Special services for Yorkshire - Sunday 6th July

[northwichcat]

On Sunday 6 July around one kilometre of the Yorkshire segment of the
Tour De France will pass into Rochdale – along a section of
B6138/A58 adjacent to Blackstone reservoir. The route involves a
climb and sharp bend which will slow the tour down and maximise
viewing opportunities. The event is expected to attract many thousands
of spectators, both ardent cycling fans and casual visitors; it is free of
charge and ticketless.

Northern Rail has appointed managers to oversee the Tour and all
staff leave has been cancelled for the weekend of the event. Plans
include additional trains, shuttles and earlier services on the Sunday 6
July and all Northern Rail stations on or near the route will be fully
staffed. Arrangements have been made with Network Rail for earlier
signal box opening on the Sunday and TfGM is liaising with Tour
organisers, other local authorities and both Northern Rail and FTPE in
relation to planning for this event.

Does anyone know what the proposed extra trains will be?

 

[noddingdonkey]

It will be interesting to see what happens around Huddersfield and the Penistone Line after the farce at the Olympic Torch Relay when the single line and short platforms meant that services couldn't be strengthened (either by longer or more frequent trains) and people were left behind and missed the event.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/northern-rail-apologises-busy-service-4950822

Looking at the route for the event, I can see there being plenty of demand for trains to Brockholes which is a 15 minute walk from the route.

 

[Poolie]

The Tall Ships in Hartlepool in 2010 was an excellent bit of planning for a major event in a relatively poor rail served town. The main complaint that could be heard was the fact that there was only one toilet in the station to cater for the several thousands that attended !!!

 

[YorkshireRider]

Are Northern staff contracted to work Sundays?

 

[NorthernSpirit]

It will be interesting to see what happens around Huddersfield and the Penistone Line after the farce at the Olympic Torch Relay when the single line and short platforms meant that services couldn't be strengthened (either by longer or more frequent trains) and people were left behind and missed the event.

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/northern-rail-apologises-busy-service-4950822

Looking at the route for the event, I can see there being plenty of demand for trains to Brockholes which is a 15 minute walk from the route.

The route passes the former girlfriends house, sadly she'll miss it as she's usually in Hungary in the summer.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Brighouse will certainly be staffed on the Le Tour weekend as its the nearest station to Elland, which is a good 2 and a half miles away.

York, Leeds, Huddersfield, Holme Moss, Slaithwaite, Marsden and Sheffield will be no go zones. Speaking of Holme Moss, to get to it spectators would have to use the Pennine Way from Marsden as I am half expecting people camping up there for the 'mountain climb'.

 

[dfurn]

York, Leeds, Huddersfield, Holme Moss, Slaithwaite, Marsden and Sheffield will be no go zones.

What do you mean by 'no go zones'? That the towns/cities will be so crammed there will be no point trying to leave home? I do appreciate that it will dawn on people soon that the only way to get around over the Tour De France Yorkshire will be by train (or walk) due to road closures and so on. Are you skeptical that the train companies will rise to the challenge?

 

[northernchris]

According to this link Northern may offer a Monday-Saturday service on the Sunday

http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/11043221.Roads____could_be_closed_from_5am___/

 

[NorthernSpirit]

What do you mean by 'no go zones'? That the towns/cities will be so crammed there will be no point trying to leave home? I do appreciate that it will dawn on people soon that the only way to get around over the Tour De France Yorkshire will be by train (or walk) due to road closures and so on. Are you skeptical that the train companies will rise to the challenge?

It won't be the limited rolling stock as I do see that Northern will have had some arrangement with other TOC's regarding the Le Tour, but what I mean by no go zones is it will be very busy Slaithwaite and Marsden are only villages and the railway stations are small Marsden can take up to 2x 142 units and I'd imagine the same for Slaithwaite.

To some of the villagers in both Slaithwaite and Marsden it may mean they won't be able to leave the front door because of the amount of people visiting.

Buses will be at bursting point, so the only other way would be for the locals to walk it and anyone who have travelled far and wide to use the public transport.

This is why I did say that the only other way to get up to Holme Moss would be by walking the Pennine Way from Marsden as I do know of a few people that will be doing exatly that.

 

[YorkshireBear]

The Worth Valley will be an interesting one too. But good to see Northern are already in advanced plans. I would hope for this one off event they manage to get some stock in from somewhere. Although i sense places like Heaton will just loose all their spare Sunday stock for the day. South Manchester too with everything focussed around tour de france.

Dangerous though as people will come from far afield. I intend on walking to my nearest point to see the tour and leave it at that.

