JEP EXCLUSIVE
FOR decades, the only locomotive you might expect to see trundling across St Aubin’s Bay has been Le Petit Train – but one Islander with a passion for trains is hoping to bring about an “affordable and sustainable” transport service while reviving “part of Jersey’s heritage” in the process.
Alex Sparrow, the founder of Jersey Western Railway, told the JEP that his company’s primary objective was to provide a “safe, consistent, reliable and sustainable means of transport” that could help take cars off the road.
He is due to discuss his plans with the Infrastructure Department next month.
What would the ‘Jersey Western Railway’ involve?
Outlining his vision, Mr Sparrow said that JWR’s intended route – connecting St Helier with Corbière and the Airport – would be serviced by around 30 electrically-operated locomotives, with a terminus based at Trenton Square.
If the scheme comes to fruition, it is hoped the service would see one train departing in each direction every seven and a half minutes.
“It’ll be dual track between St Helier and St Aubin and then switch to single track with passing loops up to Corbière and the Airport,” Mr Sparrow said.
He explained that Transport Design International’s Revolution VLR [Very Light Rail] technology or Lync tram system were the two potential options being considered for the project.
“There’s no overhead wires, there’s no third rail, nothing like that – what they have developed is a system where there’s charging tabs at each of the stations,” he continued.
“So whenever the locomotive pulls in, it gets a quick charge while it is dwelling at the station and then it moves on.”
He noted that, while the route would follow much of the Island’s original railway track bed, the scheme would not necessitate the removal of the cycle path.
“There’s enough clearance on the cycle path, which is 100% government-owned,” he added.
“It’s very rare for a rail project to have 100% government-owned land, but I would like to keep the cycle path running next to the railway.”
In addition to the main service, Mr Sparrow outlined ambitions to run dedicated beach trains as well as steam-powered “heritage” rides on weekends.
How long would it take to build?
Mr Sparrow acknowledged that embarking on a large-scale project would require “multiple rounds of public consultation” which could result in “extended delivery timelines”.
But he added that he was aiming for the first leg to St Aubin to be completed by 2028.
“Then converting the railway walk and getting that up and running to Corbière by 2030 and then the Airport by 2031.”
How much would the project cost?
Mr Sparrow estimated that, including contingency funding, the total cost of the scheme would be £101m.
“I don’t intend to ask the government for money at this stage,” he said.
“I would like to get this all privately funded.”
Mr Sparrow explained that he was currently “in communication with specialist locomotive and project management companies in the UK to source the appropriate funding”.
Chamber support?
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Murray Norton said that the project “certainly raises questions as to what might be possible and where it may solve existing transport issues”.
“Chamber has had a very interesting presentation from Alex, which was very well researched and grounded in the viability of such a project,” he told the JEP.
“As JWR is a Chamber member, we have facilitated several introductions for them to discuss this further with interested parties and Government departments.
“Like all big ideas there are many hurdles to overcome, but the idea should still be heard in full and judged on the full detailed facts, not just the headline.”
What are the next steps?
Mr Sparrow revealed he would be meeting the Infrastructure Department next month “to discuss the project and gauge their interest”.
“The interested companies in the UK that I am in contact with, they would obviously like to understand the government’s position before proceeding any further.”
Commenting on his motivations for pursuing the project, Mr Sparrow said: “Because no one else was going to do it, and I love railways,” adding that the original railway was “part of Jersey’s heritage”.
“I want to bring something back that was part of Jersey and also give people a public transit option that is affordable, sustainable and makes sense for an island at this scale.”
He estimated that the scheme would be viable if the service saw a minimum of approximately 11,000 journeys each day.
Islanders interested in the project can visit the jerseywesternrailway.co.uk website, where they can also complete a questionnaire.
“Even if you are not supportive of the railway, speak up,” Mr Sparrow said.
“Because we need to get the real, true idea of what Islanders think.”
A piece of Jersey’s heritage
The Island’s ‘original’ western railway opened in 1870.
Initially linking St Helier to St Aubin, it would be expanded over the years to reach Corbière before closing in the 1930s.
