David Pemberton runs Railway Paths Limited, established in 1998 in the wake of the privatisation of British Rail with the grant of around 950 hectares (or approximately 350 route kilometres) of ex-railway land.
Within the Department of Transport, the ex-railway estate not transferred to Network Rail is still sometimes referred to as the "burdensome estate". Yet over the last 25 years, Railway Paths has used it to create public benefit, and although a charity, manages the land as a commercial estate deriving income from rents, sales, ransom strips and servitudes (known in Scotland as easements).
The objective of Railway Paths is to lease its land for use as cycle paths. Its leaseholders (principally Sustrans and local authorities) pay £ for the lease, but have the responsibility for constructing and maintaining the path, looking after the public, and managing the land. In return, Railway Paths manages circa 750 railway structures ranging from listed viaducts, bridges carrying national roads and major tunnels to tiny culverts.
Notwithstanding the role of Lord Beeching in spurring on the process, railways have been closing for almost as long as they have been opening, and the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act of 1845 set the rules for maintaining the burden of closed lines for eternity. John Grimshaw and Hunter Davies were among the early promoters of walking or cycling disused lines. At a conference in York in 1994 the BR Property Board surveyor Greg Beecroft set out the challenges of managing the closed lines and structures. In 1998 it was decided to create Railway Paths Ltd. as an intermediary so as to limit the risk placed on Sustrans.
The viaduct at Hengoed that once carried the Pontypool Road-Neath railway across the Rhymney Valley is now part of the Celtic Trail, and demonstrates the point that heritage not in use is heritage at risk. In Lincolnshire the Water Rail Trail incorporated artworks and viewing platforms enabling an eye to be kept on the Boston Stump and Lincoln Cathedral at either end. Bennerley across the Erewash valley, one of only two wrought-iron survivors, was for many years at risk until its approach earthworks could be reinstated and a deck built for enjoyment by cyclists and walkers. The Lias Line carrying National Cycle Network Route 41 between Leamington Spa and Long Itchington required replacement of a bridge across the A423 which had become a highway hazard. Scottish Canals delivered The Bowline proudly carrying the Scottish equivalent of the New York High Line across the western exit of the Forth and Clyde Canal at Bowling. The Roslin to Millerhill route incorporates the awesome but hard to view Bilston Glen Viaduct which had to be transferred into the ownership of a small charity in order to qualify for Lottery funding.
The North Water viaduct that carried the old Inverbervie branch across the North Esk by the A92 near Montrose received an annual inspection with regular risk assessments which identified its susceptibility to scour. Damage during Storm Babbitt left the parapet with a conspicuous wave, so once it was safe to dive, a coffer dam was built with the help of adjoining estates to facilitate temporary repairs, with permanent ones yet to come - the agreement with the DfT was invoked whereby RPL costs are capped. The Big Water of Fleet Viaduct with 20 arches along its 300-metre length achieved literary fame when Richard Hannay jumped from there in The 39 Steps, but received a brutal strengthening in the second world war for heavier munitions trains and now awaits a new use.
Thus, RPL is today a charity maintaining over 750 structures on about 950 hectares of land approximately 350km in length. The bulk of its assets - about 67% by number of land parcels and about 80% by length - is utilised for public benefit, which it funds through the commercial management of the land. Its paths carry more people every fortnight than they did annually when railways. It is however agnostic about future reopening for mainline or heritage use, having facilitated the Airdrie-Bathgate reopening, and retains ambition to push the proportion being utilised towards 100%. If the DfT could be persuaded, it would like to swap unused land and structures for others with a better prospect of being brough back into use, for example the Rhondda Mountain Tunnel, which has the potential to become the world's longest open year-round.
Report by John Yellowlees.
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