Recently there have been some very serious concerns expressed due to high inflation and comparison with neighboring railway projects about the possible true cost of the Cheltenham to Kingham railway proposals.

However luckily the Cheltenham Kingham Oxford Railway Line Group have done some more research in to possible costs based on the Devon County Council proposal for a single track railway line between Bere Alston and Tavistock on the edge of Dartmoor.

More on this is at 

https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/traffic-information/transport-planning/tavistock-to-plymouth-railway/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewd820k1pzo 

The total cost for this is £150 million for 5.5 miles of single track railway line and a one platform station at Tavistock North.

Using this estimate of the cost of a 5.5 single track railway line with signaling provided at one end and an end - on junction with Network Rail at Bere Alston as the basis for negotiation it is possible to calculate the cost of the Cheltenham to Kingham scheme if certain cost items are removed from the list above and added later (i.e. stations and junction at Bere Alston ) and civil engineering structures are added to the list (i.e. new bridges, viaducts and tunneling).

The cost of the basic single track railway line is obtained by

£150 million cost of Tavistock railway,

divided by 5.5,

then times 25 to arrive at a figure.

This figure is £687 million.

A recent comparison could be with the proposed re-opening of the railway between Stratford Upon Avon and Honeybourne, with a price tag of £228 million for 9 miles of single – track railway line at least partially beside a cycle way, to be operated with two or three coach diesel trains.

Extensive tunneling is required at Stratford Upon Avon, extensive bridge repairs are needed along the route and track replacement is required between Long Marston and Honeybourne.

Using this cost per 9 miles plus cost of stations, structures and earthworks as a basis for calculation…
A “ball park figure” for the Cheltenham to Kingham scheme starts at £715 million plus cost of structures and earthworks.

The cost of the basic single track railway line is obtained by

£228 million cost of Stratford Upon Avon to Honeybourne railway,

divided by 9,

then times 25 to arrive at a figure.

This figure is £715 million.