£100k for South Fylde lines stations.

[driver9000]

This year sees the golf open being held on the Fylde so £100k is being spent on tidying up Lytham, Ansdell & Fairhaven and St Annes stations. I only hope that they won't be forgotten about once Mr Woods and co have left.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/local/stations_tee_off_with_upgrades_1_4114345

No details on train service provision during the open has been released yet.

 

[WestCoast]

This is my local line, so I'm very pleased that Andell & Fairhaven and Lytham especially will see some improvements, they're very low-key stations anyway.

I wonder what kind of improvements beyond "tidying up" and "additional signage" there will be? I mean I don't expect to see PIDs or TVMs but improved waiting shelters would be a pleasant improvement to make.

I am curious to see what the service provision will be like on the line during the Open.

 

[driver9000]

I wonder what kind of improvements beyond "tidying up" and "additional signage" there will be? I mean I don't expect to see PIDs or TVMs but improved waiting shelters would be a pleasant improvement to make.

There has been some clearing work going on at Lytham on the disused platform recently so I imagine it will be a continuation of that. The St Annes end of Ansdell platform will probably also be cleared as it was used for access to the golf course during the last open along with the normally padlocked UWCs being opened.

 

[WestCoast]

There has been some clearing work going on at Lytham on the disused platform recently so I imagine it will be a continuation of that. The St Annes end of Ansdell platform will probably also be cleared as it was used for access to the golf course during the last open along with the normally padlocked UWCs being opened.

I did notice that actually, but also the clearing of the golf course access from the platfrom (like last time) definetly seems logical

 

[tom1649]

£100.000 will probably just about cover the cost of sweeping the platforms these days.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

Selling the other platform at St Annes??.... Beggars belief :roll:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Selling the other platform at St Annes??.... Beggars belief :roll:

It does seem rather short-sighted as this station could be made into quite an important part of an improved network, should plans for a line upgrade ever come to fruition.

 

[Bald Rick]

It does seem rather short-sighted as this station could be made into quite an important part of an improved network, should plans for a line upgrade ever come to fruition.

Only if there's lots of new parking space for all the Jags.

 

[WatcherZero]

£100,000 is too little for alterations to buildings and shelters. Your firmly in spit and polish territory, repainting, cleaning, minor repairs (like cracked tiles or guttering), etc...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am curious to see what the service provision will be like on the line during the Open.

Any chance that Northern Rail might use their "best" units on the route during the time when the Open Championship is being played?

 

[WestCoast]

Any chance that Northern Rail might use their "best" units on the route during the time when the Open Championship is being played?

You mean the Pacers with the high backed seating?

 

[Lampshade]

You mean the Pacers with the high backed seating?

It really does say something when that's an aspiration

 

[Cliveblackpool]

I wonder if they will put 2 Pacer trains on that week?
The high backs seats coaches have less seats.

Off on a tangent. Of interest to supporters of the South Fylde Line
I have always felt the old Pontins site could be invaluable as a Park & Ride and transport hub.
Just found an article on the planning saga and this site etc
http://www.counterbalance.org.uk/latest/pontpuz.htm

 

[WestCoast]

I wonder if they will put 2 Pacer trains on that week?
The high backs seats coaches have less seats.

I've got an image of all these top golf players sitting 3-abreast on an ex-Merseytravel Pacer.

 

[burns20]

I'd heard a rumour frm a TPE guard based at BPN that they were putting a temporary set of buffers at Ansdell and having a shuttle frm Preston at 2tph with an hourly connection beyond to bpl south

 

[driver9000]

I'd heard a rumour frm a TPE guard based at BPN that they were putting a temporary set of buffers at Ansdell and having a shuttle frm Preston at 2tph with an hourly connection beyond to bpl south

I have heard the same rumour although a road service was to operate Ansdell-Blackpool South while the tournament was on. I have a hunch they may run through for the peaks. I'm not sure if it would be allowed to run a 2 section train service as it would mean 2 trains on a single line. The other reason I can't see a rail service to Blackpool South is the foot crossings known as Links 1-4 will be open and given the number of spectators milling around it caused mayhem last time when trains ran. There is also the platform length at Ansdell to consider. I had heard the shuttles are to be 4 coaches. I should point out this is all rumour at the moment and Northern/Network Rail have given no indication to services during the open.

 

[WestCoast]

Ansdell is one of my local stations, so I am keen to hear about what will happen to services.

I know this is probably not an issue of any significance as most people have through tickets on this line but Northern would effectively be operating a 'free bus' between Ansdell and Blackpool South, since the chances of anyone selling/checking tickets onboard would be slim.

 

[lancastrian]

Selling the other platform at St Annes??.... Beggars belief :roll:

You are so right, how daft can our political leaders and civil servants get. Here is a line with a reasonable amount of thought and effort can be greatly improved to give a better service for the community and benefit quite a large population.

If this line was in the southeast not only would it still be double track, it would have been electrified as well. The best thing for this line to be improved would to install a passing loop at the least. Now that some morron has sold off St Annes second platform, the logical place for it is Lytham.

I was at Lytham station last year, visiting with my wife. It looks nice but a shadow of its former self when I used to travel regularly to my grand parents who live about a 2 minute walk from the station overlooking the line. I remember once when living in Birmingham, catchin atrain right through from New Street to Lytham in 1971, pulled into Lytham behind a class 40.

Sorry went down memory lane then, but the loop is needed soon, and if it was there now. the regular services could still run to Lytham, with a shuttle to Ansdel and St Annes, from the other platfom. Or better still, the service could be terminated at St Annes and pass the next train at Lytham.

"Simples"