Branch Line Bulletin number 76

BRANCH LINE ISSUE 78

April / May 2005

IT’S ENGINEERING TIME...It’s a winter Sunday and the Blackpool North line is in the possession of the civil engineer. Buses were running in place of trains as the section of track between Poulton and Carleton Crossing was in the process of being completely renewed. On its way out is the old jointed track, and in, is continuously welded rail, which will make trains quieter and give passengers a more comfortable journey. As the light fades, EWS Class 66, 66239 waits patiently in Poulton station with its train of new ballast.

WEST COAST ENGINEERING

Planned engineering works will effect train services in the north west for a number of weekends – some for as long as the early summer. Detailed below are those which may have some knock – on effects for passengers locally. During these works, trains will either be diverted, or in some cases, replaced by coach/bus services. Additional time should be allowed and passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance.

Preston to Glasgow Central – Saturday & Sunday until 11th of June 2005.

Crewe to Euxton (South of Preston) – Saturday & Sunday until 11th of June 2005.

Preston to Liverpool - Saturday & Sunday from 2nd of April to 11th of June 2005.

Manchester/Bolton to Blackpool – Every Saturday from 16th of April to 7th of May 2005.
Every Sunday from 3rd of April to 5th of June 2005.

Preston to Ormskirk – Every Saturday from 16th of April to 7th of May.

Blackburn to Preston – Every Saturday from 16th of April to 7th of May 2005.
Every Sunday from 3rd of April to 5th of June 2005.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Once again, and we do seem to say this every time at the same time of the year, the membership has in a lot of cases, given the committee a big vote of confidence by renewing their memberships for 2005.

This year promises, yet again, to be extremely busy and quite a number of things have been going on in the background. Certainly, with regard to the matter of Community Rail Partnerships, the association has already had preliminary talks with various bodies (in fact we were well ahead of the rest of the field in that respect), and hopefully we will shortly be able to announce something positive.

STRATEGY FOR THE 21st CENTURY

In February, the influential West Coast Rail 250 produced a campaigning document identifying various major issues which they felt needed resolving. The campaigning body is supported by almost all of the local authorities within the area served by the line and also is influential in major investment decisions.

The are several aspects which involve matters in the North West, some of which are listed below:-

Comfortable passenger waiting facilities are absent from some stations. Wayside stations on the Settle to Carlisle line provide a standard of heated enclosed waiting facilities which is not found on the main southbound platform at Carlisle, and quite inadequately at Preston and Crewe.

Preston station is a major interchange with, in particular, large volumes of passengers transferring between Fylde Coast local services and longer distance services. It suffers from a Victorian legacy of poor access, both pedestrian and vehicular. On station passenger facilities are also poor, particularly the narrow pedestrian bridges and a sub – standard pedestrian subway which link the platforms. As a result, interchange is difficult both between different rail services and between rail and other travel modes.

The SRA’s West Coast Strategy has comprehensively reviewed the need for infrastructure improvements. This includes crucial projects such as the restoration of a double junction at Euxton, which is on the Blackpool to Manchester route.

The extent to which diesel trains operate totally ‘under the wires’ is an issue of growing concern in this more environmentally aware age. This question particularly arises on services between North West destinations and Birmingham where all Manchester services are presently worked by diesel powered Voyager units. West Coast Rail 250 sees a strong case for a revised strategy for such services, with the probable need for additional electric units with performance and passenger accommodation at least equal to the Class 350 Desiro type now being acquired for other Birmingham to the North West group of services to Liverpool and Preston. If Voyagers are to be retained for any of these services, the possibility of their extension beyond Preston over the non – electrified line to Blackpool should be reviewed.

PACERS OUT ?

Despite the Northern Rail franchise having been let on the basis of there being no new rolling stock, SercoNed, the franchisees, are still hoping that they will be able to replace their Pacer units with a new diesel multiple unit fleet built in China. They have put a submission into the Government for assistance in funding these units which is supported by various agencies. Government funding via Regional Development Agencies would be the equivalent to funding from the Scottish Executive which recently made money available for new rolling stock, north of the border.

The new units would be 23 metres long, with 2 + 2 seating and would probably consist of a mixture of two and three car sets (three car sets to alleviate over crowding would be preferable – Ed). Maximum speed would be 75 m.p.h. and they would have MTU engines with Voith transmission. The high power coupled with gearing for 75 m.p.h. and wide entrance doors would provide a much improved performance on suburban lines, and the units would provide much needed increased capacity.

WELL DONE

The Association has heard of a situation along the South Fylde line when one of the services was running quite late. On the inward journey to Blackpool South, the crew decided to pick up any waiting passengers at Squires Gate and Blackpool Pleasure Beach stations. On the return journey to Preston, the train ran non stop as far as St.Annes, didn’t stop at Ansdell but ran through the station slowly enough to stop in case there were any passengers that needed to be picked up (the crew already knew there were no passengers on board the train that needed to get off), stopped at Lytham, and of course had to stop at Moss Side for the level crossing there.

By the time they got to Kirkham, what had been a twenty minute deficit, was now just three !

It should be pointed out, that all this happened after SercoNed had taken over the Northern Rail franchise from First Group. It is to be hoped that this sort of thing becomes the norm in the event of late running. It is far more preferable to let the train crew take responsibility for which stations they stop at than just issuing a blanket order that in the event of late running trains will be turned round at St.Annes. That sort of thing happened frequently under First Group which was fine as long as passengers waiting on the stations beyond there knew what was happening, which in a lot of cases they didn’t !!

DATE FOR THE DIARY

Here’s a couple of dates for the diary, especially if you happen to be a steam enthusiast.

This year will see two steam hauled specials arrive in Blackpool (subject to availability of the engine).

The first on the 7th of May, will see Stanier Duchess pacific, number 6233 Duchess of Sutherland haul a special into the resort from Leicester. She was recently seen pulling the Royal Train over the Settle to Carlisle line with Prince Charles on board. This was the second occasion that she had undertaken Royal Train duties.

Fittingly, August 29th will see the return of a Jubilee class (Blackpool once had quite a large allocation of the class – Ed) along the Fylde coast in the shape of 5690 Leander which will haul the Blackpool Belle. Reference to www.uksteam.info.co.uk twenty four hours prior to these runs should give timing details.

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