Sponsored by
ON TRACK FOR PARK AND RIDE
SHOPPERS could soon be travelling from Elsecar to Cortonwood by train and returning by boat.
The Elsecar Railway Preservation Group wants to set up a park and ride scheme to the retail park and have also made tentative approaches to Barnsley Canal Group.
The group is waiting on paperwork to return from the Deputy Prime Minister's office and a railway order. They hope to take over the lease of the Elsecar line from Barnsley Council on April 1.
"We have had the verbal go-ahead, but we are waiting for the paperwork, which when you are dealing with the Government and the council takes its own pace," said Malcolm Banks, a director of Elsecar Railway Preservation Group.
He added: "Once we have got the lease, we will look at providing a shopper service from Elsecar and Hoyland to Cortonwood. We think we could create more tourism.
"The Barnsley Canal people seem to be sorting out things with the canals and we intend working with them, with shoppers possibly riding in on the train and back on the canal. But there is quite a bit of work to be done yet."
The group has added a two carriage diesel engine to its fleet which currently travels from Elsecar to Tingle Lane, Hemmingfield and are waiting for another one to arrive in the next two to three months.
Last October, Mr Banks explained the reasons behind extending the route to Cortonwood.
He said: "To be honest, the Cortonwood extension is essential to make the railway pay. At the moment it is hidden from view and only comes out into the open at Tingle Bridge Lane."
• The preservation group is a charity but is also a business limited by guarantee that any profit will be put back into the group.
Anybody who would like to make a contribution to the group can send cheques made payable to the Elsecar Railway Preservation Group, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Yorkshire
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
