| Possible Launceston/Okehampton (- maybe Bodmin) Railway bypass Posted by GBM at 09:12, 1st June 2026 |     |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m2ner2yvjo
Railway feasibility study 'huge step forward'
A study into whether a multibillion-pound rail link through Cornwall would work has been hailed as a "huge step forward" by campaigners.
They said the proposed line would link Okehampton, in Devon, to Launceston, continuing onto a new station near Bodmin and joining the existing Cornish mainline.
Cornwall Council said it would now look at a more detailed study into the scheme - admitting it had the potential to improve rail resilience and open up the opportunity for more freight trains.
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| Re: Possible Launceston/Okehampton (- maybe Bodmin) Railway bypass Posted by Witham Bobby at 10:09, 1st June 2026 | |
I got to the word "multibillion" and immediately thought "not a chance"
Not enough voters in the West Country to unleash "multibillions" from the purse at HM Treasury
| Re: Possible Launceston/Okehampton (- maybe Bodmin) Railway bypass Posted by GBM at 12:32, 1st June 2026 | |
Andy Bowes Roden also saying it's pie in the sky.
Cornwall Council also looking to take prospective tin and lithium exports via this new line.
| Re: Possible Launceston/Okehampton (- maybe Bodmin) Railway bypass Posted by John D at 13:03, 1st June 2026 | |
I think if looking at a 125mph (or higher) double track electric main line, then no chance.
If looking at a 100-110mph line that mainly uses earthworks for A30 (or some of the parallel dead bits where road was realigned, regraded and widened, or where bridges replaced wide flat junctions), or reusing lengths of closed lines and bypassed (now closed) roads, then might work economically as many miles will not need as much construction.
The real value is if mining resumes on decent scale in Cornwall, and current route would need expensive expansion to carry the freight. If going to have to spend hundreds of millions anyway, then maybe having a less vulnerable alternate route makes sense.
