I think if looking at a 125mph (or higher) double track electric main line, then no chance.

If looking at a 100-110mph line that mainly uses earthworks for A30 (or some of the parallel dead bits where road was realigned, regraded and widened, or where bridges replaced wide flat junctions), or reusing lengths of closed lines and bypassed (now closed) roads, then might work economically as many miles will not need as much construction.

The real value is if mining resumes on decent scale in Cornwall, and current route would need expensive expansion to carry the freight.  If going to have to spend hundreds of millions anyway, then maybe having a less vulnerable alternate route makes sense.

 
Apologies mod(s).
Duplicate/similar post here!
https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=32092.msg375685#msg375685

 
Andy Bowes Roden also saying it's pie in the sky.

Cornwall Council also looking to take prospective tin and lithium exports via this new line.

 
There's a report on the project on BBC News Cornwall, with a separate feature on the Bodmin heritage railway's 40th anniversary.

https://www.bbc.com/news/england/cornwall

 
Once they have sorted out the WiFi, wouldn't it be nice to enjoy it whilst sitting in a comfortable seat ? Or is that asking for some technical marvel that is beyond the understanding of our rolling stock procurers ?

 
No mention of where on the IoW. Unless everyone is going to take a bike over or has a tame friend/relative to provide a lift, it will need to have good onward bus/rail connections which rather limits the options.

 
I tend to use my own 5G data connection when on board, rather than the "free" low performance WiFi

 
I'd suggest that

Dependable timetables

Great connections

Seats for all travellers

Aircon & heating that actually worked; sufficient fresh air and no toilet pong

Welcoming stations

Great information

Affordable fares

Service frequency to match demand

Information and back-up for when things don't go to plan, with hold-ups resolved fast

Comfortable seats

Clean trains

Would all work to bring more people to travel by train, for whatever reason

But, as things stand at present, I can't see much encouragement to bring about a shift from personal to public transport beyond present levels

 
I got to the word "multibillion" and immediately thought "not a chance"

Not enough voters in the West Country to unleash "multibillions" from the purse at HM Treasury

 
I'd be interested to know what sort of (hover)craft they'll be using - some new design, or something that's already being used elsewhere with a proven track record?

 
Electrical failure affecting the points at Dolphin Junction near Slough and one signal in the area.

Hope to be resolved in the next hour. 

 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m2ner2yvjo

Railway feasibility study 'huge step forward'
A study into whether a multibillion-pound rail link through Cornwall would work has been hailed as a "huge step forward" by campaigners.

They said the proposed line would link Okehampton, in Devon, to Launceston, continuing onto a new station near Bodmin and joining the existing Cornish mainline.

Cornwall Council said it would now look at a more detailed study into the scheme - admitting it had the potential to improve rail resilience and open up the opportunity for more freight trains.

.........snip.............

 

Now sorted - my apologies.

 

Now been expanded to "all routes".

Cancellations to services on all routes

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 15:00 01/06.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
There has been a points failure between Reading and London Paddington. A points failure is a fault with the movable pieces of track that enable trains to change tracks.


................I got to Taplow at around 0540 to find everything being cancelled in both directions, hung around for half an hour, advised to go to Maidenhead although there was very little moving from there either and no taxis available for at least half an hour, so am working from home - fortunately I am able to although there were other customers arriving at the station who clearly weren't, and were extremely concerned/frustrated about how they were going to get to work.

What a (woeful) mess.

 
Don't know if this ties in with your observations (and it might just be making stuff up, wouldn't be the first time...):

 
By 2030, B&NES is intending to remodel the road layout at the City end of Broad Street, pedestrianising it. It's not at all clear as to where they intend to route the buses that currently use Walcot Street and also Broad Street. The results of a complete block might slightly resemble the M.O. that's in place for the next couple of weeks. I'm going to ask them about their intentions.

Mark

 
(BBC link appears to be broken)

 

Now going to take extra 7 hours to fix disruption

Disruption is expected until 15:00 01/06.

 
Coffeeshop map's a mess, or rather, reflecting a mess, and a lot of cancellations from the likes of Oxford.

Mark

 
Leisure, business, commute? How you grow these different sectors can be in conflict. Having this weekend travelled from Reading to Brockenhurst, for Lymington. Cross Country have reinstated the Brockenhurst stop, quite a few got off.

