Cumbrian Coast Loco Hauled Stock

[70014IronDuke]

Well, my trip up to Flimby wasn't a complete waste... got there to find the pub boarded up, and there's literally nothing else there... but what turned up on the next Barrow? Only one of the LHCS sets!
Not sure which 37 is doing the shoving as I had to run to get it, but I'll find out when I get off.
Update. 402 was on the back, sounded in rude health so whatever the issue was, it's been fixed. 401 also ran for the Sellafield rush, passed it at St. Bees.

Glad to hear you had some success! Congrats.

 

[_toommm_]

Glad to hear you had some success! Congrats.

It certainly did quite well when I caught it at the start of January, and must say it looks excellent in BR Blue

 

[sprinterguy]

Update. 402 was on the back, sounded in rude health so whatever the issue was, it's been fixed.

Presumably the issue was "fixed" by swapping the locos over - It was 403 working alongside 401 as recently as Saturday, which didn't seem to be sounding nor smoking too healthily!

 

[fowler9]

Bit gutted I never got another 37 on the Cumbrian Coast and probably never will. That said they did pretty well. I was just thinking that it was over 25 years ago I used to ride up and down behind 37/4's on the Liverpool to Cardiffs. They are grand old machines.

 

[DanNCL]

I'm a bit confused by conflicting information on this thread. Are both 37 diagrams moving over to 68s this weekend, or will one diagram remain 37 hauled for the time being?

 

[Newshy37]

I'm a bit confused by conflicting information on this thread. Are both 37 diagrams moving over to 68s this weekend, or will one diagram remain 37 hauled for the time being?

If things remain as they were, one diagram only will finish with 37s on Saturday, so Monday will see 1x37 diagram and 1x t&t 68 diagram the remaining 37 diagram swapping to a 68 turn at an as yet unconfirmed date but likely to be before the end of February.

 

[d279]

Hi everyone. I can confirm that 37403 is working the 05:15 Carlisle to Preston today and running very well at this time.

 

[Newshy37]

Thanks.

 

[d279]

37 402 is working the 2C33 to Carlisle, confirmed via Railcam uk departing St Bees.

 

[duffield]

So what's happened re the expected class 68 diagram?

 

[Adam0984]

There wasn't one at the moment. It was all based on rumours for the time being

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There wasn't one at the moment. It was all based on rumours for the time being

Thought it might be, but I wasn't prepared to chance it and miss out! Might have a trip up for the 68s too once they start, seeing as the TPE ones won't be serving Dewsbury!

 

[Tringonometry]

"Contracts not yet agreed or signed" is the reason why not 68s yet.

 

[Roose]

...and may not be, if information reportedly from Jo Johnston to the Cumbria Better Connected campaign is correct.

On the other hand, there's always the possibility that 'local' decisions and 'national' decisions as reported to the Minister are not in sync.

 

[Tractor37]

The class 68's running in top n tail mode, taking over one of the diagrams has been put back a week and will start next Monday. The other diagram is remaining as a 37 for the time being.

 

[pnepaul]

This is from one of the local newspapers - not good if true. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/Disma...-2019-3f0a5e5f-9071-4b36-b3fc-05671b45913e-ds

 

[70014IronDuke]

This is from one of the local newspapers - not good if true. http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/Disma...-2019-3f0a5e5f-9071-4b36-b3fc-05671b45913e-ds

The quotes in this piece are actually quite reasonable for a politician. This one surely is concerning.

"“It is incredibly concerning that school children are regularly being left stranded at stations when services are cancelled with no alternative transport provided, and it just cannot go on."

I imagine the 05.15 off Carlisle is 'the' school train between Barrow and Carnforth - and that's been a pretty bad performer. Ditto the first down train to Carlisle between Workington and Carlisle. But I have no idea how many kids - especially junior kids - use, or would like to use, these trains.

 

[Lemmy99uk]

The quotes in this piece are actually quite reasonable for a politician. This one surely is concerning.

"“It is incredibly concerning that school children are regularly being left stranded at stations when services are cancelled with no alternative transport provided, and it just cannot go on."

I imagine the 05.15 off Carlisle is 'the' school train between Barrow and Carnforth - and that's been a pretty bad performer. Ditto the first down train to Carlisle between Workington and Carlisle. But I have no idea how many kids - especially junior kids - use, or would like to use, these trains.

The 05:15 from Carlisle picks up 50-100 school children at Barrow and Roose.

 

[NORTHERNSOUL]

The 05:15 from Carlisle picks up 50-100 school children at Barrow and Roose.

So what happens to them then when the train doesnt turn up ?

