The publicity about the CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) says
"The CTRL is the first new main-line railway in Britian since 1900"
But is this really true? Wasn't the Selby coalfield a totally new
main-line railway? When was it built? 1970s? How long is it?

--

Michael Bell

In article ,
Michael Bell wrote:
The publicity about the CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) says
"The CTRL is the first new main-line railway in Britian since 1900"
But is this really true? Wasn't the Selby coalfield a totally new
main-line railway? When was it built? 1970s? How long is it?

It is not true. Several hundred miles of main line railway were built by
the GWR between 1900 and 1915.

David

In article , gwr4090
wrote:
In article ,
Michael Bell wrote:
The publicity about the CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) says
"The CTRL is the first new main-line railway in Britian since 1900"
But is this really true? Wasn't the by-pass round the Selby coalfield
a totally new main-line railway? When was it built? 1970s? How long
is it?

It is not true. Several hundred miles of main line railway were built by
the GWR between 1900 and 1915.

David


David

Thanks for that, but can I have details? I want to write letters to
the papers (especially the Guardian, which is especially hot on correcting
mistakes and straightening out spin and hype) to point out that this
not correct.

regards

Michael

--

In article ,
Michael Bell wrote:
In article , gwr4090
wrote:
In article ,
Michael Bell wrote:
The publicity about the CTRL (Channel Tunnel Rail Link) says
"The CTRL is the first new main-line railway in Britian since 1900"
But is this really true? Wasn't the by-pass round the Selby coalfield
a totally new main-line railway? When was it built? 1970s? How long
is it?

It is not true. Several hundred miles of main line railway were built by
the GWR between 1900 and 1915.

David


David

Thanks for that, but can I have details? I want to write letters to the
papers (especially the Guardian, which is especially hot on correcting
mistakes and straightening out spin and hype) to point out that this not
correct.

regards

Michael


Some examples (mileages are approximate):
South Wales Direct line: Wootton Bassett to Patchway 30m opened July 1903
Swansea District Line: Court Sart Jc to Morlais Jc 12m opened July 1913
Fishguard new line: Clarbeston Road to Letterston Jc 10m opened August 1906
Berks and Hants: Patney & Chirton to Westbury 12m opened July 1900
Castle Cary to Cogload Jc 22m opened July 1906
Birmingham Direct line: Ashendon Jc to Aynho Jc 18m opened April 1910
GW/GC Joint line: Neasden Jc to Ashendon Jc 39m April 1906
GW/GC Joint: Ashendon Jc to Grendon Underwood ?m April 1906 (used by GC
only)
Cheltenham to Bearley Jc 34m opened Dec 1907
North Warwickshire line: Bearley Jc to Tyseley 18m opened Jul 1908

In one or two cases quoted here, short stretches of existing single track
branch lines were converted and incorporated into new double track main
lines.

This was a period of tremendous expansion by the GWR which is well
captured in Norris, Beale and Lewis's book "Edwardian Enterprise"

David

Subject: Is the CTRL the first new railway in Britian since 1900?
From: Michael Bell
Date: 28/09/2003 20:29 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

No!