You may have read in the Daily Post that the cost of re-opening the disused railway line between Gaerwen and Llangefni 'would' cost £25 million. This sounds quite a lot, especially at £6,250,000 per mile. I hope you notice that in the report itself the 'would' turned to 'could' cost....
You can download the Network Rail report from the Welsh Government website.
If you do download the report by Network Rail you will also notice that there are many 'if and buts' within - i.e the £25.1 million cost includes "a risk percentage of 35% and is subject to further GRIP development."
Therefore the on their own calculations the cost could be between around £16 million and up to £21.5 million.
But even at £16 million or around £4 million per mile it still sounds rather a lot to me. Time to study the report further me thinks......
You can download the Network Rail report from the Welsh Government website.
If you do download the report by Network Rail you will also notice that there are many 'if and buts' within - i.e the £25.1 million cost includes "a risk percentage of 35% and is subject to further GRIP development."
Therefore the on their own calculations the cost could be between around £16 million and up to £21.5 million.
But even at £16 million or around £4 million per mile it still sounds rather a lot to me. Time to study the report further me thinks......
3 comments:
It sounds like a 'kick it into the long grass' figure to me.
It is extraordinary that with all these renewable energy and fossil fuel saving projects that are being forced on the island, that a bit of good old fashioned public transport/fossil fuel saving infrastructure cannot be more strongly encouraged and supported.
One wonders whether the re-opening costs could be absorbed into the building of Wylfa B and/or the demolition of Wylfa A on the grounds it could be used by freight trains moving things to and from Amlwch for onward movement to the site. It would certainly reduce some of the lorry traffic that will be on the A55.
Building the Welsh Highland cost a millon quid per mile. That cost included rebuilding from the ground up. New fences culverts bridges drainage ballast sleepers and rails including the cross town line through Porthmadog.Eighteen miles of existing railway no doubt requires a huge clearance job, new fences sleepers and ballast, clearing and reinstating drainage and bridge repairs.
Ever heard of volunteers? Have a look at the current Llangollen project where they are extending the line from Carrog to Corwen. No rails sleepers ballast or drains etc there. 6 million £ per mile? 'Never in Ewrop Good Boy!'
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