Minister visits flood-hit railway
Government minister Pat McFadden was today being updated on the full extent of damage to the Severn Valley Railway, devastated by floods which wrecked huge sections of the track. Government minister Pat McFadden was today being updated on the full extent of damage to the Severn Valley Railway, devastated by floods which wrecked huge sections of the track. The severe weather which ravaged the area in June caused damage estimated at more than £2.5 million and left the railway only able to operate on a short section of track between Kidderminster and Bewdley. Todays visit comes amid claims a further £6.7 million is needed to fund the shortfall for repairs across Worcestershire, including work needed to get the Kidderminster-based railway back on track. In total, 12 miles of the railway have remained closed for major rebuilding work. Mr McFadden, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, was invited by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands to meet railway directors and leaders of other businesses which suffered from the floods. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
The severe weather which ravaged the area in June caused damage estimated at more than £2.5 million and left the railway only able to operate on a short section of track between Kidderminster and Bewdley.
Todays visit comes amid claims a further £6.7 million is needed to fund the shortfall for repairs across Worcestershire, including work needed to get the Kidderminster-based railway back on track.
In total, 12 miles of the railway have remained closed for major rebuilding work.
Mr McFadden, Minister of State at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, was invited by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands to meet railway directors and leaders of other businesses which suffered from the floods.
He was due to arrive at Highley station, the scene of one of the most serious wash-aways on the line, at 10.30am today to be met by SVR (Holdings) Company chairman Michael York, chief engineer Phil Sowden and Advantage West Midlands chairman Nick Paul.
Mr McFadden was expected to see some of the 45 sections of the 16-mile railway line between Bewdley and Bridgnorth which were washed away or affected. The 16-mile line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth is not expected to reopen until February.
Meanwhile the heritage steam line is expected to lose £1.8 million in revenue because of the closures.
The minister, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, was scheduled to travel to Bewdley later today to see how staff are keeping operations going between Kidderminster and Bewdley.
An appeal to help pay for repairs has topped £400,000 and the railway's marketing manager John Leach has described the public's response as "fantastic".
