Ribblehead, last train cancelled 12/10. Replacement transport?

[Iskra]

Last night, as I travelled from Carlisle to Leeds on a Northern service, the internal PIS advised that the service that normally starts at Ribblehead was cancelled. However, platform information systems (PIS) and RealTimeTrains (RTT) were not showing the service as cancelled, although RTT did indicate that the Leeds-Ribblehead terminating service that forms the last train from Ribblehead was not running.

Ribblehead is obviously an isolated station in an unforgiving climate, with no staff and no phone signal. So the prospects for prospective passengers, aren't great to put it mildly.

However, can anyone confirm if the 2013 Carlisle-Leeds service, which is not normally booked to call at Ribblehead or Horton In Ribblesdale stations received a special stop order to serve those stations and pick-up any passengers? It does seem to have lost time on its journey so it is a possibility and it passed Ribblehead at about the same time that the other train normally would, and would seem the sensible and easiest solution.

Alternatively, if you were awaiting the last train at Ribblehead and it was cancelled with no alternative available, what would be the best course of action?

A link to realtime trains to help any members not familiar with this area and these trains to understand the post:

Realtime Trains | Departures from Ribblehead around 2100 on 12/10/2024

Train information at Ribblehead around 2100 on 12/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

(Mods: It is not possible to reproduce the text from the link in a logical format)

 

[skyhigh]

A replacement coach was provided.

 

[Iskra]

A replacement coach was provided.

Interesting, thanks for the prompt response!

 

[yorksrob]

Ribblehead has a telephone which enables passengers to speak to the signalman at Blea Moor for information.

I've used this on occasion and booked into the inn when last trains have been cancelled !

 

[Iskra]

Ribblehead has a telephone which enables passengers to speak to the signalman at Blea Moor for information.

I've used this on occasion and booked into the inn when last trains have been cancelled !

At the railways expense one hopes?

 

[yorksrob]

At the railways expense one hopes?

They did eventually provide a bus I think, but I thought I might as well just stay in the pub.

 

[Goldfish62]

They did eventually provide a bus I think, but I thought I might as well just stay in the pub.

It's not cheap there!

 

[yorksrob]

It's not cheap there!

This was a few years ago, so might be more now.

 

[Goldfish62]

This was a few years ago, so might be more now.

Over £100 per night per room. But of course the beer and food are still excellent.

 

[185]

A replacement coach was provided.

Wasteful, especially when a train is pointlessly passing at the very same time.

 

[DarloRich]

Why wouldn't you just delay the faster train slightly and pick up at all stations?

Is there some last connection issue at Leeds if you do that? ?

 

[norbitonflyer]

The scheduling is odd anyway. Why does that round trip to Ribblehead exist at all? There can't be many people wanting to travel there at that time of night (it does appear to be the last train to stations in the upper Aire Valley such as Gargrave, but is Ribblehead the first place it can reverse?)
And, as has been noted, the return journey runs just nine minutes behind another train to Leeds, which skips all stops between Garsdale and Skipton ecxept Settle (although, with more stops, the Ribblehead starter is 22 minutes behind when it reaches Leeds). Unless the Carlisle train is very busy, I can't see the point of running both. (the previous train, two hours earlier is one train running through from Carlisle and calling at all stations on the S&C)

 

[Llanigraham]

Why wouldn't you just delay the faster train slightly and pick up at all stations?

Is there some last connection issue at Leeds if you do that? ?

Perhaps because the crew would have run out of hours if they had continued?

 

[30907]

Wasteful, especially when a train is pointlessly passing at the very same time.

The coach presumably ran outward (from Skipton?) to convey the passengers of the 1949 down, so had to return.

The scheduling is odd anyway. Why does that round trip to Ribblehead exist at all? There can't be many people wanting to travel there at that time of night (it does appear to be the last train to stations in the upper Aire Valley such as Gargrave, but is Ribblehead the first place it can reverse?)

Yes it is (Blea Moor to be pedantic)

And, as has been noted, the return journey runs just nine minutes behind another train to Leeds, which skips all stops between Garsdale and Skipton ecxept Settle (although, with more stops, the Ribblehead starter is 22 minutes behind when it reaches Leeds). Unless the Carlisle train is very busy, I can't see the point of running both. (the previous train, two hours earlier is one train running through from Carlisle and calling at all stations on the S&C)

The train has an interesting history. Back in 1982 (online!) the last down train from Leeds beyond Skipton was a 1935 Morecambe (and there were no Carlisle stoppers other than Dalesrail on Sundays). The set stabled overnight in Lancashire and returned next morning.

In the early 90s (IIRC) Regional Railways was split into RRNW and RRNE, and the Bentham Line was allocated to RRNE so had to be operated from the Skipton end (as it still is); the 1935 was withdrawn (there was no Heysham boat traffic by then) and replaced by a 1919 to Ribblehead (Settle signalbox had closed in 1984) which returned ECS to Skipton.
At which point someone had the bright idea of making it a passenger train to hoover up the walkers/drinkers - IIRC at first on Saturday nights only - and the rest is history.
(The late train from Carlisle is a much more recent innovation (2016?) and you are correct in saying it isn't busy.)

 

[Fisherman80]

The 2145 Ribblehead to Leeds does have some traffic between Settle and and Long Preston/Hellifield but only on a weekend from what I've seen.
The 2013 Carlisle to Leeds is very useful for passengers going to Manchester Airport if there is major disruption on the West Coast Main Line and ticket restrictions are relaxed.