Paul Weaver wrote:

"Dave Arquati" wrote in message
...

More pie-in-the-sky, but if such a service were run from Wycombe to
Maidenhead instead of London (relaying the Wycombe - Bourne End line),


Few houses in the way now I think. Why was this line shut? Aside from making
Berks-Bucks PT journeys impossible, it makes Bourne End station weird.

According to "History of the Chiltern Line" by John Healy, traffic had
been in decline on the Wycombe - Maidenhead line since the early 60's,
so they introduced DMUs working a reduced Maidenhead - Aylesbury service
and reduced the intermediate stations (Wooburn Green and Loudwater) to
halts. Things didn't improve, so (unusually) BR gave the line another
chance by running a shortened Wycombe - Maidenhead service; it didn't
make much difference, so the Bourne End - Wycombe line was closed on 4th
May 1970 (without consultation) and lifted quickly.

In 1972 the new A404 between Wycombe and western Maidenhead was built,
offering much faster journey times between Wycombe and Maidenhead.
Unfortunately the economic growth of the Thames Valley coupled with ease
of access via the M40 and A404 has led to a massive rise in car
journeys, which is why Handy Cross (M40 J4) and the London Road in
Wycombe (A40 from the town centre eastwards) are so congested.

Public transport between Berks & Bucks centres mainly on the 315 bus
route connecting Wycombe and Bourne End (half-hourly, extending to
Maidenhead hourly). The through journey from Wycombe to Maidenhead takes
a minimum of 46 mins connecting to the train at Bourne End; this doesn't
compare well to a car journey of about 15 minutes via the A404. The bus
is severely hampered by high levels of congestion as it leaves Wycombe
via the London Road.

The High Wycombe Society has been lobbying for the reinstatement of the
Wycombe to Bourne End rail route using Ultra Light Rail, with through
trams between Wycombe and Maidenhead.

http://www.highwycombesociety.org.uk/hblreport.htm

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London