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Branch line revival in SW France

Alstom Régiolis bi-mode unit 83523 approaches the former Saléchan station on 2 September 2025 with the 09.36 Luchon-Montréjeau service

After all the sadness at Felletin, proof that rural railways in France can be revived comes when I travel from the now rail-less town to Limoges by bus, then head south by rail via Toulouse to a place south-west of Toulouse called Montréjeau-Gourdan-Polignan to sample a 36km (22½-mile) branch line to a ski resort called Luchon that re-opened to passengers on 22 June 2025, after being closed since November 2014.

The Occitanie région of France seems to have a rather different approach to rural railways to that prevailing in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and this eagerly-awaited re-opening, after a total investment of €67 million, is planned to be the first of a number of railway revivals across this part of southern France.

Final train to Felletin

Fireworks and a huge demonstration greet railcar X73810 on arrival with the last train to Felletin

Shortly before 7.15pm on Sunday, 31 August 2025 the 143-year life of Felletin railway station was brought to an end when railcar X73810 drew into the station with train TER 868716 from Limoges Bénédictins, setting off numerous detonators as it drew in, and became the last ever passenger train to serve this attractive small town in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Central France.

Despite an energetic local campaign, with demonstrations, an anti-closure petition attracting more than 30,000 signatures and a visit by local dignitaries to meet political leaders in Paris, the scenic 33km (21-mile) branch line from a junction at Busseau-sur-Creuse, around 60 miles east of the city of Limoges, has gone the way of so many similar rural lines across France.

Rendezvous at Ramsbottom

34092 storms away from Ramsbottom on 22 August 2025 with the 10.40 Heywood-Rawtenstall

Concluding my trio of summer visits to heritage railways affiliated to the Watercress Line – meaning free travel for working volunteers like me – I head north for an overnight stay in Bury and a couple of days on the charming East Lancashire Railway (ELR).

The town’s former main station, Bury Bolton Street, is headquarters of the 12½-mile line, which from there runs three miles east to Heywood and a link to the national Rail network at Castleton and 9 miles north alongside the Irwell River to Rawtenstall.

Sun and semaphores at Droitwich Spa

172335/008 pass Droitwich Spa Signal Box with 2V52 from Dorridge (12.03) to Worcester FS

Planning on taking a day train trip from Cheltenham Spa to Bridgnorth to reacquaint myself with the fully re-opened Severn Valley Railway, I was persuaded to put off my SVR journey by a day when I spoke to a couple of enthusiasts in the Cafe Loco at Worcester Shrub Hill to ask why Rail Operations Group Class 37 37800 Cassiopeia was parked up in the centre siding.

I learned that it was there to provide Thunderbird breakdown cover for Porterbrook’s converted Class 319 Hydroflex unit 799201, which was scheduled to be making a test run from Long Marston to Shrub Hill and back later in the day (12 August 2025), but also heard of another interesting special working that day departing from the rail storage facility at Long Marston.

Vintage British diesels in the spectacular Douro Valley

1461 crosses the Tua River on 7 August 2025 with IR869 from Porto Sao Bento (13.20) to Pocinho

Imagine one of Europe’s most scenic railway lines, almost 100 miles in length, where virtually all services are worked by vintage British-designed diesel locos from the 1960s hauling equally-aged passenger coaches, with the added bonus of a seasonal weekend historical train along part of the route.

It may sound too good to be true, but this is the Douro Line in Portugal (Linha do Douro) which runs inland from Porto along the north bank – later crossing to the south bank – of the Douro River, and until a few years ago linked up a handful of remarkable narrow gauge railways that ran north from the Douro Line up picturesque tributary river valleys.

Historic Horsted Keynes

73082 “Camelot” departs Horsted Keynes with the 11.45 Sheffield Park – East Grinstead

Continuing my summer-time visits to heritage railways that are affiliated to the Watercress Line – meaning free reciprocal travel for working volunteers like me – I am making a long overdue return to what must surely be the UK’s finest preserved station.

Horsted Keynes station is roughly midway along the 11-mile long Bluebell Railway from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park and has been superbly preserved in Southern Railway 1930s style, which helps account for its appearance in countless films and period TV dramas.

A call at Calstock

150261 crosses Calstock Viaduct on 28 July 2025 with 2G81 from Plymouth (14.27) to Gunnislake

VIADUCTS are one of the most dramatic features of our railway network and make for great photos, particularly if being crossed by a train, so after some recent successes with the fabulous Moorswater Viaduct near Liskeard, I am now heading to a remote corner of South-East Cornwall to capture trains on the magnificent Calstock Viaduct.

Calstock Viaduct is the most impressive feature on the 12-mile long Tamar Valley Line, and part of a branch line that once ran from a junction at Bere Alston to Callington, was recommended for closure in the 1963 Beeching report, but was reprieved as far as Gunnislake, due to the inadequate local roads.

Super Spa Valley Railway

Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 828 storms away from Groombridge with the 14.35 from Eridge

A little more than 40 years ago, on the night of Saturday, 6 July 1985, I managed to miss the last train from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge, when I paid a farewell visit to the line, but had not realised that there was a replacement bus service from Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells on that day.

I was working on The Observer at the time and having to work on Saturdays meant only being able to travel late in the evening. I dashed across from Tunbridge Wells Central station but was too late, and had to settle instead for a short trip back on the last ever service from Tunbridge Wells West to Tunbridge Wells Central.

Poacher Line debut for EMR Aurora

810004 passes West Street Junction Signal Box with 5Q61 from Old Dalby to Skegness

Thursday, 17 July 2025 proved to be an historic day on the splendid East Midlands Railway (EMR)-operated Grantham-Skegness Poacher Line, with a first ever visit to the route by one of the new EMR Class 810 Aurora units.

A fleet of 33 bi-mode 5-car Class 810s is destined to replace the Class 222 Meridian units on longer distance EMR services, but introduction of the Hitachi-built units has been beset by repeated delays.

Diesel-hydraulics at Medstead

D821 “Greyhound” arrives at Medstead with 2A24 from Alresford (12.32) to Alton

Glorious sunshine and guest appearances by some marvellous diesel-hydraulic traction are making for a highly popular gala weekend on the Alton-Alresford Watercress Line, where I have worked as a volunteer booking for the past decade.

Not normally being someone who relishes the crowds, I paid a 90-minute visit on Saturday (12 July 2025) to the footbridge at Medstead & Four Marks station in order to savour some of the remarkable heritage diesel action.