameslink at Bedford serving the 3 airports (Gatwick, Luton and Heathrow) with Northampton-Birmingham services and vice versa, putting these places at the centre of a  wider network and flow of people, spend and goods. Do we plan Bedford Midland track and platforms to facilitate growth and options or do we follow piecemeal planning whereby blinkers are on and those doing A4280 Bromham Road Bridge can only provide for a status quo and act as if the rest like growth with EWRL doesn't matter? This is exactly what is being locked-in and basically unless we keep options open, we create restrictions, bottlenecks, deterrents on new flows of trains going forwards. Not just a matter of past glories or nostalgia, but the question of what do we build and invest in today for future generations? If the last trumpet, then I am quite sure we have time enough to do it in a ethical and sustainable manner, not ruin-nation/races to the bottom and cheating others by guzzling irresponsibly by models locked in without choices for people to vote with their feet?!

2018

NORTHAMPTON MARKET STALL
EVERY THURSDAY IN JULY

10.00am – 3.00pm

Market Square
Northampton
NN1 2DL
http://www.northamptonmarkets.co.uk/

For further information contact Mr Richard Pill
e. richard.erta@gmail.com or T. 01234 330090.
Donations of Bric-a-Brac and any railway publications welcome to entertain.

Another chance to give us your support and vote with your feet and wallets!