Blackpool Tourists

[krisk]

Problem is here you need to have capacity to match demand, doubling units to Blackpool gives the capacity going but it won't then be needed for the rest of the day. And running 4 coaches when you don't need them whereas other routes do would just cause uproar.

This has been an issue for years, I remember the start of sprinters and the rows it caused when with huge queues at BPN a 2 coach train rolled in.

This is where some loco/rolling stock combo could come in handy, is the capacity there say from Glasgow to run a Fri/Sat only service, Glasgow, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Poulton and Blackpool.

Leaving around 09.00, arriving in at around 12.30, leaves at say 13.30 back in Glasgow 17.00-17.30.

I can't comment on the Liverpool service suffice suggesting more through trains as opposed to Wigan terminators, or perhaps with passing loops on the Blackpool South line, 2 tph, 1 to North, 1 to South with calls at Lythym, St Annes, Squires Gate (for airport and tram connections), Pleasure Beach and Blackpool South. In winter months this could be Liverpool - Wigan - Preston - St Annes only??

Manchester services I think have taken a hit since the 2 tph from Piccadilly became 1 tph with the other to Victoria. Again a Manchester Vic - Bolton (poss Wigan call) - Preston - Blackpool service with loco hauled could provide an option.

Perhaps Blackpool council could be asked to past subsidise these routes with lesser contributions from say Fylde and Wyre Councils as obviously some Blackpool visitors will travel to St Annes or have a trip out to Fleetwood market and/or Freeport?

I know from experience that so much on the railway goes full circle, what is withdrawn then gets reintroduced again so I would not be surprised to see some loco hauled routes back into Blackpool. If the regeneration is to bring back visitors who wish to stay then the transport connections need to be there.

On reflection, the Glasgow service could even do

Glasgow (dep 08.00)
Blackpool (arr. 11.30)

Blackpool (dep. 12.15)
Man Vic (arr. 13.45)

Man Vic (dep 14.30)
Blackpool (arr. 16.15)

Blackpool (dep. 17.00)
Glasgow (arr. 20.30)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Problem is here you need to have capacity to match demand, doubling units to Blackpool gives the capacity going but it won't then be needed for the rest of the day. And running 4 coaches when you don't need them whereas other routes do would just cause uproar.

This has been an issue for years, I remember the start of sprinters and the rows it caused when with huge queues at BPN a 2 coach train rolled in.

This is where some loco/rolling stock combo could come in handy, is the capacity there say from Glasgow to run a Fri/Sat only service, Glasgow, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston, Poulton and Blackpool.

Leaving around 09.00, arriving in at around 12.30, leaves at say 13.30 back in Glasgow 17.00-17.30.

I can't comment on the Liverpool service suffice suggesting more through trains as opposed to Wigan terminators, or perhaps with passing loops on the Blackpool South line, 2 tph, 1 to North, 1 to South with calls at Lythym, St Annes, Squires Gate (for airport and tram connections), Pleasure Beach and Blackpool South. In winter months this could be Liverpool - Wigan - Preston - St Annes only??

Manchester services I think have taken a hit since the 2 tph from Piccadilly became 1 tph with the other to Victoria. Again a Manchester Vic - Bolton (poss Wigan call) - Preston - Blackpool service with loco hauled could provide an option.

Perhaps Blackpool council could be asked to past subsidise these routes with lesser contributions from say Fylde and Wyre Councils as obviously some Blackpool visitors will travel to St Annes or have a trip out to Fleetwood market and/or Freeport?

I know from experience that so much on the railway goes full circle, what is withdrawn then gets reintroduced again so I would not be surprised to see some loco hauled routes back into Blackpool. If the regeneration is to bring back visitors who wish to stay then the transport connections need to be there.

