Morecambe - Lancaster

[Dunc108]

I don't see why Leeds - Morecambe should be spared the delights of Northern's finest! (Bet it's fun at Carnforth on a Pacer! )

When they did an open day a few years back at the former Steamtown site, to cater for extra traffic, most Leeds - Morecambe's were strengthened to 2x142 or 142+144. The squealing generated by the Pacers on the tight curve through Carnforth station on the day was horrendous!

 

[Dunc108]

http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/lo...morecambe-to-lancaster-rail-upgrade-1-6057590

Local Councillor lobbying for electrification of Morecambe Branch (above link).

 

[yorksrob]

http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/lo...morecambe-to-lancaster-rail-upgrade-1-6057590

Local Councillor lobbying for electrification of Morecambe Branch (above link).

I'm glad the paper mentioned the need for better links on the Little North Western. Personally I'd put this as more of a priority than electrification of the branch.

 

[Dunc108]

Pic of 158791 at Morecambe today. 158s are rare visitors to Morecambe, this probably originated from Leeds.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well that would be a very short post.....strange the Glasson Dock line never gets mentioned in "lines that should be re-opened" threads! (Nor, indeed, the Garstang & Knott End Railway )

As regards nick-names - the railmotor used on the Garstang & Knott End was known locally as the Pilling Pig!

I was still hoping to see an outrageous posting that would suggest a light railway cross-harbour link from Glasson Dock, running down the coastline past the ruins of Cockersand Abbey to meet up with the Garstang and Knott-End Railway at Pilling.....

 

[yorksrob]

Pic of 158791 at Morecambe today. 158s are rare visitors to Morecambe, this probably originated from Leeds.

I wonder if that's anything to do with the start of the Metrocard offer

 

[Dunc108]

I wonder if that's anything to do with the start of the Metrocard offer

Nah, I just thought the 144s maybe had a lie in this Sunday! Hey, not complaining & compared to the norm, space travel for the Wennington line!

Seriously though, at least it's proper rolling stock for such a long journey, its a shame these aren't used on all Leeds - Morecambe services, the 2-car units would be quite adequate.

 

[yorksrob]

Nah, I just thought the 144s maybe had a lie in this Sunday! Hey, not complaining & compared to the norm, space travel for the Wennington line!

Seriously though, at least it's proper rolling stock for such a long journey, its a shame these aren't used on all Leeds - Morecambe services, the 2-car units would be quite adequate.

Awww, the 144's do get worked quite hard. They deserve a rest once in a while

 

[TB]

I wonder if that's anything to do with the start of the Metrocard offer

Set swap at Skipton due to fault on the 150 that started the run at Leeds.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Nah, I just thought the 144s maybe had a lie in this Sunday! Hey, not complaining & compared to the norm, space travel for the Wennington line!

Seriously though, at least it's proper rolling stock for such a long journey, its a shame these aren't used on all Leeds - Morecambe services, the 2-car units would be quite adequate.

Problem is it is still a lightly used service. I would probably increase frequencies first once rolling stock allows. I would have it two hourly all day along with the Carlisle trains so they are hourly on the Leeds Hellifield corridor.

 

[TOCDriver]

Problem is it is still a lightly used service. I would probably increase frequencies first once rolling stock allows. I would have it two hourly all day along with the Carlisle trains so they are hourly on the Leeds Hellifield corridor.

You're right. Certainly up to Hellifield, from the Carnforth direction, it is very lightly used, in both directions. But then again, it does serve a very rural and not very tourist popular line between Settle and Carnforth. Even two hourly would be very generous. A service at peak times in the AM and PM, with perhaps one off peak service in the middle of the day, would be sufficient in my humble opinion; with a couple of extra services VIA settle to Carlisle to cater for the busier urban corridors

 

[Dunc108]

Surely one of the obvious reasons its lightly used is because of the infrequent nature of the service, almost verging on former Stainmore Line levels of service provision! (maybe that sounds overly harsh?) Saying that, some services are very popular, the 10.34 Morecambe - Leeds can generally leave Lancaster quite full, becoming full & standing from Skipton.

Yes, I too think a 2-hourly service would be quite reasonable, that in fact is what the frequency was via Bentham until BR cutbacks. I'm sure it could make communting into Lancaster alot more attractive for a start, especially from Bentham!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There is one early TPE service that goes via Morecambe, which is currently a Lancaster to Windermere service. But most of the time the branch is run as a shuttle by Northern, with about five or six services a day running through to Leeds.

That service starts from Lancaster at 0546, calling at:-
0552...Bare Lane
0556...Morecambe
0621...Oxenholme Lake District
0625...Kendal
0641...Lancaster

 

[Dunc108]

That service starts from Lancaster at 0546, calling at:-
0552...Bare Lane
0556...Morecambe
0621...Oxenholme Lake District
0625...Kendale
0641...Lancaster

I love snapping rare visitors to Branch lines, mind you in this case 185s are more regular on the Morecambe line than 158s, even if its just 1 train per day! Also its having motivation to get up that early to photograph it at Morecambe!

 

[underbank]

Morecambe station may be handy for the town centre, but that's only really useful as a destination and, to be blunt, Morecambe isn't really a destination anymore. There are very few people who live within walking distance of the station so fairly useless for commuters or shoppers heading away from Morecambe. That's why Bare Lane is far busier, as it's actually surrounded by lots of houses and therefore people! A station closer to York Bridge would be better to increase passenger traffic, or even better, a station near the westgage/regent road bridge that would be convenient for people living around Westgate and the West End.

No point in electrifying the Morecambe branch unless they build at least one more station on the line, preferably two or more closer to where people live rather than a town centre that's long past it's days as a destination.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

What Morecambe now has is a 2-platform station, but when it was a far more vibrant seaside resort, Morecambe Euston Road was a 5-platform station and Morecambe Promenade was a 4-platform station, but the M6 motorway now brings the resort in easy reach of car drivers.

Lancaster bus station, a short distance away from the railway station that has fast connectional rail services, has a number of bus routes serving Morecambe, some of which pass the site of Bare Lane station.

 

[Dunc108]

Bare Lane signal box is now being demolished, another part of the local rail scene bites the dust, although this has been coming for a while... UPDATE: pic added.