That’s the point. Demand. It’s a case of growing the service and it benefits more than just Blackpool, but the cities it connects to - I.e.Liverpool & Manchester have a bigger employment catchment area. People commute to London and it’s how it works in the south east, whereas that culture needs to be grown more so in the north west. Therefore given the thread is leaning towards a reduction in services, it is completely counterintuitive
Lancaster is still the county town of Lancashire, Preston is the administrative centre. I know, I worked at County Hall for many years, some of which were in an office with a good view of the railway.
I disagree, a light rail system may look like a tramway but actually operates at a higher frequency.
Not necessarily if their inclusion was by means of arrangement with the Department. In any case, if that were true in 2018-19 it's probably not true in 2021-22.
Indeed but there's no way they'd stick with them long term like that though. They'd either pull them completely and go down to two hourly between the West Midlands and Central Belt, or restore them to serving Scotland. It's a useful interim solution of course.
Are you looking back to the time of the mill towns and their "Wakes Weeks" which lasted over a number of calendar months every year. Blackpool had plenty of bed and breakfast accommodation to meet that annual demand and don't forget Blackpool Central station with its 14 platforms was the reason why the fast express Marton line was built just after the start of the 20th century from Kirkham and Wesham to Blackpool South and Blackpool Central.There is a very good reason for that
(No, not paucity of employment...FWIW the nice bits of South Fylde aren't cheap)
There has been much in the way of new estate development in the periphery areas around Blackpool in recent years.
Well, every day's a school day - I've always thought RES just meant reserve!
Noting your website avatar, Blackburn is quite a main station on the York to Blackpool North line and that service offers Blackburn passengers a direct service to Blackpool North station, which is far better placed for central Blackpool than Blackpool South.
The stoppers on the East Lancashire Line don’t even go as far as Blackpool South these days either so the York trains are the only direct trains to Blackpool from Blackburn and Burnley. I doubt many people stay on the train from start to finish, but the train serves multiple shorter flows such as Blackpool<>Blackburn. In fact it’s the only service between Burnley Manchester Road and Hebden Bridge.
Lancashire is an odd one in that the division between county town - Lancaster - and seat of county administration - Preston - was fixed by legislation.
Preston has been the site of the county offices since the modern local government system was set up in 1888.
You’d be surprised how many people use the YRK - BPN service end to end. It is a very useful cross country service and meets the needs of long distance point to point, long distance connecting (ie Lancaster Uni students from Yorkshire changing at Preston) and local journeys throughout. Thankfully most services I’ve worked are 3 or even 4 cars so are able to meet demand.
Merseyrail is a self contained service, where the use of the stock and diagrams don't potentially affect other routes; everything is in place as it should be, with no bearing on other TOCs.
You obviously don’t work on this route as I do all year around. It is a very well used route from Yorkshire/East Lancs right through to both Poulton and Blackpool and vv. Ok not every service but that goes for almost any service anyway. It would save 1 unit by turning back at Preston not a couple.
