Lancashire - could any new stations be built?

[PR1Berske]

A thread I've been thinking about starting for a while.

Money being as it is, building new stations or lines anywhere is largely unlikely. The cost of building new stations cannot be finger-clicked from thin air, so this is not a typical "money no object" crayola thread.

Following the flurry of activity some years ago, Lancashire County Council seemed to have fully embraced the opening bug. The line to Clitheroe, Euxton, and Buckshaw all opened, and have subsequently justified their business cases.

Obviously there has been only talk since, rather than action, on adding anything else to the network from within the red rose county. I thought I'd look at some of the more obvious options, but would also like to ask a wider question: has Lancashire perhaps got to the stage where, because of money and timetable pressures, where there will never be new stations opened?

Cottam on the Preston-Blackpool line near the canal is one much talked about proposal, and it has had County Council support in recent memory. Talk has dried up, mind, and despite recent work to electrify the line, nothing about Cottam has been mentioned.

Midge Hall or Leyland West is another proposal with lots of talk behind it. Restricted by just how little space exists around the site of a former station and a country lane, it nonetheless has support from local councillors.

University Campus at Lancaster's halls/sports centre suffers from the same logistical issues as Garstang. Both sit on the WCML, with little to no opportunity to "do an Euxton" and use slow paths for the stations so the fasts can still be used by Virgin.

Skelmersdale is the exception proving rules. Very likely to be built, or at least before the election, the new station would sit off the Wigan-Kirkby branch.

I'm drawing a blank with East Lancs, maybe there is no feasible option for the already crowded and busy line from Blackburn to Burnley?

I'd be interested in hearing any ideas or reactions

 

[L&Y Robert]

Gannow Junction for Burnley. It's on both Copy Pit and Colne lines. Easier of access than so-called Burnley Central ("Bank Top" to us oldies).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Gannow Junction for Burnley. It's on both Copy Pit and Colne lines. Easier of access than so-called Burnley Central ("Bank Top" to us oldies).

How far away is Burnley Manchester Road station from the site of the one you mention?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

With all the HUGE -and I mean HUGE - house building going on in Cottam, I am certain this will proceed in the next few years and the line will be electrified then too. I really think it will have a good business case.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Obviously there has been only talk since, rather than action, on adding anything else to the network from within the red rose county. I thought I'd look at some of the more obvious options, but would also like to ask a wider question: has Lancashire perhaps got to the stage where, because of money and timetable pressures, where there will never be new stations opened?

I would say the answer to that has to be 'no' purely because of your use of the word 'never'. I wouldn't be too surprised if no new stations opened during the next 10-15 years. But 'never' is an awful long time.

I think the reality is that there are dozens of places in Lancashire where new stations ought to be opened: Where new stations would be opened if only we had a Government (and councils) that took a sensible, long-term, sustainable, approach to transport policy. But we don't have such a Government, and we probably won't for a good few years yet. So in practice, talk of any openings in the next decade (with the possible exception of Skelmersdale if work happens really quickly) is probably optimistic).

On the other hand, if you're looking at the next 50 years...

 

[PR1Berske]

I would say the answer to that has to be 'no' purely because of your use of the word 'never'. I wouldn't be too surprised if no new stations opened during the next 10-15 years. But 'never' is an awful long time.

I think the reality is that there are dozens of places in Lancashire where new stations ought to be opened: Where new stations would be opened if only we had a Government (and councils) that took a sensible, long-term, sustainable, approach to transport policy. But we don't have such a Government, and we probably won't for a good few years yet. So in practice, talk of any openings in the next decade (with the possible exception of Skelmersdale if work happens really quickly) is probably optimistic).

On the other hand, if you're looking at the next 50 years...

I take your point about the use of the word 'never'.

Think you have tapped into the bigger debate. Do we have the Governmental will, at all levels, to look into the long term planning you mention?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With all the HUGE -and I mean HUGE - house building going on in Cottam, I am certain this will proceed in the next few years and the line will be electrified then too. I really think it will have a good business case.

Some of the advertising matter for the new housing at Cottam stress the M55 and M6 as being of ease to access.

 

[L&Y Robert]

How far away is Burnley Manchester Road station from the site of the one you mention?

Google Earth has it as 0.8miles from Manchester Road, and 0.7miles from Rose Grove. Nevertheless, an opportunity exists, especially if SELRAP have their way
Is 'Barracks' still functioning? If so it could be abolished in favour of 'Gannow Junction'.

I grew up round there.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is 'Barracks' still functioning? If so it could be abolished in favour of 'Gannow Junction'.

I grew up round there.

Indeed it is and is one of the request stops on the line. Annual usage figures show around the 25,000 mark.

 

[The Growlery]

years ago there were stations at Coppull and Standish-the site of Coppull station is largely intact that would be my suggestion.

 

[snail]

University Campus at Lancaster's halls/sports centre suffers from the same logistical issues as Garstang. Both sit on the WCML, with little to no opportunity to "do an Euxton" and use slow paths for the stations so the fasts can still be used by Virgin.

The first one is a very remote possibility, more so if the Science Park and Bailrigg Garden Village get built.

Garstang is 1.5Km from the WCML in a straight line with no convenient roads. There are also a canal and river between the town and the railway. The old connection closed in the 1960s so chance of reinstatement falls between zero and none.

 

[Flying Claret]

Regarding Gannow junction. Why would you go to all the trouble/ expense when rose grove is 1/2 mile away?

 

[158756]

Google Earth has it as 0.8miles from Manchester Road, and 0.7miles from Rose Grove. Nevertheless, an opportunity exists, especially if SELRAP have their way
Is 'Barracks' still functioning? If so it could be abolished in favour of 'Gannow Junction'.

I grew up round there.

Barracks is still open, and even with the dense surrounding housing having long gone, is still in a better location for a station than Gannow Junction. Gannow Junction would only be any good with a sizeable car park and easy access to the motorway junction, which there isn't room for. Plus I'm doubtful there's actually room for platforms next to the line there. And with low levels of rail usage in the area and not in easy commuting distance of anywhere significant I don't see how you could justify the expense.

 

[Ianno87]

years ago there were stations at Coppull and Standish-the site of Coppull station is largely intact that would be my suggestion.

There's a reasonably decent population round there, but fitting the stops in on the WCML would be difficult.

 

[urbophile]

Do we have the Governmental will, at all levels, to look into the long term planning you mention?

Do we have a Government?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There's a reasonably decent population round there, but fitting the stops in on the WCML would be difficult.

You have to see the reasons why all the stations on the WCML between Preston and Lancaster were closed in the first place and see why it is still as important for operational purposes for fast running on that stretch of line.