Arnside viaduct

[pjh]

I understand that the decking on the Arnside viaduct is to be replaced this summer, this is likely to take months to complete resulting in a total blockade between Carnforth and Grange-over-sands.
Does anyone have more information?

 

[hughesfowler]

March to July is last info I had,line closed, bus replacement service carnforth to barrow

 

[Oliver]

March to July is last info I had,line closed, bus replacement service carnforth to barrow

So will Barrow to Grange not have any trains?

 

[lancastrian]

March to July is last info I had,line closed, bus replacement service carnforth to barrow

Typical bad planning yet again. The question is are they replacing just the through service from Carnforth to Barrow or are the buses replacing the whole service in which case I will be very interested to see how they wil do this. Have you seen the roads to get to Silverdale and Arnside.

Even if you discount both those two stations, and I sure that those people who use them would not be happy, then the first stop from Carnforth will Grange. The quickest route is about twice the distance than by rail. I really hope common sense kicks in at this point and the trains are run from Grange over Sands to Barrow.

If not, then those passengers travelling between all the stations will be very unhappy. Yes from Grange on to Kents Bank & Cark & Carmell, the B5278 runs close to the railway, but from Cark on to Ulveston, the B5278 goes away from the railway up to the A590 at Haverthwaite, the bus will then follow this road to Ulveston and then from there the road and railway are not too far apart to Dalton, then the main road again diverges away from the railway making the service to Roose very difficult. Either most of the stations will be ignored in a through bus service from Carnforth to Barrow. Only Ulveston & Dalton can be easily served by a bus using the main A590.

But if they intend to serve all the stations, then the bus will proberbly take at least three times the rail journey. Lets hope that common sense does kick in and the bus service is Carnforth to Grange, with the train the rest of the way. But knowing the morrons who decide these things, I expect to see the intemediate stations not to be well served, if at all.

 

[142094]

I'm guessing that the Northern services between Barrow and Grange are not affected? Logical reason for TPE not doing a Barrow - Grange service is to free up a unit to be put on another working.

 

[12CSVT]

Easy - simply extend the Carlisle - Barrow services to Grange, or run a Barrow - Grange shuttle.

 

[cuccir]

Afraid that they're not doing anything as sensible as the above!

No trains at all between Barrow and Grange for 4 months from 26th March, including those that would normally run through from Carlisle.

Buses which replace the faster TPE services will run at principle stops (Barrow/Ulverston/Grange) and then to Oxenholme. These will usually, but not always, connect to a bus between Arnside and Grange, which itself will connect to the timetabled train to Lancaster. Journey time Oxenholme to Barrow 1 hour 26.

Buses replacing Northern Rail services will stop at all stations but terminate at Carnforth.

Buses will also stop at Askam to connect to northbound services, meaning that trains up the Cumbrian Coast Line are not delayed by the longer journey time to Barrow form the south.

One further thought: will TransPennine run 185s for services such as the planned 15:20 Lancaster to Arnside? Especially as this doesn't connect to a rail replacement bus? Surely they can loan a pacer from somewhere for this sort of service, and use the 185 elsewhere?

 

[142094]

One further thought: will TransPennine run 185s for services such as the planned 15:20 Lancaster to Arnside? Especially as this doesn't connect to a rail replacement bus? Surely they can loan a pacer from somewhere for this sort of service, and use the 185 elsewhere?

Not sure if the drivers on that route sign 170s, but that would be a better use of units. Could just pay Northern to run the service too.

 

[Sandy]

They can't run services between Barrow and Grange to begin with, as they are working on Lindal tunnel at the same time. When that work is finished the trains will run to Grange.

 

[cuccir]

They can't run services between Barrow and Grange to begin with, as they are working on Lindal tunnel at the same time. When that work is finished the trains will run to Grange.

That's good to hear and I take back some of what I said above - this sounds like a good plan!

