9:41am Wednesday 4th February 2009
By Joanna Davis
A LAST-MINUTE plea has been made to save Weymouth’s old railway lines from the scrapheap.
A final decision over the lines’ future is looming closer after councillors voted to close a deal with Network Rail to buy the lines back for £50,000.
But businessman Nigel Ewens told the council meeting that he can inject new life into the 150-year-old line through a multi- million pound scheme.
His West Bay-based company Jurassic Coast Railways Ltd wants to set up a tram between Weymouth and Portland for tourists, commuters and visitors to the 2012 Olympics.
Mr Ewens begged councillors not to ‘throw away’ an opportunity for the borough.
He added: “We have a vision to create an integrated tram and rail system.
“We are looking at the possibility of the tram going along the seafront to Preston and we are working with other third parties to produce a service link to Dorch-ester and Yeovil Junction and link with the London line.”
Mr Ewens showed Weymouth and Portland borough councillors images of the tram carriages that would serve the line.
He said: “There would be no cost to the taxpayer and the trams would leave a zero-sized carbon footprint and there would be no pollution or overhead lines.
“The track has been there for 150 years. This is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed. It will leave a true legacy for 2012.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Ewens said that the tramline would require a minimum investment of £4million and more than £3million extra to extend the line to Preston.
Councillor Howard Legg said he had some safety concerns about the lines.
“We’ve been made aware that it’s not easy going along the tramway in certain vehicles.
“A number of people have come off bikes while cycling near the line.”
Coun Tim Munro said that agreeing to a tram scheme could involve an element of risk for the council, He added: “We are going from a position of having no risk to taking a risk for the purpose of facilitating a Pavilion development.
“We won’t have any financial gain from a tram service, but for £50,000 we will take on an element of risk.”
Members of the council’s management committee voted unanimously in favour of securing a deal to take on rights to the line from Network Rail.
The council will decide at a later date what to do with the tracks.
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