Please email your local MP in support, the media outlet and the councils at both ends and along the line in support as individuals. BRTA was one of the instigators of this idea and others are now seeing the potential.
It needs:
1. studying/making the business case to Green Book Rules (DFT)
2. Route protection including deviation spaces and realignment of original railway, some compulsory purchase, relocation packages and compensation will be required where pinch points arise.
3. When one thinks of the tourist hot spot Cotswolds and Forest of Dean are and Ross-on-Wye in particular as a tourist hot-spot; it is a winner plus as a through route Reading to Merseyside via Shrewsbury would create paths for other routes and enable much more by rail out of Southampton and elsewhere.
But we need to add our voices and usher it along. Maybe a forum can be convened later in 2026 by BRTA to bolster support. Enquiries ceo@brtarail.com
