Liverpool to Sunderland

[zac embleton]

when was the Liverpool to Newcastle service extended out to Sunderland?

 

[Ianno87]

Roughly May 1996ish, in my recollection. Not 100% certain about this, but was definitely mid-90s and I think was still in Regional Railways days when it happened.

 

[zac embleton]

thanks for your help

 

[jord4774]

It was definitely mid 90s, but was when Northern Spirit was operating. I'm not sure it survived to the end of the franchise.

 

[zac embleton]

thanks mate

 

[sprinterguy]

It was definitely mid 90s, but was when Northern Spirit was operating. I'm not sure it survived to the end of the franchise.

The bi-hourly Sunderland extension of the Liverpool - Newcastle service commenced on 2nd June 1996, predating the start of the Northern Spirit franchise, on 2nd March 1997, by nine months. It survived long enough to be incorporated into the dedicated First Transpennine franchise in February 2004, but was withdrawn by the time of the December 2004 timetable franchise change, possibly a couple of months before.

 

[Ianno87]

I think it was withdrawn with the Dec 2004 timetable change when FTPE implemented a standard hourly pattern.

IIRC all the 'odd' stuff went about then (Hull extensions to Scarborough via Bridlington, Newcastle services via the Durham Coast)