STEVENTON STORY
THE BURGHERS of Steventon in Oxfordshire like their railway heritage – they’re just not too keen on the 21st century version. They’re up in arms over Network Rail’s proposals to replace the bridge over the Great Western main line there as part of the electrification project, with the village website saying: ‘The coming of the Great Western Railway transformed the village of Steventon: it became the centre of the village, replacing the ancient Causeway.
The Brunel designed bridge, Station House and Brook House, are an important historical link to when GWR had its headquarters in Steventon and it was the main station for passengers and freight’.
Railway engineers are tearing their hair out over the impasse, with the January 2019 Inter-city Express train (IET) timetable looming larger over the horizon by the day. Latest disingenuous electrification proposal is for the wires to dip down under the GWR bridge, but that wouldn’t meet standards for 125mph running. ‘387s’ might squeeze under with pans up, but IETs would drop the pan on the approach to the bridge and then – WHACK – up it would go again at 125mph. IKB might be chuffed that we pay such deference to what he left us, but seriously, he would think we are quite mad.
Are they having a laugh?<…