 

[Tomnick]

It'll be interesting to see where they find the crew to operate the vast number of additional services - presumably quite a few, even those booked to work, will have a real struggle to get in, and plenty of others won't want the stress.

 

[northwichcat]

Although i sense places like Heaton will just loose all their spare Sunday stock for the day. South Manchester too with everything focussed around tour de france.

Dangerous though as people will come from far afield. I intend on walking to my nearest point to see the tour and leave it at that.

Indeed. Last year I was on a weekday off-peak overcrowded Mid-Cheshire line service. The reason for it being overcrowded was a significant number of people heading for the Leeds Festival were on that train.

 

[1D53]

All Northern management will also be required to work.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Buses will be at bursting point

First have been very quiet about their plans for the TdF. I have a horrible feeling they will do their usual trick of sticking their fingers in their ears, pretending there isn't a big event happening and sending out the usual one single decker per hour, which will be nowhere near adequate and will leave people behind. Just like they did at the Olympic Torch relay.

 

[northernchris]

First have been very quiet about their plans for the TdF. I have a horrible feeling they will do their usual trick of sticking their fingers in their ears, pretending there isn't a big event happening and sending out the usual one single decker per hour, which will be nowhere near adequate and will leave people behind. Just like they did at the Olympic Torch relay.

Transdev Keighley did exactly the same, had Mini Pointer Darts out on the local services which run hourly. However I suspect with the Tour de France many roads will be closed which could have a major affect on bus routes - there's already been a mention of Transdev Keighley having to cancel some services. This could force more people on to the trains so hopefully Northern and TPE are more prepared than they were for the Rugby World Final day last year!

 

[34D]

WYPTE has set a dedicated team up, which is also covering North Yorks.

Should be planned very well

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Steeton & Silsden station should be a good spot, the tour passes along the main bi-pass about fifty metres walk away, I believe the A650 is completely closed so a long viewing point and should be relatively quiet. Haworth is going to be, as quoted above, a 'no go zone' - the cobbled street will be six-deep from Saturday morning.

Rather than sticking to the normal timetable, it would make sense to have trains lined up at and beyond Steeton, to start running southbound as soon as a tour has come past to get the crowds leaving Steeton and Keighley.

 

[rick9525]

I will be walking down the ex Woodhead line as it passes just up from my house. I will not attempt to climb up Holme Moss as it was be totally jammed but rather watch from somewhere along Woodhead pass.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I will be walking down the ex Woodhead line as it passes just up from my house. I will not attempt to climb up Holme Moss as it was be totally jammed but rather watch from somewhere along Woodhead pass.

South Nab Trigpoint will be a good place to see the tour pass:

http://trigpointinguk-photos.s3.amazonaws.com/098/P98438.jpg

I'm half expecting to see Woodhead itself jammed, had Woodhead along with Crowden retained its railway stations these would have been packed.

 

[philjo]

Leyburn in Wensleydale will have all roads closed on the day the tour passes through (5 July). The only way in/out of Leyburn during the road closures that day is to use the special Wensleydale Railway shuttle services which will be running from about 7:30am to 8pm - and must be booked in advance - bookings are now open.

timetable on the WR website:
http://www.wensleydalerail.com/train-timetable/grand-depart-2014-timetable

Dales bus site also reports:

On Sunday 6th July, DalesBus services are expected to operate as follows:

Normal service: routes 564A, 564C, 810, 811, 812, 826, 830, 831, 832, 855, 856, 866, 872, 881, Upper Dales CONNECT

No service: routes 800, 818, 820, 821, 823, 825, 870, 871, 873, 874, 875

(many of these services are only a single return journey each day)

 

[6Gman]

When the Tour de France visited Plymouth many years ago I was walking from Laira to North Road, totally unaware that it was happening. About to cross the road when this mass of colourful cyclists hurtled past. Hardly anybody there to watch it! And I was much more excited by the Westerns I'd seen at Laira ...

Just shows how the profile of cycling has changed.

 

[NI 271]

First have been very quiet about their plans for the TdF. I have a horrible feeling they will do their usual trick of sticking their fingers in their ears, pretending there isn't a big event happening and sending out the usual one single decker per hour, which will be nowhere near adequate and will leave people behind. Just like they did at the Olympic Torch relay.

I used to work for First, and was out (on a bus) with representatives from Metro and Calderdale Council to plan for diversions last November. If there are issues, it won't be due to a lack of foresight. I left the company in early December though so cannot confirm finalised detail, although I anticipate this being published very soon. There WILL be extra buses - although I'm not sure even the total fleets in the two towns are substantial enough to cope with the spectator influx, even if enough staff can be coaxed into working their rest days.

