Frome to Radstock rail link planned

PLANS to reintroduce a railway line behind the Cheese & Grain will be presented at an exhibition at the Cheese & Grain on Saturday 30th January.

The North Somerset Railway’s intent is to reintroduce the service along the length of the line between Radstock and Frome in stages. The initial phase will be Mells Road to Mells and will begin in 2018.

Operations director at The North Somerset Railway Olly Wise said, “The exhibition is a chance for the public to come and see the plans and ask any questions.

“It’s a community rail project for the community, so engaging with Frome is really important.

“The train simulator has been specifically created for this project and it takes you right along the route and is a detailed and accurate representation of the plans.”

The railway company, along with The Somer-Rail Trust and the Radstock to Frome Railway Project, has been campaigning for the reopening of the redundant railway line for many years, with the hope that at a later stage the railway will reconnect with the national rail network.

Olly continued, “There’s been a couple of years of initial ground work which involved a lot of dialogue with various groups. We wanted to make sure everyone was happy.

“Frome Town Council has been very positive and supportive, which is great.

“For Frome, the station behind the Cheese & Grain will be great for the town. It will bring more people into the town and encourage those from neighbouring towns to visit the markets. It’s great for Frome businesses.

“We have a lot of experts in the rail industry on board and we understand what is needed and are aware of the challenges. Is it achieveable? Yes. We may not be able to stick to the exact timeline, but the ultimate goal we are confident we will achieve.”

The exhibition will take place at the Cheese & Grain on Saturday 30th January from 11am – 3pm.