The return journey by SWR was telling on a 444 or 450 didn't check which, classic commuter trains and not suited to most passengers seeming to have two massive suitcases and possibly a buggy. Not to mention an old geezer with a bike cluttering up the place because of inadequate and inappropriate bike storage.

 

There is some deep irony here, being old enough to remember the regular departure of Services hovercraft from HMS Daedalus (Lee on the Solent airfield). Be interesting to see where they would actually run a permanent service from. I don't think the slipway on its own is big enough, and the old entrance to Daedalus has been taken over by a transport company from the Hovercraft Museum. Not sure traffic lights on the road (as used to be) would be resoundingly popular with the local motorists.

 
Why do people travel by train?  How can we attract more to train travel?

Here is a selection of pictures of passengers whom I have - in many cases hence the crap picture quality - caught in my lens in the last few days. Worthy of thought to ask "why are they travelling", "why are they using the train" and "How [in the UK] can we encourage more passengers travelling for what me might guess are these reasons". 

 
Normal weather - normal service

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington some lines are blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 08:01 01/06.

 
21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04

31/05/26 21:15 Penzance to London Paddington due 05:04 was terminated at Reading.
It will no longer call at London Paddington.

This is due to a fault on this train.

- a rude awakening.

 
I would concur that current WiFi performance on board UK trains leaves much to be desired - and it's not necessarily a fault of the train operators, rather the effect of growing customer expectations and the failure of the train providers (OK, perhaps I am pointing a finger) to keep up with those expectations.  And - these days - on train WiFi is a "free" service, or rather it's included in the cost of your ticket, so the economics of it get interesting when someone suggest providing better - "Who's going to pay for it?"

From that article ...


and the stats in a graph (though they say from "selected" countries without defining how they make the selection)



The issues I find when using train WiFi relate not only to speed, but to service dropping out for periods / as the train passes certain places, and perhaps have another access method via satellites will help that. 

Having said all of which, I find accessing the Coffee Shop online from a train's WiFi much more practical in the UK than accessing other sites I use.   Much of that is (I like to remind myself) by design in that it's been kept fiercely thin in its bandwidth needs - and (it must be admitted) it has remained thin because we have not moved on to use some of the bulkier and clever things we could include in our pages.

Effect of better train WiFi?   Here's a picture I took the other day on a very long distance train - running from Amsterdam (08:31)  to Munich (15:43).



I can work out what five of the six people pictured or partially pictured are doing - they are doing things on computers.  Picture taken in Germany which comes in 10 times better than the UK in the survey above.  And it means that the train is a useful time for these travellers - likely swaying some decisions made between the travel modes available to them.   I will admit that the picture is of the cream on the milk - our passes are first class ones as the differential on Interrail makes it a sensible choice.

 
A further update, from the BBC:

 
Can’t beat the traditional signaller’s duster/tea towel.

 
I think rather a high level of spit and polish right up to the end. Quite traditional, and I noted that too from the photos.

 
From the BBC

Politicians have welcomed a trial of a new hovercraft route, describing it as a major step towards improving cross-Solent travel.

The proposed service, which would connect Lee-on-the-Solent with the Isle of Wight, is being tested as part of efforts to explore faster and more flexible transport options.

The proposed route will set off from the slipway at the Hovercraft Museum and will take place on 28 June, 22 August and 5 September.

MP for Gosport, Caroline Dinenage said: "The trial could help change how local waterways are viewed."

She said: "For too long the waterways around the Gosport peninsula have been seen as obstacles, not connectors.

"The Hovertravel trials are a step in the right direction towards genuinely innovative transport solutions across the Solent.

"If the trials prove popular, and I am hopeful that they will be, we can have conversations about expanding the coverage."

The trial forms part of wider efforts to improve transport links between the mainland and the Isle of Wight, with hovercraft seen as a potential alternative to traditional ferry routes due to their speed and flexibility.

It has also been backed by Conservative for Harbourside and Town councillor Lesley Meenaghan, who said it could bring economic and tourism benefits as well as improved commuting options.

She said: "The hovercraft trial is great news for Gosport.

"Improved connectivity with the island is welcome – whether residents are visiting for a 'trip out' or commuting for work, reduced travel costs and quicker journey times will be genuinely welcome."

"My message to residents is simple – use it, because demonstrating the demand is the best way to secure this service for the future," she added.[/quote]