What is a key railway line?

[SueEllen]

No-one relies on the train. When I go to Wales the train ticket is same cost as petrol for me. So when I take the twins up I save a shed load by using the car. Trains are way too expensive....

Not true.

Lots of city folk don't have cars, and more and more young people aren't getting driving licenses until late.

[suityou01]

I'd guess it's an old Victorian line route, there are more than a few right by the sea or on the edges of steep cliffs that have been there for a long, long time.
Re-routing a line must be a real sod to get through planning, public enquiries and cost a truckload of cash.

Which means contracts

[AtW]

I'd guess it's an old Victorian line route, there are more than a few right by the sea or on the edges of steep cliffs that have been there for a long, long time.
Re-routing a line must be a real sod to get through planning, public enquiries and cost a truckload of cash.

Sounds like there is a clear need for HS3 - 10 meters away from existing line, just knock the houses down along the way

[d000hg]

No-one relies on the train.

Of course they do you numpty. For a start, that's how the post used to get to Cornwall (not sure if still the case). Plus tourism, university students and commuters. The trains are always busy...

If it's so key wtf it was build right next to the water front?

You could say the same about London or the Netherlands.

[TheBigD]

No-one relies on the train. When I go to Wales the train ticket is same cost as petrol for me. So when I take the twins up I save a shed load by using the car. Trains are way too expensive....

Many people choose between a car or a rail season ticket. If you're working in London then a car is more hassle than it's worth as you have to then put up with congestion charge, parking etc, so the train wins.

[gingerjedi]

Get the Japs in, they'd have it sorted within a week.

[DaveB]

I blame that Ismbard Kingdom Brunel chappie, what did he know?

Yup, all IKB's fault. What was he thinking building the Great Western Railway after all. At least that stretch has an up and down line. The bit that actually goes into Cornwall over the Brunel Bridge only has one line. They run the trains over it in alternating directions. Endless fun when the timetable gets screwed and they end up queuing down the line in either direction waiting to get across.

At least it's not holiday season, the tourist trains in the summer are generally rammed and they run special services into Newquay just for the holiday makers.

God knows why. Newquay is a hole, but there you go.