TRANSPORT MINISTER PRAISES SWANAGE RAILWAY & PLEDGES TO HELP WITH RESIGNALLING FOR PERMANENT SERVICE TO WAREHAM - 14th April 2009

News Item and Press Release from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 17th April 2009
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright.
To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis visits the Swanage Railway on 14th April 2009. From left to right are Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester, Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis, South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight, and on the footplate, driver and Swanage Railway Operations Manager Steve Dyer and volunteer fireman Mick Hatton, both from Swanage.

By Andrew P.M. Wright.

Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis has praised the award-winning Swanage Railway - and pledged to help it with working towards resignalling work so a permanent train service can be re-instated from Wareham.

To see the full set of photos of the visit, please scroll to the bottom of the page

The fact-finding visit to the Swanage Railway, organised by South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight, took place just two weeks after the first train ran from London to Swanage since the line was closed by British Rail in January, 1972.

Describing the 37-year old plans to re-open the rail link as "highly credible", backing for the project from Lord Adonis came during a whistle-stop visit to the volunteer-run Swanage Railway - which has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 - during a five-day tour of Britain's railways.

The Transport Minister said that he would be holding a meeting at the Department for Transport in London between all interested parties - including the Swanage Railway, Network Rail, local councils and the Regional Development Agency.

The aim will be to discuss the financing and timescales of re-signalling work at Worgret Junction - as part of Network Rail's Poole to Wool signalling renewal scheme - to accommodate a regular train service between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage.

South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight (left) and Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis make their way down the platform at Swanage station on 14th April 2009.

After his visit, Lord Adonis described the Swanage Railway as being a "large, enthusiastic and highly professional team".

The Transport Minister added that there was "strong local support" and that "since the track is all there and the business case is promising, the proposal is highly credible."

Clearly delighted with his visit to the Swanage Railway's relaid Purbeck Line, Lord Adonis said: "I have had a great trip. The key issue is the resignalling and whether it's going to be possible.

"I have undertaken to host a meeting at the Department for Transport with all parties - including Jim Knight, the local authority, the Regional Development Agency and Network Rail once detailed costings have been obtained to see if we can fund the work so that resignalling can take place."

Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis at Swanage station on 14th April 2009.

Lord Adonis added that he was keen to see whether the potential of a Swanage Railway linked to the national railway network so a permanent train service could be run from Wareham could be explored.

The Transport Minister also praised the Swanage Railway for not only its heritage steam operation but also its community service which he described as an "an excellent public service highly appreciated by the community."

The visit by Lord Adonis to the award-winning Purbeck Line was organised by South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight.

The Transport Minister was accompanied by Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester who is chairman of Parliament's Railway Heritage Committee and treasurer of the parliamentary all-party railways group.

Lord Adonis and Lord Faulkner were joined by South Dorset Member of Parliament Jim Knight who is also the Government's Schools Minister.

Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis (left) and South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight and Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester on the footplate of BR Standard Class 4 No 80078 at Swanage station on 14th April 2009.

Swanage Railway chairman Mike Whitwam said: "The visit by Lord Adonis was very positive - he said that he would explore how we could fully reopen the rail link from Wareham to Swanage with a daily train service.

"The visit was a significant step forward towards achieving that long-held ambition which dates back to 1972 when British Rail closed and lifted the line.

"We were delighted that Lord Adonis took time out of his hectic tour of Britain's railway system to come to Swanage and we are also grateful to South Dorset MP Jim Knight and Lord Faulkner for their help and interest in our project and aspirations," explained Mr Whitwam.

The visit by Lord Adonis, Lord Faulkner and South Dorset MP Jim Knight took place on Tuesday 14 April 2009.

Lord Adonis travelled by train from Weymouth to Wareham before being driven to the Swanage Railway's Norden park and ride station where the party boarded a heritage diesel multiple unit for a guided tour down to Corfe Castle and Wareham.

Escorted by Swanage Railway officials, the trio were also accompanied by Dorset County Council Chief Executive David Jenkins and Purbeck District Council planning chief Mark Sturgess.

At Swanage, Lord Adonis took to the controls of 1954 Brighton-built ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80078 for a quick ride within station limits.

From left to right at Swanage station on 14th April 2009 are Swanage Railway Operations Manager Steve Dyer with South Dorset MP and Schools Minister Jim Knight, Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis and Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester.

That was under the watchful eye of driver and Swanage Railway Operations Manager Steve Dyer and volunteer fireman Mick Hatton, both from Swanage.

After the visit, the party was driven back to Wareham where Lord Adonis resumed his tour of Britain's railways - travelling by train to Southampton and Brighton.

During his five-day tour by train of Britain's railway system, Lord Adonis covered 2,000 track miles on 40 trains - from London to Cornwall and southern England to Scotland.