 

[Agent_Squash]

So what happens to them then when the train doesnt turn up ?

Have to get the next one about 40 minutes later - students are then late to school. Many students I know are now choosing the bus or driving.

 

[NORTHERNSOUL]

Have to get the next one about 40 minutes later - students are then late to school. Many students I know are now choosing the bus or driving.

I was thinking more in terms of the younger kids

Its about time one of these politicians got off their arses and got Northern dragged in front of the Transport select committee.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I was thinking more in terms of the younger kids

Its about time one of these politicians got off their arses and got Northern dragged in front of the Transport select committee.

Northern is heavily subsidised. The most obvious question the SC could ask is "what are you doing to reduce your costs?" Given that the Furness and Cumbrian Coast lines are hardly money-spinners Northern's best answer would be "keeping our rolling stock fleet down to a minimum, in line with the franchise requirements." Followed by a supplementary comment about the situation having been aggravated by the DfT's decision to remove the 170/3s from the TPE fleet without replacement.

 

[themiller]

Northern is heavily subsidised. The most obvious question the SC could ask is "what are you doing to reduce your costs?" Given that the Furness and Cumbrian Coast lines are hardly money-spinners Northern's best answer would be "keeping our rolling stock fleet down to a minimum, in line with the franchise requirements." Followed by a supplementary comment about the situation having been aggravated by the DfT's decision to remove the 170/3s from the TPE fleet without replacement.

I think that the TSC would be more concerned that Northern seem to be unable to fulfil the requirements of the timetable. Northern's answer could be along the lines of 'If we'd been able to utilise the trains that we were told to use in the ITT, the current situation would not have arisen. So the Great Western Electrification has caused this problem. Over to you!' As for costs, more modern trains would be more economical to run and maintain, would be more attractive to passengers and reliability would improve thus tempting more people to swap car for train. The current loco-hauled trains must be costing the DfT a fortune in lost custom. We shall see where the fault lies with cancellations and lateness when DRS take over the manning of the locos on these services. It's difficult to understand why the same set-up in East Anglia seem to be less troublesome that on the Cumbrian Coast!

 

[NORTHERNSOUL]

I think that the TSC would be more concerned that Northern seem to be unable to fulfil the requirements of the timetable. Northern's answer could be along the lines of 'If we'd been able to utilise the trains that we were told to use in the ITT, the current situation would not have arisen. So the Great Western Electrification has caused this problem. Over to you!' As for costs, more modern trains would be more economical to run and maintain, would be more attractive to passengers and reliability would improve thus tempting more people to swap car for train. The current loco-hauled trains must be costing the DfT a fortune in lost custom. We shall see where the fault lies with cancellations and lateness when DRS take over the manning of the locos on these services. It's difficult to understand why the same set-up in East Anglia seem to be less troublesome that on the Cumbrian Coast!

But if you accept what is said in the article by the minister as true and correct then DRS arent taking over in two weeks more like two years.


CumbriaCumbria Better ConnectedJohn Woodcock MPTrudy Harrison MPTim Farron MP
Dismay for South Cumbria as MP says no train upgrades until December 2019
Members of Cumbria Better Connected were contacted by Rail Minister Jo Johnson

GRANGE RAILWAY STATION --- Launch of Cumbria Better Connected Campaign to save direct train services (l-r) Ian Stephens, Cumbria Tourism Manager, Peter Thornton, Leader of SLDC, John Woodcock, M.P., Tim Farron, M.P., Elizabeth Lewis, Mayor of Grange, Cllr Norman Bailey, and Frank Cassidy. Monday 25th June 2012. CHRIS WARNER REF: 50035300B001.jpg

BARROW RAILWAY --- Barrow train station Friday 27th February 2015 LINDSEY DICKINGS

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By Beth Baldwin
30 January 2018 12:58PM
A CROSS-PARTY coalition of Cumbrian MPs working together to improve the county's rail services were told by the newly appointed minister for rail that the area would not see any upgrades until 2019.

Labour MP for Barrow John Woodcock, Conservative MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison, and Liberal Democrat MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale Tim Farron joined forces last year for the 'Cumbria Better Connected campaign' which has repeatedly called on the government to make urgent improvements to Cumbrian railway lines and rolling stock.

The group were contacted by minister Jo Johnson on January 29 said he would like to discuss their concerns about the poor quality of such a vital train line.

But, the minister ruled out any train upgrades until December 2019, claiming that ‘availability and operability’ ruled out upgrading the class 37 locomotives to 68s, or even 57s.

