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Project Description

The project comprises the renovation and development of a private railway network in North Staffordshire to produce a modern sustainable transport system with which to exploit the very considerable freight and passenger potential located along the line and to assist in the expansion of the Churnet Valley Railway’s heritage operations.

The basis of the project is the 20 mile railway line which runs from the West Coast Main Line at Stoke (to which it has an established connection) to Cauldon Lowe in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Centrally located between these points is Leekbrook Junction from which run other routes within MCR’s plans, i.e. north into Leek and south (via the CVR heritage line) to Alton Towers.

The project is underpinned by three positive fundamentals:

1) Existing Infrastructure

The Cauldon Lowe to Stoke line is intact throughout its length and includes the original single track which remains in situ along the whole route. All bridge structures have been left in place and no land of significance has been disposed of. These are significant benefits which will greatly assist renovation of the line.

2) Commercial

The two branches of the line directly access a number of the regions main transport orientated commercial operations. The Cauldon Lowe branch accesses four major limestone quarries and one of the country’s largest cement works. The southern branch has the potential to access Alton Towers, the UK’s largest theme park.

3) Environment, Transport and Land Planning Policies

All those interested in the project will be aware of the current international emphasis on the reduction of fossil fuel use to combat increasing carbon emissions and adverse climate change. Transport is a major contributor to carbon emissions so that rail transit systems for passengers and freight of the type proposed by the Company fully reflect the national and international view of the future in this sector.

Transport and land planning policies in this area overwhelmingly supports the use of rail over road for the mass movement of freight and passengers, where it is available.

Policy at all levels, European, national and local, are being continually strengthened, a process that can be expected to continue as public and governmental concern and awareness of climate change issues increase. The Company has identified at least 22 policies supporting sustainable transport. From an analysis of these policies it can be seen that:

a) rail is to be preferred to road for the mass transportation of freight and passengers.

b) traffic generating uses will be under an increasingly strong obligation to use rail where it is available.

c) rail routes are to be protected and encouraged back to use.

Government measures restricting or taxing road use such as the London Congestion Charge and Workplace Parking Levy, which until recent times would have been politically unacceptable, show the way policy in this area is developing.

One of the Company’s great advantages is that its lines will directly access major land uses at Cauldon and Alton Towers which are influenced by these policies so that the organisations concerned and the Company, working together, will be able to bring about major environmental improvements relatively quickly by switching their transport emphasis to rail.