Ideally I would love to see the entire line running again perhaps with steam locomotives at weekends, but if even part of the line is salvaged then that would be a good start.
Dear Sir/Madam
With the discovery of oil deposits in the High Weald of Kent and Sussex I suggest that you consider conducting a feasability study into re-opening the section of line between Paddock Wood Station and Horsmonden (which was closed by BR in 1961). This would give you a base in the High Weald and options for transportation for much of the crude oil in a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way than by road. It sould also provide South Eastern Railways with an enviable income stream which your competitors would not have access to.
By the late 1950's I know that the Hawkhurst Line became loss making but Horsmonden was always one of the more profitable stations. This was owing to the proximity of the community it served and the wide variety of farm produce that it supplied. I believe that re-opening the line would allow access to much of this farm traffic plus increased revenue from commuters to London, Maidstone and Ashford whilst reducing the increasing strain on Paddock Wood Car Park. Perhaps using one diesel shuttle service between the stations at regular intervals would cancel the need for electrification and reduce the requirement for signalling, so greatly reducing costs.
The distance of the former line was 4 3/4 miles and it was well engineered to cope with the climb up from Paddock Wood. Using the Paddock Wood Southern Bay platform the first 2/3 mile would run parallel to the Ashford Line before branching south accross fields for a few miles on nearly level ground with only a few minor roads to cross. Within Horsmonden parish the half mile long embankment still exists which climbs steadily at 1 in 66 before a cutting is reached (partialy infilled) prior to the tunnel which is also still in good condition. It is only south of the tunnel that the deep cutting to the station site will need to be re-excavated.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and any suggestions of what the community can do to increase the likelihood of this becoming a reality.
Yours faithfully
Laurence Arnell
Friends of the Hawkhurst Railway
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I feel a bit of a fraud using the above title as I am the only friend of the railway at this stage.
Meanwhile I wait with baited breath for a response.
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Letter back from South Eastern
Dear Mr Arnell
Thank you for the letter dated 19th April, which you sent to our Managing Director, David Statham. Mr Statham has asked me to respond on his behalf.
I understand that you would like to see the line between Paddock Wood and Horsmonden reopened after it was closed back in 1961. From your comments I see that you feel this would offer more transportation options for commuters travelling in this area, and would alleviate any strain on the current mainline services we operate on the line between Tonbridge and Ashford.
I appreciate the time you have taken to bring this proposal to our attention, but this kind of decision would not be taken by an individual train operating company. If a line was to be reopened then this would have to be considered by Network Rail who are the company who manage and maintain the railway lines in this country. So what I will do is forward your letter to them so they can reply to you on the points you have raised. For reference, their contact details are :
Network Rail
1 Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN
Tel:03457 11 41 41
www.networkrail.co.uk
Once again, I'd like to thank you for bringing this suggestion to our attention.
Your sincerely
Russell L D'eath
Customer Relations Team Leader
Southeastern
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Well at least they answered, I am sceptical about Network Rail doing the same, still, I have their address and can now inundate them with letters if I feel so inclined. Meanwhile I believe that oil is to be drilled in the Lamberhurst area (possibly close to the original site of Goudhurst Station) will we be seeing large tankers on the roads and unhappy residents? Also, will there be lots of supporting industries springing up which will use heavy plant equipment that will require transportation?
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6th May 2015 letter back from Network Rail (dated 29th April)
Our reference 150429-000246
Dear Mr Arnell
Thank you for contacting Network Rail..
Your enquiry has been passed to our local Community Relations team who are investigating the issue as quickly as possible. For your convenience the enquiry has been assigned the unique Service Request number: 150429-000246
In the meantime should you need to contact Network Rail again, please do not hesitate to call our 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 quoting the reference number provided.
Yours sincerely,
Community Relations Team
Network Rail
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I'm glad they responded.
Apparently it can typically take a few months to review a case, they look into the likely expense of repurchasing land and rebuilding bridges etc, likely passenger and goods traffic and even check that rare wildlife have not colonised areas of the trackbed.