Speaking about the minister’s response, John Woodcock said:

“It frankly beggars belief that the minister blamed the government’s failure to upgrade the rolling stock on the availability of better trains, when they sent the 68s earmarked for the Furness line to the Chilterns. "It is just not good enough to leave us waiting until December 2019.


“I am also deeply disappointed that the minister neglected to answer the request to mandate Northern rail to meet its basic service obligations and provide alternatives when services are cancelled.

“It is incredibly concerning that school children are regularly being left stranded at stations when services are cancelled with no alternative transport provided, and it just cannot go on.

“The minister must act now to upgrade the trains and improve the services immediately – Cumbria Better Connected will not stop fighting until he does.”

 

[themiller]

But if you accept what is said in the article by the minister as true and correct then DRS arent taking over in two weeks more like two years.


CumbriaCumbria Better ConnectedJohn Woodcock MPTrudy Harrison MPTim Farron MP
Dismay for South Cumbria as MP says no train upgrades until December 2019
Members of Cumbria Better Connected were contacted by Rail Minister Jo Johnson

GRANGE RAILWAY STATION --- Launch of Cumbria Better Connected Campaign to save direct train services (l-r) Ian Stephens, Cumbria Tourism Manager, Peter Thornton, Leader of SLDC, John Woodcock, M.P., Tim Farron, M.P., Elizabeth Lewis, Mayor of Grange, Cllr Norman Bailey, and Frank Cassidy. Monday 25th June 2012. CHRIS WARNER REF: 50035300B001.jpg

BARROW RAILWAY --- Barrow train station Friday 27th February 2015 LINDSEY DICKINGS

SHARE THIS STORY
Subscribe to our newsletter


By Beth Baldwin
30 January 2018 12:58PM
A CROSS-PARTY coalition of Cumbrian MPs working together to improve the county's rail services were told by the newly appointed minister for rail that the area would not see any upgrades until 2019.

Labour MP for Barrow John Woodcock, Conservative MP for Copeland Trudy Harrison, and Liberal Democrat MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale Tim Farron joined forces last year for the 'Cumbria Better Connected campaign' which has repeatedly called on the government to make urgent improvements to Cumbrian railway lines and rolling stock.

The group were contacted by minister Jo Johnson on January 29 said he would like to discuss their concerns about the poor quality of such a vital train line.

But, the minister ruled out any train upgrades until December 2019, claiming that ‘availability and operability’ ruled out upgrading the class 37 locomotives to 68s, or even 57s.

Speaking about the minister’s response, John Woodcock said:

“It frankly beggars belief that the minister blamed the government’s failure to upgrade the rolling stock on the availability of better trains, when they sent the 68s earmarked for the Furness line to the Chilterns. "It is just not good enough to leave us waiting until December 2019.


“I am also deeply disappointed that the minister neglected to answer the request to mandate Northern rail to meet its basic service obligations and provide alternatives when services are cancelled.

“It is incredibly concerning that school children are regularly being left stranded at stations when services are cancelled with no alternative transport provided, and it just cannot go on.

“The minister must act now to upgrade the trains and improve the services immediately – Cumbria Better Connected will not stop fighting until he does.”

If that's true, one has to wonder why DRS are still running crew training trips along the Cumbrian Coast today.

 

[NORTHERNSOUL]

If that's true, one has to wonder why DRS are still running crew training trips along the Cumbrian Coast today.

Well i.m sure we wouldnt find a Tory rail minister telling lies to fellow MP.s would we ?

 

[Bwlch y Groes]

The statement also seemingly contradicts Northern telling the press today that the Manchester-Cumbria services will be one of the first two routes to get the 195s

What's all this about extra 68s to Chiltern, though?

 

[themiller]

Well i.m sure we wouldnt find a Tory rail minister telling lies to fellow MP.s would we ?

You may think that but I couldn't possibly comment!

 

[IanXC]

I suspect things are rather confused by politicians referring to when the passenger accommodation is being upgraded, I can well believe the Minister doesn't think different locomotives is even vaguely relevant to passengers.

What's all this about extra 68s to Chiltern, though?

A game of Chinese whispers I think. Chiltern certainly don't have any additional rakes of locohauled stock, and even if they did the 68 fleet is 34 strong and only 6 are typically with Chiltern at any given time.

 

[70014IronDuke]

The 05:15 from Carlisle picks up 50-100 school children at Barrow and Roose.

That's a lot of late kids when the train fails and stops dead at Wigton!
But at least it's daylight waiting at Barrow and Roose in the morning. If the late afternoon/evening LHCS trains fail on the Coast proper, any kids are gonna be waiting in the dark. Can't be much fun if they are on the lonely stations.