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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2016 :: RMTnews
21
whilst a legal battle was fought
against the opening of the
Railway. The case was
eventually won by the Railway,
but at a cost of over £30,000 in
legal and other fees - valuable
money which had been intended
for use on further expansion.
Nevertheless debts were paid
off and a new platform,
complete with a run-round loop,
was built at Oldland Common in
1999.
Further expansion
northwards was impractical due
to housing developments.
Therefore it was decided to
extend southwards and push
toward Bath and the scenic
Avon Valley.
As with the original railway
pioneers, considerable hurdles
were placed in the way of the
volunteers but, as the 21st
Century approached, the line
was extended to within a stone's
throw of the River Avon itself.
The large-scale project
undertaken from 2000 to 2004,
which cost the Avon Valley
Railway over £150,000, was the
extension of the line across the
river; involving a highly
expensive safety examination of
the bridge and the construction
of a new platform with a run-
round loop.
This meant that trains no
longer require 'top-and-tail'
engines on the southbound
journey and spectators can
watch steam engines running
round and coupling up at both
ends of the line.
It also enables passengers
and users of the Bristol and
Bath Railway Path - including
the disabled - to reach the
riverside and picnic area by
train.
British Waterways added to
the facilities by building a 50-
yard landing stage at the
riverbank, allowing river craft to
tie up alongside. This has led to
the availability of riverboat trips
on specific days throughout the
season as an added attraction to
the train service.
Within walking distance of
the platform are a host of
excellent pubs and the large and
popular Avon Valley Country
Park is close by. Sound good?
Well it is.
Avon Valley Railway
Bitton Railway Station,
Bath Road, Bitton, Bristol
BS30 6HD
Tel: 0117 932 5538
www.avonvalleyrailway.org
Generations of Avon volunteers:
James Line, student, James
Uppington, computer
programmer and Steve Walters,
retired engineer