 

[Sandy]

I've just got the new timetable booklet. 115 pages, not counting the safety information!
Highlights:
Work on the viaduct and tunnel 28 March until 17 April, Buses Barrow to Grange, Oxenholme and Arnside, trains from Arnside except Sundays 3, 10, 17 April mornings when there is more work at Carnforth, so buses all the way to Preston.
Some buses run via Askam to connect with coast trains.
From 18 April trains run to Grange for buses to Oxy,and Arnside, with some early and very late buses to and from Barrow, but these are running between train times(why?) All trains between Barrow and Grange are run by Northern.
This booklet is dated until 21 May, you would have thought they could extend it until the work is finished in July.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There is a new joint timeable booklet printed on behalf of both First TPE and Northern that covers the time period from 22nd May through to 17th July and this is available at most stations on the affected route. I picked up my copy at Manchester Airport rail station where it was displayed in a very clear position.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Got a good double trackbash with this on Friday - the 0808 PRE-ARN went over at Carnforth SB to SLW. The return leg (ARN-LAN only) went into Lancaster p1. Awesome!

The timetables are in abundance at Preston and Lancaster, TPE tend to be good for things like that.

 

[robvulpes]

Anyone know whether the works are running on schedule for reopening in mid July? I'm due to be going that way in August and don't relish a bustitution!

Rob

 

[MidnightFlyer]

They looked to be making good progress on Friday - it may be a bit too early to tell yet, maybe we'll have a better idea come July.

 

[mbonwick]

They're about 2 weeks ahead of schedule I believe, despite high winds early on in the works.

Still no definite word as to whether a footpath will be included though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They're about 2 weeks ahead of schedule I believe, despite high winds early on in the works.

Still no definite word as to whether a footpath will be included though.

Not to put a fine point upon it, if a footpath were to have been incorporated into these new refurbishment works, it too would have been at the same stage of near completion as those of the rail works.

Is there anyone that can address this question?

 

[mbonwick]

You miss my point.

There was always going to be provision for a footpath to be installed (possibly at some point way in the future), but AFAIK the debate between NR/Arnside Parish Council/Cumbira County Council etc is still ongoing as to who would/will pay for a footpath to be installed.

 

[boing_uk]

Not to put a fine point upon it, if a footpath were to have been incorporated into these new refurbishment works, it too would have been at the same stage of near completion as those of the rail works.

Is there anyone that can address this question?

The footbridge may well have been structurally complete, but there would still be the problem of getting access at either end to the.. err.. public.

Private land and all that. Not forgetting all the other little issues about dedicating rights of way, access, land procurement, construction away from the railway...

Plus all the additional maintenance and inspections that would go along with the new path - why would NR wish to burden themselves with it?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are the works complete and is the line due to re-open anytime soon?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Are the works complete and is the line due to re-open anytime soon?

I was speaking to First TPE today on another matter, so I asked your question at the end of my conversation.

They checked if any recent notices were in their possession regarding infrastructural matters and said that they had not received any delay notifications, so the date still remains in a 24 hour period between Sunday, 17th July and Monday, 18th July for the line over the viaduct to carry train services. This is the information that they are giving to all intending passengers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I spoke to Northern Rail today and they say that their services will be running over the viaduct as from Monday, 18th July 2011.

 

[snail]

Not to put a fine point upon it, if a footpath were to have been incorporated into these new refurbishment works, it too would have been at the same stage of near completion as those of the rail works.

Is there anyone that can address this question?

I was in Arnside last weekend and there are definitely no possible public access points to the viaduct, I couldn't get close enough to see if there is a footway on the structure itself but it doesn't look like it. Some local shops had posters campaigning for one. The local press carried a statement from NR when the work started that the design included provision for a walkway to be added to the viaduct in the future.

 

[bluenoxid]

Rail Engineer has an article and rights of access to either end is the issue.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It is Monday, 18th July 2011....everything is now running normally.