On reflection, the Glasgow service could even do

Glasgow (dep 08.00)
Blackpool (arr. 11.30)

Blackpool (dep. 12.15)
Man Vic (arr. 13.45)

Man Vic (dep 14.30)
Blackpool (arr. 16.15)

Blackpool (dep. 17.00)
Glasgow (arr. 20.30)

How do you see electrification of the Blackpool to Preston line with a new connection northwards east of the Salwick area to the West Coast main line as a thought for the future, with Blackpool - Lancaster - Oxenholme - Carlisle - Lockerbie - Glasgow as a new direct service. Carlisle to be a connection point for connecting services. I once did have an article that was published sometime in the 1970's suggesting this, but it has long been lost

 

[krisk]

Great idea but would the market for it be sufficient for it to be seen as viable. Leaving Preston out of the equation with its platform capacity would be a shame as it would only require a turnback.

I'm hoping electrification will open up new routes and be the start of a bigger programme where most of the NW becomes under the wires bar some of the more rural routes.

I'd also like to see more through services, why is the Morecambe service just a Lancaster shuttle mainly and not a route such as Morecambe - Lancaster - Preston - Ormskirk and with a bigger electrification scheme could these then run through to Liverpool using a 3rd rail/OHLE type unit?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Great idea but would the market for it be sufficient for it to be seen as viable. Leaving Preston out of the equation with its platform capacity would be a shame as it would only require a turnback.

I'm hoping electrification will open up new routes and be the start of a bigger programme where most of the NW becomes under the wires bar some of the more rural routes.

I'd also like to see more through services, why is the Morecambe service just a Lancaster shuttle mainly and not a route such as Morecambe - Lancaster - Preston - Ormskirk and with a bigger electrification scheme could these then run through to Liverpool using a 3rd rail/OHLE type unit?

I see your thinking on the last point. If Colne to Blackpool South is seen as a feasible route, there is no reason why Morecambe to Ormskirk (to then connect with Merseyrail electric services) is any less a viable proposition.

With your comments in mind about the first point where I proposed a north-facing curve and connection with the WCML, does not such a connection from Morecambe via Bare Lane to Hest Bank northwards to the WCML exist. This was I had in mind when making a similar proposal for the line from Blackpool making a direct link to the WCML without the need for Preston involvement.

Just trying to be helpful.

 

[Yew]

Completely agree with you there, most of the cab door 'locks' on our Sprinter fleet are absolute crap. Bearing in mind the supposed terrorism threat etc etc, it really makes you wonder why something hasn't been done about it. Planes have bulletproof doors, trains don't even have p1sshead-proof doors! :-x

I'm often in awe of some people's ability to be so utterly ignorant to a very prominent sign on the door, right in front if their face, stating very clearly PRIVATE/STAFF ONLY etc. Grr....

I imagine the toilet being at one end of the train, (rather than in the joint between the two parts of the units (like 158's sprinters, HST's) being at one end . I myself didnt know that all EMT 156's have toilets for quite a while, I always thought the.... like the doors in the middle, that look a bit like they could be big enough for a toilet, could have been a better place for them, however probably a bit of reworking of that area

 

[BestWestern]

I imagine the toilet being at one end of the train, (rather than in the joint between the two parts of the units (like 158's sprinters, HST's) being at one end . I myself didnt know that all EMT 156's have toilets for quite a while, I always thought the.... like the doors in the middle, that look a bit like they could be big enough for a toilet, could have been a better place for them, however probably a bit of reworking of that area

I think most of our Driving staff would object to having to drive from the toilet when the train terminated and headed back the other way!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

in my experience ( I do more South Of Mcr) you get hassle (mostly on a weekend) on practically every route as long as there is a hub for people to meet and get rather intoxicated aka p**sed there will always be a few idiots to spoil it. and to be fair on Blackpool, the prom looks like it will be really good when they have finished and maybe (just maybe) Blackpool is on the way back.

Is there a similar problem at Southport, as there are two distinct rail-served areas from which "THE INEBRIATED" can travel there. If there are any rail staff from Merseyrail or Northern Rail with views on this, I am sure these deserve to be heard.

 

[175001]

Indeed. I work to Southport from Vic/Airport often. Weekends are 50/50, up to about 3pm, the majority are day trippers, back and forth, then after 3pm it all changes, with the majority going out for a night there. I've not nat much trouble there, but I know a few that have.