Moss Side railway station

[Gathursty]

I was walking between Lytham and Wrea Green when I stopped at this station just to sit down for a little bit. After a few minutes an automated announcement from out of nowhere boomed, in effect, 'don't be a vandal!'. I assume it was set off by a motion sensor. It just seems really daft to have such a device if no-one is controlling it.

So my question is this: Do rural (unstaffed) stations like Moss Side have these arrangements for anti-social behaviour or is it just a Northern Rail thing?

 

[driver9000]

I think it's on an automatic timer, there are a few 'standard' announcments that are played in a sequence.

Moss Side barely has any passengers let alone a problem with anti social behaviour!

 

[WestCoast]

Moss Side barely has any passengers let alone a problem with anti social behaviour!

I have used it a couple of times! Every time I have used there was only me waiting though. Never heard any announcements either

It always gets a mention from the crowds heading to Blackpool since no-one seems to get on or off despite the hourly frequency and everyone seems to think that they have arrived in inner city Manchester!:roll:

If Wrea Green station had been reopened instead, it would attract more usage, since that is a thriving village.

 

[driver9000]

A new LLPA was installed about a year ago on the South Fylde line and has been announcing trains ever since. At Blackpool Sth it announces the terminating service then the departure. It then tells you off for vandalising or causing violence!

 

[WestCoast]

A new LLPA was installed about a year ago on the South Fylde line and has been announcing trains ever since. At Blackpool Sth it announces the terminating service then the departure. It then tells you off for vandalising or causing violence!

I heard this system about a year ago at Blackpool South and it seems to have been switched off! Nothing announced recently. Same at Kirkham, heard announcements a year ago, now nothing. Any ideas about what's happened? Or have I just been unlucky!

I must admit I haven't used any of the intermediate stations for a more than a year - I use the other line more.

The announcements were voiced by the "Celia" voice.

 

[Lampshade]

Wonder if there's one at Salwick

 

[driver9000]

I heard this system about a year ago at Blackpool South and it seems to have been switched off! Nothing announced recently. Same at Kirkham, heard announcements a year ago, now nothing. Any ideas about what's happened? Or have I just been unlucky!.

It was working a few days ago, I'm not sure about Salwick.

 

[WestCoast]

It was working a few days ago, I'm not sure about Salwick.

Oh right, I will have to listen out for them!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If Wrea Green station had been reopened instead, it would attract more usage, since that is a thriving village.

This point is well made. Does anyone on the forum know the reason why Moss Side was chosen over Wrea Green?

 

[PR1Berske]

I don't know why, but I can't believe there's no great call for Wrea Green to reopen. It would be a rare case of an instantly popular re-opening.

 

[driver9000]

I don't why Moss Side was chosen over Wrea Green, maybe it was because Moss Side platforms had survived. Moss Side cost £8000 to reopen in 1983 which was considerably less than a whole new station. It's main reason for now for an hourly service is the crossing which is operated by a plunger for Up trains.

To be honest I wonder how strong the feeling for a station is in Wrea Green. The only place I ever hear talk of it is on here.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To be honest I wonder how strong the feeling for a station is in Wrea Green. The only place I ever hear talk of it is on here.

Maybe there is a very high number of Wrea Green residents who are members of this forum?

 

[WestCoast]

I don't why Moss Side was chosen over Wrea Green, maybe it was because Moss Side platforms had survived. Moss Side cost £8000 to reopen in 1983 which was considerably less than a whole new station.

I think the main reason was, as you quite rightly say, the fact that the platforms were still in place at Moss Side. Also, there was a land issue with a local building firm in Wrea Green, which wouldn't be an issue now as they have relocated their site away from the village.

To be honest I wonder how strong the feeling for a station is in Wrea Green. The only place I ever hear talk of it is on here.

I am not a resident but I am certain that Wrea Green would be able to attract more than 3,000 passengers a year - I feel there is a demand for travel from there to Kirkham and Preston, since a train (even a pacer!) would be seen as a better option than the patchy local bus service. There is also the Ribby Hall Holiday Village nearby, which could also add to footfall at the station.

The Blackpool And Fylde Rail User’s Association are supporting and campaigning for it, plus there is local support with the parish council. There has been a stand at the Wrea Green Field Day for it aswell.

 

[driver9000]

I think it would be a viable station, I have mentioned it in the past comparing bus/car vs train journey times. I don't think those with the cheque books are as keen though. Sadly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There is also the Ribby Hall Holiday Village nearby, which could also add to footfall at the station. The Blackpool And Fylde Rail User’s Association are supporting and campaigning for it, plus there is local support with the parish council. There has been a stand at the Wrea Green Field Day for it as well.

There certainly seems to be a good local profile keeping the matter to the fore!!

 

[lancastrian]

I think it would be a viable station, I have mentioned it in the past comparing bus/car vs train journey times. I don't think those with the cheque books are as keen though. Sadly.

Well I have been 'banging on' about the reopening of Wrea Green on this site many times. However from memory I have the impression that Moss Side was reopned due to the Hospital nearby. However this Hospital closed in 1988. They proberbly just kept the station open because it would cost to much to close it again.

Here are some details about the Moss Side Hospital.

Moss Side Hospital near Wrea Green c1910. Also known as "Fylde Joint Isolation Hospital". Built about 1902, this was an Isolation Hospital for infectious diseases such as Typhoid Fever and Scarlet Fever. It closed in 1988.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Moss Side in Manchester would have a far larger passenger catchment area for a rail service, though dissimilar to those on the station on the line to Blackpool South.

 

[lancastrian]

Moss Side in Manchester would have a far larger passenger catchment area for a rail service, though dissimilar to those on the station on the line to Blackpool South.

Possibly, but the railway builders never buit any line through Moss Side, Manchester. Sad to say, this was very wise of them. As far as I am aware, the nearest station to Moss Side, M/cr would be Oxford Road.

 

[Accura]

With regards to the automated announcements, they have also installed these at Bamber Bridge, which although is not strictly the South Fylde line, it does form part of the same route. Occasionally they did announce delays and such, but never train approaching or other random messages, probably due to the high residential density.

 

[Lampshade]

Possibly, but the railway builders never buit any line through Moss Side, Manchester. Sad to say, this was very wise of them. As far as I am aware, the nearest station to Moss Side, M/cr would be Oxford Road.

Yep, although Wilbraham Road on the old Fallowfield Loop would have been the closest.

 

[Chapeltom]

I was at Squires Gate catching an evening service in back to Preston when a couple of announcements came on. One was announcing CCTV, me and my mate both could find no evidence of that! Must be a Blackpool South branch thing.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With regards to the automated announcements, they have also installed these at Bamber Bridge, which although is not strictly the South Fylde line, it does form part of the same route. Occasionally they did announce delays and such, but never train approaching or other random messages, probably due to the high residential density.

These type of announcements are made at many of the town centre bus stations around Greater Manchester. Subconscously, I often mentally join in, as I know the scripts off by heart now.

 

[boing_uk]

I was at Squires Gate catching an evening service in back to Preston when a couple of announcements came on. One was announcing CCTV, me and my mate both could find no evidence of that! Must be a Blackpool South branch thing.

As I understand it, CCTV is being rolled out across most of the stations on a priority list - a company I work with has surveyed most of them already. Lostock Hall I noted the other day has now got CCTV.