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Is Our Railway at Risk?

20 March 2005

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18th March 2005 was the AGM for the Marlow - Maidenhead Passengers' Association. The Hall at Bourne End Community Centre was full of rail users, as rumours of the closure of the Marlow line attracted interest.

Full House at Rail Passenger Meeting

After the general AGM matters, there were four speakers, David Mattheson from Great Western, Chad Collins, station Manager at High Wycombe for Chilterns, John Hodgson, transport manager for the bus services and John Callaghan from Wycombe District Council. They outlined plans in their own specific areas.  The floor was then open to questions, these tended to be fairly mundane items as better signage for train changes, ladies loos being locked and not available when they should be and the Heathrow link.  Someone from Transport 2000 then stood up and said that it seemed there were plans afoot to reduce lines. He asked if anyone had read the Railway Bill currently going through parliament.  The Chairman said this was too long and complicated to look at. The questioner pointed out that 30% of this bill related to line closures and should be looked at. The Chairman said that the Marlow to Maidenhead line was safe as they had had a meeting with the Strategic Rail Authority, Georgina Wood, Vice Chairman of the Cookham Society, then read from a letter she had received from the Strategic Rail Authority saying that it disagreed with what they chairman was saying. The Chairman said that the letter to Georgina must be incorrect. Mike Copland then stood up and said he had been a member for many years and this seemed to be repeat of 1970 when the Wycombe to Marlow line was closed and the reason the Marlow - Maidenhead Passenger Association was set up. He said that we must stop the slippery slope, there appeared to be total confusion about what was actually planned and we needed to be a lot more diligent in finding out the true situation and government plans. The Chairman pointed out that Community Railways was good news for us and an opportunity.  In summary it was felt however an eye should be kept out for the pitfalls particularly as there had been a lack of current investment and that facts and figures were needed.  It seems we need to be vigilant about ensuring that our railway does not disappear.  

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