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As at 8th June the enquiry is still ongoing and I am starting to get a bit nervous although I don't expect it to be successful (it will at least 'be on the radar' for a while afterwards and Horsmonden council will have to think twice before allowing any building developments over the old trackbed). I tried to bring this subject up with a member of the Horsmonden Historical Society but was disapointed by their apathy, unfortunately when I mentioned that there is oil in the Weald which may well be drilled near Horsmonden they had not even considered it.
If you would like the line reinstated from Paddock Wood to Horsmonden please write to the local MP as it may take a political will to drive it through, if you are willing to help, your polite letter / email could make all the difference, (I am emailing him now but am not a local resident).
Greg Clark is the local MP and here is his web page:-
http://www.gregclark.org/contact-greg/
The enquiry reference with Network Rail is 150429/000246.
I think that this is the nearest we have got to re-instating any of the line for 54 years (the first and only enquiry that I know of).
22nd June: I received an email back from Rachel Godfrey, one of Greg Clark's staff asking me to let her know the outcome of the Network Rail enquiry!!!! Obviously Mr Clark is not interested in supporting the case for re-instatement of the line but Rachel Godfrey was trying to 'let me down lightly'. I'm sorry for the people who wrote to him (if anyone did) but at least you tried to do the right thing, there wasn't much point in having half hearted support from an MP and I had no expectations of him personally, meanwhile the enquiry goes on.
6th July and 8th July: I have phoned Network Rail for the results of the enquiry twice this week, Unusually the case is still ongoing (the average enquiry tends to last about two months). A lady has been allocated the case but is prumably awaiting further information, sorry, but I will update this as soon as I hear something. The fact that it is still being investigated is quite positive in my opinion.
17th July
I have had a response from Network Rail, here is the letter dated 15th July.
Our Reference: 150429-000246
Dear Mr Arnell
Thank you for your letter with regards to the line being re-opened between Paddock Wood and Horsmonden.
I must explain that unfortunately we do not cater for small freight flows any more, we are likely to develop a connection to a container terminal or other bulk flow rather than a farm due to the amount of investment required.
On the passenger front, it is unlikely that such a reopening would gain a positive business case due to the extensive earthworks, track laying, signalling and other civils and station construction costs which would require a very large passenger flow (especially from a single station) to pay back the cost of the works within 60 years let alone the extra profit required to make it viable. The 2011 census shows that there were just 1,620 people living in Horsmonden.
A diesel shuttle service is highly unlikely as diesel units are very expensive to maintain and operate, compared to a modern electric unit, and maintaining an extremely small fleet of units would be cost prohibitive for any operator. Electrification is not cheap and could cost a significant amount.
For an idea of the costs of clearing an in-filled cutting and reopening an old railway, you may wish to look at the East Grinstead Extension of the Bluebell Railway which they carried out 'at cost' or cheaper as they are a charity and had a lot of goodwill: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk//bluebell/extend.html
I hope that this response has provided you with the information you require. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our Helpline on 03457 11 41 41.
Best wishes
Gabrielle Kearns
Community Relations Executive
Communications
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Gabrielle Kearns
Community Relations Executive
Communications
1, Eversholt Street
London
NW1 2DN
Your Reference: 150429-000246
Dear Gabrielle,
Thank you very much for investigating my enquiry and responding with your letter dated 15thJuly 2015.
I have taken on board your points regarding Horsmonden’s small population, rail companies no longer catering for farm traffic and the costs of diesel maintenance / re- excavation of in-filled cuttings etc.
However should the site for oil drilling in the Lamberhurst area be fully developed and we are faced with a scenario where oil tankers are being used in large numbers I will write to you again in the hope that you will re-investigate the economics of the case (perhaps to Goudhurst station).
Yours sincerely
Laurence Arnell
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Well I may have been naive but I am so pleased I tried to do something.
A few positives have come from this.
1/ I feel happier that I raised the issued.
2/ The Hawkhurst Line is 'on the radar' still at Network Rail (and Horsmonden and Paddock Wood Councils perhaps).
3/ A few people will have learned a little about the old railway.
4/ For anyone who has been or might be implicated in building over the track bed news of an enquiry may have caused them a little consternation and they might think twice about causing any further damage..