One thing I'm not sure people realise is that the route of Le Tour must be 'sterile' from 0200 on the day. No vehicular traffic at all, save for those connected with the event, are permitted to use those roads, bizarrely including emergency vehicles. If anyone reading this wants to use buses between Halifax and Huddersfield, or Huddersfield and Holmfirth, on the day, be prepared for major disruption (ie VERY extensive diversions). Service 503 and all the Holme Valley services will be lucky to serve even half of their normal routes.

Anyone planning on using Slaithwaite or Marsden for Holme Moss should also bear in mind it isn't realistically something you would walk unless supremely fit.

 

[Deerfold]

It's disappointing that about half the Dalesbus services will not be running - I'd rather hoped they may run at least somewhere near - seems a bit mean on those with no cars having no way to get to the area.

Meanwhile, my wife seems to have booked some people I don't know into our house that weekend...

 

[Ebore]

Lots of (mostly unadvertised) extras are now showing on RTT for the 5th (e.g Leeds, Harrogate) and 6th (e.g York, Sheffield).

The following also appear to be timed as loco hauled:

Saturday 5th
0622 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough
0950 Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street
1322 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough
1650 Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street
Sunday 6th
0600 Liverpool Lime Street to York

 

[higthomas]

One thing I'm not sure people realise is that the route of Le Tour must be 'sterile' from 0200 on the day. No vehicular traffic at all, save for those connected with the event, are permitted to use those roads, bizarrely including emergency vehicles. If anyone reading this wants to use buses between Halifax and Huddersfield, or Huddersfield and Holmfirth, on the day, be prepared for major disruption (ie VERY extensive diversions). Service 503 and all the Holme Valley services will be lucky to serve even half of their normal routes.
.

Interesting that, when the tour of Britain went through my way earlier, th road closure called consisted of nothing more then some police turning up about ten minutes before them and just parking up at all of the roads onto the route. After the peloton had gone though they left almost immediately, such that when the stragglers came through the road had already been reopened and they were having to speed through the traffic that had built up, all whilst massively breaking the speed limit. It made for some interesting if slightly hair raising viewing.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Airedale line getting a busy weekday schedule of Skipton to Leeds shuttles on Sunday although nothing unusual on the cards yet.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/KEI/2014/07/06/0300-2200?stp=VS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[philjo]

Lots of (mostly unadvertised) extras are now showing on RTT for the 5th (e.g Leeds, Harrogate) and 6th (e.g York, Sheffield).

The following also appear to be timed as loco hauled:

Saturday 5th
0622 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough
0950 Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street
1322 Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough
1650 Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street
Sunday 6th
0600 Liverpool Lime Street to York

There is a news item in RAIL which arrived yesterday - TPE are using 47s to provide some loco hauled services on 5 & 6 of July.
Mainly Liverpool-Scarborough on 5th July.
Sun 6th : york to Manchester morning then afternoon Manchester-Sheffield-Doncaster workings.

 

[danielpj]

Interesting stuff. Not much mention of Harrogate Line on this thread yet. Apparently the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough will be closed for much of the day - so I assume the buses between the two towns won't be running. Which begs the question - I can't see trains running through Starbeck. They won't want the crossing gates at Starbeck coming down every half-hour while the race is going through! Any thoughts on Harrogate Line that weekend?

 

[Deerfold]

Interesting stuff. Not much mention of Harrogate Line on this thread yet. Apparently the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough will be closed for much of the day - so I assume the buses between the two towns won't be running. Which begs the question - I can't see trains running through Starbeck. They won't want the crossing gates at Starbeck coming down every half-hour while the race is going through! Any thoughts on Harrogate Line that weekend?

The Harrogate link at post #23 seems to suggest that NR think they'll be able to run through Starbeck with no problems.

 

[Darren R]

Interesting stuff. Not much mention of Harrogate Line on this thread yet. Apparently the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough will be closed for much of the day - so I assume the buses between the two towns won't be running. Which begs the question - I can't see trains running through Starbeck. They won't want the crossing gates at Starbeck coming down every half-hour while the race is going through! Any thoughts on Harrogate Line that weekend?

Wouldn't that be funny - if the race came to a juddering halt for the passage of a 142!

However the race often crosses LCs in France without issue - I assume the same methods will be adopted here.

 

[ajdunlop]

Occasionally races get held up by trains. Just this last Sunday in the prestigious Paris-Roubaix one day classic a rider who was dropped by the leading group and was trying to catch up again got held up while a level crossing was down. Two TGVs went past and by the time the barriers where going up the Peloton had caught up with him. Previously riders used to jump the barriers if they could but this has been stopped with a number of riders being disqualified for this.
I think the risk of level crossings being shut is considered to be just one of those things you have to deal with like a puncture.