TRAC Project
The Launceston Steam Railway has withdrawn fully from the TRAC Project - further information can be found here
Introduction
The TRAC (Tourism and Rural Access in Cornwall) Project is a scheme developed by Cornwall Council to build two multi use trails (often referred to as 'cycle trails') in North Cornwall. One multi user trail would link Launceston to the village of Egloskerry, approximately five miles to the west of Launceston. In time this could form part of a link between the Camel and Tarka trails, both of which have created significant economic benefits. Funding will come from a number of external sources.
Because of the benefits that such a scheme would bring to Launceston and the surrounding area, the railway had been supportive of the County's plans, and had demonstrated this support by agreeing to make the necessary land it owns freely available in return for the opportunity to extend the railway alongside the new trail.
As part of the project it was intended to extend the railway for a further two miles, alongside the multi user trail, to Egloskerry. The railway has long seen Egloskerry as a desirable goal, as this would take it to the optimum length for economic operation. The chance to incorporate this into the trail scheme presented the opportunity to achieve this, whilst at the same time bringing benefits to the trail scheme.
At the end of the trail and railway at Egloskerry, the railway would have provided a simple platform and shelter only, and it was anticipated that an increase in the number of visitors to this attractive village would have been of benefit to the community there.
The availability of easy road access and parking in Launceston, together with rail access to the trail at Newmills and Egloskerry would have minimised extra vehicular use of the local roads, whilst permitting many more options in the use of the trail, and opening it up to those who are less fit and unable to walk or cycle the entire route.
Unfortunately the railway was forced to withdraw its involvement in the project in October 2011 as, following three years of negotiations, the Council was unable to commit itself to the planned trail as originally proposed - further information can be found later on this page.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Directors Statement
The following is a statement made by the Directors of the LSR on the 11th April 2011.
The Directors of the Launceston Steam Railway consider that the time is right to re-state its position with regard to the trail between Launceston and Egloskerry.
The railway has made its position clear from the outset - that without the extension to Egloskerry as amelioration for the effect that the trail alongside the railway will have, and for the loss of Company assets for the future, the Railway is not prepared to release land for the project.
However, the railway is and has been fully supportive of the Trail Project from the outset, which, together with the railway's extension to Egloskerry, it considers will be of great benefit to the town and local community, encouraging more visitors to the area.
It is now concerned that, whilst progress has been made on the first stretch from Launceston to Newmills, to the extent of surveys having been completed, little appears to have been achieved beyond Newmills.
The Company advised the County strongly to start work between Newmills and Egloskerry first, and complete the land acquisition. This was known to be the most difficult section from that standpoint, although physically the task of re-instating the railway route and placing the trail alongside would be relatively straightforward.
The advantage of this would be that, once completed, this would release any land owned by the Railway for the Launceston - Newmills section, which could then be completed with some speed. Also, there will be other land acquisition problems as the route extends westwards, and this would send the very clear message that the trail is not just a vague hope or aspiration, but is a very definite commitment.
The Directors have legal responsibilities in the running of the Company, including safeguarding its assets and future. The railway cannot release assets on vague promises or hopes, and it fears that by starting work on the Launceston to Newmills section first, without acquiring the necessary land beyond Newmills, the County will be unable to fulfil its commitment to the extension of the railway.
The Directors will not countenance a situation where the trail from Launceston uses railway land to reach Newmills without the Railway's extension to Egloskerry.
The railway has some concerns with regard to the costs of the scheme - some ¼ million pounds has been redirected to the Caradon Hill project, and the estimated cost per kilometre seems rather low when compared with figures obtained for similar work elsewhere. It is also concerned that should the Launceston to Newmills section be taken first, there will be insufficient money for the Egloskerry section and extension.
There is, and can be, no guarantee that any further monies will be forthcoming for completion of the scheme to Egloskerry.
The railway has already invested both time and money in this project, and the extension to Egloskerry will require considerable outlay by the railway, with little prospect of any return except in the long term. It has done this on the basis of discussions, and statements of intention by the County, but after some three years, nothing concrete has materialised, and the position has now been reached where it can go no further unless or until such time as the County is able to take the action required to acquire the necessary land between Newmills and Egloskerry. This would then immediately release the land owned by the railway between Launceston and Newmills, along the lines of the Draft Heads of Agreement.
The Directors regret that it has been necessary to make such a formal statement, but in the light of the impasse caused by objections being made by some private landowners (with which they have some sympathy) who do not themselves have the same legal responsibilities and constraints, they feel they have no alternative.
LSR withdraws from TRAC Project
31st October 2011
The Launceston Steam Railway has today publically announced its withdrawal from the TRAC Project - a scheme led by Cornwall Council to build a new multi-use trail between Launceston and Egloskerry.
As part of the project it was intended to extend the steam railway for a further two miles to the village of Egloskerry. In return for Cornwall Council making the land available for this extension, the steam railway company would allow the trail to run along land it owns between Launceston and Newmills.
Negotiations between the Council and the railway have been taking place for the past three years. Throughout this period the railway has firmly committed itself to the original plan for a railway and multi-use trail from Launceston to Egloskerry. This original plan has also been supported by the local town and parish councils, local businesses and numerous local residents.
The railway has demonstrated its commitment to the scheme by investing nearly £100,000 in new track and developing a diesel railcar for the Egloskerry extension. The railcar was intended to provide an off-peak tourist and public transport service to Egloskerry, which would be of particular benefit to the local community at a time when public transport links are under threat due to spending cuts imposed by Cornwall Council.
To date Cornwall Council have spent £500,000 on the multi-use trails it intends to build in North Cornwall at Launceston and Bude. No physical work has started on the trail at Launceston and no land for the trail has been purchased except for a road overbridge at Newmills, bought from British Railways Residuary Board for £1 and only necessary for the project if the railway was to be extended - a trail could easily be diverted a short distance to cross the road on the level. A very small section of the Bude trail has been built, through an already-existing bridge under a main road.
As a result of the railway's withdrawal from the project, Cornwall Council now intend to build the trail on an alternative route. This route would mainly be along the existing narrow minor road between Launceston and Newmills - which is likely to be a major safety hazard for the cyclists, horse riders and walkers who would use the trail.
Cornwall Council's TRAC Project officers, Chris Hariades and Kate Gason, last visited the railway for a meeting on the 11th October, during which they enjoyed a test trip on the diesel railcar being developed for service to Egloskerry, as seen in this photograph:
The formal notice of the railway's withdrawal can be read here. To date this letter has not had the courtesy of a reply or acknowledgement by Cornwall Council. The Draft Heads of Agreement mentioned in the letter can be read here.
Nigel Bowman, chairman of the Launceston Steam Railway, commented "The Launceston Steam Railway only exists due to the pro-active involvement of the abolished North Cornwall District Council and Cornwall County Council and it is a shame that the new unitary authority, Cornwall Council, has proved so difficult and obstructive to deal with. This sorry situation must serve as a dreadful warning to any parties wishing to invest in Cornwall, and is in stark contrast to Cumbria where the South Tynedale Railway is currently building an extension alongside a multi-use trail with full co-operation from the local authority."