I’m on “the train”. I emphasise “the train” as when I was a child this was the train. This train runs from Bletchley to Bedford, stopping at two of the villages I grew up in. My Grandparents lived in Bedford, and so when I went to visit them I’d travel along this line.
My bike would be stowed in the Guards Van (remember those?) and I’d be sat next to the window watching the familiar sites of the Millbrook test track, and the rather less glamorous, but equally fascinating London Brick Company pits and works.
The Bletchley to Bedford line forms part of the wonderfully named Varsity Line which ran from Oxford to Cambridge. Sadly the Oxford to Bletchley leg was closed some time ago, although there has been talk of it being reopened, which would be fabulous.
Driving cross-country to Oxford you can see old embankments, bridges and tunnels which I assume mark the old line to Oxford. Taking the Varsity Line to Oxford would be a very pretty journey through some lovely countryside.
Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to look out of the window at snow covered memories.
Responses
I’ve walked the route from Didcot to Newbury several times, it’s a shame that so much of it has now been developed or left to rot. Beechings cuts were very short sighted and took a vision where everyone would have a car and somehow we could fuel the cars and provide the road networks to take the load. There must be routes like this that would benefit the local community… a rail station at Compton for example would significantly boost the local economy and take the load from the only real alternative – road. A rail link from Newbury to Lambourn would also help the communities in North Wessex Downs area such as Great Shefford and Boxford. Sadly the cost of replacing these lost assets is massive. I would be keen to hear alternative plans and thoughts – after all many of our disused canals have been brought back into use (Kennet and Avon included).
Add Your Response