On July 5th, 2025, the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway opened their new independent line linking to Princes Risborough Platform 4.
Read about how we got to this below.
In 2016 we made an end-on connection with Network Rail’s Thame Branch Siding via a slew at Thame Junction, and signed a Track Access Agreement for our trains to run over that siding.
When available, we have been using this siding and agreement since then but have always intended to re-lay the last piece of the original track which would give us an independent route into Platform 4 at Princes Risborough.
Legalities
Prior to slewing the line to link with Network Rail at Thame Junction in February 2016, the association had to jump some industry hurdles and enter into a Connection Agreement with Network Rail. This is a contract under the Railways Act, regulated by the Office of Rail and Road. Every port, factory etc. with a connection to the main line has to do this.
Even with the connection in place we still couldn’t run our trains over it. We also had to become a “Train operator” recognised by the national network, jumping lots of contractual hurdles and signing a weighty track access agreement, again overseen by the Office of Rail and Road; and also to get an operating licence exemption from them. The agreement with Network Rail was signed on board our first train, at the Thame Junction boundary, on 25th June 2016.
The derelict track alongside the Thame Branch Siding and the land on the West side of Princes Risborough station was leased in 2017, and subsequently we had to go through a parliamentary process to obtain a Transport and Works Act Order, to transfer to us the rights and responsibilities stretching back to the Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway Act of 1869.
After much time and legal expense this was achieved in May 2021.
Platform 4 Reconstruction
For many decades the original down side bay platform at Princes Risborough had been buried under rubble and vegetation.
None of the brick facing wall was visible and the exact location and condition of it unknown.
Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway volunteers began work in 2016 on restoring the platform, and the official reopening was conducted in August 2018. This work included raising money, obtaining materials and carrying out the reinstatement of the Platform.
In 2019, the pointwork and loop were commissioned, and the full signalling followed in 2022/2023.
Chinnor Independent Line
As well as the completion of all the legalities, work began on the work to reconstruct the Independent Line... but first, we had to work to remove the remains of the old one.
The association was lucky enough to acquire a Track Relaying Machine (TRM) which has been the workhorse of the project - designed to work adjacent to track you are lifting, this enabled the volunteers to lift the old track and relay the new track.
While there was a lot of physical labour required on site, there was also a number of background tasks that were being carried out by volunteers. One of these was dubbed ‘PRIMA’ - Princes Risborough Infrastructure Materials Acquisition - and took place over 4 phases.
The initial two phases delivered small track panels, between 15 and 30ft long, moved by road and lifted on to railway wagons by crane. The third phase brought 60ft track panels in by train, and the fourth phase delivered 18 wagons full of ballast, purchased through Network Rail.
While the laying of the track and ballasting makes up a large proportion of the work, our Signal and Telegraph (S&T) department have been working to erect signals and install the necessary cabling and track circuits to ensure that the line can be used by trains.
Of course, there continues to be other work to do - ballast moving, tidying up, and a list of other jobs - why not volunteer with us to help?
With Thanks
While the majority of the work has been completed by the volunteers of the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, we have been supported by a number of people and organisations over the period of building the Independent Line.
Visitors to the railway, and many supportive parties, have been kind enough to provide us with donations - either financial or materials - to enable the project to be completed.
We would particularly like to thank the following organisations who have helped in the successful delivery of the project:
Network Rail; Central Rail Systems Alliance; East West Rail; Colas Rail; Chiltern Railways; Freightliner Heavy Haul; Blanchfords and Quattro Plant.