Bridport Railway Revival: Heritage Expert Unveils Ambitious Eco-Tourism Plan
Just months after marking half a century since the Bridport Railway shut down, a fresh vision for its return is about to be unveiled.
The final event in the popular Bridport Railway Talks series takes a bold turn tonight. No wistful glances to the past this time. Instead, it’s about the future, and the man who believes the line can steam back into life.
Heritage rail specialist Nigel Ewens is preparing to outline his plan to bring trains back to the tracks between West Bay and Maiden Newton. But this isn’t about recreating the past in full scale.
His vision? A narrow-gauge line, known as the Bridport Community Railway and The Little Local Train, pitched as a flagship eco-tourism and heritage steam attraction for Dorset.
“The project would give the local economy a boost and connect residents living in outlying villages,” says Mr Ewens, who heads Jurassic Coast Railways Ltd and has long championed heritage routes across southern England.
The revival wouldn’t rely solely on nostalgic steam power. The proposed fleet includes battery-electric and hydrogen-electric trains alongside traditional steam locomotives – a blend of old-world charm and cutting-edge green technology.
Mr Ewens will present his blueprint tonight, Thursday, 14 August, at the United Reform Church Hall, East Street, Bridport, from 7.30pm.
Attendees can expect to hear why he believes the time is right for a return of the railway, how it could be rebuilt, and the benefits it might deliver to tourism, transport links, and local pride.
For a town that waved farewell to its last train in 1975, the sound of a whistle echoing across the hills once again may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.
