EARTHWORKS are in progress for a deviation of Leighton Buzzard Railway (LBR) away from a short section of its historic route alongside Vandyke Road between Meadway and Shenley Hill Road.
Financed by property developer Arnold White Group, the deviation will take the line slightly north of its present alignment down into a cutting to enable the line to pass under a new Leighton Buzzard Eastern Link Road forming part of an extensive development northeast of Leighton Buzzard. The line will climb back to rejoin the existing route on the approach to LBR's Stonehenge Works terminus.
Construction of the deviation will enable the LBR to continue operating between its existing termini almost completely over its historic route. The main contractor for the project is Fox (Owmby) Limited supported by railway contractor Alan Keef Ltd. The deviation into a 45 metre long rail underpass will be built, including new track, without impacting on LBR operations.
The new section is expected to be linked to the existing railway at each end in November after LBR's main operating season has ended. The link road over the current railway alignment will then be completed.