Liverpool to Preston timetable

[Bovverboy]

Can anyone say why the published Northern timetable for the above service shows an expiry date of 28 Jan? The only thing happening on 29 Jan (to my knowledge) is the reopening of the Preston to Blackpool South section of line - but I haven't heard of any plans to run through from Liverpool.
I have had a quick skim through RTT and can't find any sign of impending changes.

 

[Mathew S]

That'll be the reason. Because the service will be rejigged at that date and, presumably, diagrams will change. Also they can't have known for sure when the engineering would finish. Probably easier just to do two timetables for the while route, changing on the same dates.
I'm sure someone on here who works on the field can give you a more accurate answer, but that would be my guess.

 

[Bovverboy]

But what's the connection between the Liverpool to Preston service (319 operated) and the Preston to Blackpool South service (DMU operated)? There's obviously no interworking, and they don't share a common timetable.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did he mean Blackpool *North*?

 

[Bovverboy]

Did who mean Blackpool North?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did who mean Blackpool North?

The person who suggested a change on that date?

 

[Bovverboy]

Who was that?

 

[Loop & Link]

Diagrams and traincrew dockets changing from that date.

 

[Bovverboy]

Indeed, that was bound to be the case, since there is a 'new' service starting (Preston to Blackpool South), which will need staffing. I don't know whether or not it's going to be interworked with anything else, but, more to the point, it's not being advertised as running to some point as a through service, therefore the timetables of all other Northern services running through Preston should be unaffected, yet all those services seem to be having their timetables reissued, even though they really aren't being altered (I have managed to find an odd one or two instances of a timing being altered by a minute, or two). It seems a pointless exercise.

 

[notlob.divad]

Is this 'new' service not going to be an Ormskirk to Blackpool South service, and is that why a 'new' timetable is being released.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is this 'new' service not going to be an Ormskirk to Blackpool South service, and is that why a 'new' timetable is being released.

I was going to say that, but that's May.

 

[notlob.divad]

I was going to say that, but that's May.

Actually checking the post May current timetable it seems the Ormskirk, Blackpool South and Colne branches are diagrammed to interworked together.

Train departs 3C to Ormskirk. Train from Ormskirk terminates in 1, then almost immediately departs for Blackpool South. Train from B-South terminates in 2, then departs for Colne. Train from Colne terminates in 3C before departing to Ormskirk. (repeat) So you can get a 'through' train between each in one direction only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yeah, it is I think a reinstatement of the early 1990s "Lancashire Lines" service pattern.

 

[Elecman]

And it was a failure then with unreliability, 2 longish stretches of single line at each end so little or no chance of recovery when it goes even slightly pear shaped without skipping stations or terminating short. It would be better left as it is Blackpool South to Colne and Ormskirk to Preston ( ideally not using the 3/4c bays though but plat 1/2 with a shunt into the sidings if the layover would block the 1/2 or platforms for too long.

 

[Flying Claret]

Yeah, it is I think a reinstatement of the early 1990s "Lancashire Lines" service pattern.

Does anybody know the reason for this change/ move to previous pattern? What are the benefits? Living in east lancs we'll lose our direct link to the south fylde coast...

 

[73001]

Does anybody know the reason for this change/ move to previous pattern? What are the benefits? Living in east lancs we'll lose our direct link to the south fylde coast...

The Ormskirk line is going hourly I think but as its too tight to work it with one train this change probably makes the most economical use of several units centred around Preston.

 

[Flying Claret]

The Ormskirk line is going hourly I think but as its too tight to work it with one train this change probably makes the most economical use of several units centred around Preston.

Makes sense. Much appreciated.

 

[Kite159]

Can the stations along the Ormskirk line hold 4 carriages, or will it be like Preston - Colne where the rearmost unit is locked out of use, with both units getting unlocked for the run to Blackpool South?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Can the stations along the Ormskirk line hold 4 carriages, or will it be like Preston - Colne where the rearmost unit is locked out of use, with both units getting unlocked for the run to Blackpool South?

I believe they can all take 4 (20m) cars, being a former mainline service. Certainly I have been on a 4-car (Class 142) train on that route, I think it was during the FNW strikes in the 1990s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And it was a failure then with unreliability, 2 longish stretches of single line at each end so little or no chance of recovery when it goes even slightly pear shaped without skipping stations or terminating short. It would be better left as it is Blackpool South to Colne and Ormskirk to Preston ( ideally not using the 3/4c bays though but plat 1/2 with a shunt into the sidings if the layover would block the 1/2 or platforms for too long.

But presumably leaving Ormskirk with its cack-handed non-clockface timetable?