Dec 2021 – Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

The Tetbury trail in Gloucestershire now runs two miles from the town’s restored goods shed to Trouble House Halt, and there are plans to extend it to Kemble, where the branch once left the main line. Tetbury to Trouble House Halt (ST 893930–ST 914953) is a linear walk and cycle trail started in 2005 on part of the former Tetbury to Kemble branch, beginning at the long-abandoned goods shed in Tetbury, now restored (and thriving) as an arts centre. Interest remains in re-using the trackbed right through to Kemble: Sustrans held a public consultation in May 2007, the first fruit of which was a half mile extension from Newnton Hill to Trouble House. There are several stations named after pubs, one or two still open, but Trouble House is said to have been the only one named after just a pub.

The trail developers are initially aiming to join up with the 1¼ mile section from Kemble Station to Jackaments Bottom (ST 985976 –ST 968971). As for the eastern end of the Tetbury branch, the Tetbury Rail Lands Regeneration Trust says: ‘There has also been some progress at the Kemble end of the old railway line. Network Rail have fenced off the old branch line from the active main line at Kemble Station. They have also put gates in the fences across the branch line so there is now access along the railbed from the station car park.’ The gap between the two sections is now ‘only’ 3¾ miles, and local interest in closing it remains strong. (Railway Magazine; Michael Steptoe; Jeff Vinter)