New direct Blackpool - Glasgow service

[Bittern]

A NEW train service linking Blackpool to north of the border will be launched next week.
After an absence of almost 20 years, the resort once again has a direct link to Glasgow.

Trans-Pennine Express will run the summer service, which will first depart from Blackpool North on July 2.

The weekend service to Scotland will run until September 5 with tickets from just £17 one way.

It is the first time Blackpool has been linked with Glasgow since 1992 when the service was still run by British Rail.

Train enthusiasts today welcomed the new service, saying they hope it will be extended to become permanent.

It is also hoped the service will bring in more tourists at peak summer season.

Leo Goodwin, commercial director for TransPennine Express, said: "With UK resorts expecting a busy summer and Blackpool in particular, we hope this new direct service and great value fares will prove popular and make the train an even better choice for holiday train journeys.

"When the service last ran between the two places it helped Blackpool attract more than 10m visitors every year.

Malcolm Richardson, chairman of the Blackpool Rail Users Association, added: "Having the Glasgow connection back is a great coup for the town. It provides Blackpool with a link to Scotland instead of having to go there via coach or on the motorway."

Coun Maxine Callow, cabinet member for tourism and regeneration at Blackpool Council, said: "We are delighted this new service has been introduced.

"We welcome holidaymakers from Scotland at special times every year and hope that this service will encourage them to visit more often during the summer."

Full details of all train times and fares at www.tpexpress.co.uk.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/New-direct-train-service-link.6385474.jp

 

[Aictos]

Wow, good stuff just hope it's successful and made a full time service.

 

[driver9000]

Is this a special service or a normal timetabled service? It's not showing on Nationalrail.

 

[rail-britain]

It's not showing up on FTPE website planner either
Putting in Glasgow Central and Blackpool returns :
Unfortunately First TransPennine Express do not operate direct services between these stations


However, if you look at http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/Handlers/UploadHandler.ashx?id=1430
Under the Z northbound 13:58 Preston - Glasgow and M southbound 10:10 Glasgow - Preston

So nothing new, just an existing service

 

[driver9000]

Thanks Rail-britain it looks like its just a portion working as opposed to a whole new service. I'm sure it will be well filled over the summer but it seems odd that its running on a Saturday instead of a Friday especially as the start date given in the Blackpool Gazette is a Friday I would have thought the Northbound service would be better run on a Sunday and the Southbound one on a Friday.

 

[rail-britain]

For the well-known week out for the Glaswegians, expected to be vastly more this year
However not much point advertising it in Blackpool, and I've not seen any in the local press here in Glasgowish

 

[anthony263]

What is likely to be working these services?

 

[Bittern]

What is likely to be working these services?

Since it's TPE, it's no doubt that the 185s will be incharge.

 

[dk1]

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32925&highlight=blackpool

 

[A60K]

I'm sure it will be well filled over the summer but it seems odd that its running on a Saturday instead of a Friday especially as the start date given in the Blackpool Gazette is a Friday I would have thought the Northbound service would be better run on a Sunday and the Southbound one on a Friday.

Many of the B&Bs and holiday camps used to operate on a week basis - in Saturday, out Saturday - and perhaps still do.

 

[driver9000]

There is a huge weekend market these days in Blackpool for hen/stag parties. I can see Transpennines logic behind their timings but would think a Sunday journey would be beneficial too to cater for them.

 

[dk1]

There is a huge weekend market these days in Blackpool for hen/stag parties. I can see Transpennines logic behind their timings but would think a Sunday journey would be beneficial too to cater for them.

From what i saw last weekend eveyone is going to Newcastle & Leeds

 

[CarterUSM]

I seen, a very small colum somewhere in the Scottish Sun regarding this, i'm paraphrasing here, but it only really said, 'a transpennine express service from Glasgow to Blackpool is being re-instated after a 20 year gap.' I have left some words out, but not many. And yes, I found the Sun!

 

[142094]

From what i saw last weekend eveyone is going to Newcastle & Leeds

Lot of Glaswegians (and other Scottish lads and lassies) in Newcastle very weekend it seems. Sunday afternoon and the trains north are sometimes rammed.

 

[dk1]

Lot of Glaswegians (and other Scottish lads and lassies) in Newcastle very weekend it seems. Sunday afternoon and the trains north are sometimes rammed.

Such a laugh, met one group of more mature ladies who couldnt make it from Newcastle to Durham without spending over £60 on vino at the EC cafe-bar. Well it is a 15 minute journey after all!!

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks Rail-britain it looks like its just a portion working as opposed to a whole new service. I'm sure it will be well filled over the summer but it seems odd that its running on a Saturday instead of a Friday especially as the start date given in the Blackpool Gazette is a Friday I would have thought the Northbound service would be better run on a Sunday and the Southbound one on a Friday.

This is subject to a recent track access application, only closed on the 24th. It is definitely portion working, and Fridays are mentioned:

TransPennine Express considers there to be a significant market for rail travel between Glasgow and Blackpool, particularly during the period of school holidays in Scotland (2 July – 5 September 2010). In order to service this market TransPennine Express has established a service, under a General Approval, to provide direct journey opportunities on key Friday, Saturday and Sunday services during the school holidays in Scotland. The through services will be provided by attaching or detaching portion trains to/from Blackpool at Preston to TransPennine Express existing Anglo-Scottish services.
TransPennine Express now proposes to establish these services as firm rights. This will require the addition of a single Preston to Blackpool North passenger train slot, a return passenger train slot between Blackpool North and Preston on Saturdays and a single Blackpool North to Preston passenger train slot on Sundays.

Hopefully that also confirms it will be 185s, jut in case anyone is fantasising about 180s...

 

[merlodlliw]

Anyone recall Blackpool Central with its 14 platforms & over 20 miles of sidings,the busiest seaside station in the UK, killed off to become the largest car park in Europe.

 

[Welshman]

Ah - that takes me back!
The "Black Five" or "Crab" steaming over Copy Pit and across the Marton line. Excitedly standing in the corridor, trying to be first to spot the tower as the train approaches. Then the massive station - almost two stations - the covered area and the excursion platforms to the east. The welcome on the p.a. with the announcer reminding you of the time of your return departure. Day excursion trains arriving every few minutes from all parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The busy, bustling station, with the inevitable queue for the toilets on arrival [some were formed of non-corridor stock!]. Then across the road, into Woolworth's cafeteria for fish and chips.
Who in their right minds would close such a valuable asset? And have they done anything with the site all these years, or is it still just a coach/car park?

 

[Greenback]

I think it's still mostly a car and coach park, although I haven;t been up to Blackpool for a while, we were looking at maps of the place earlier this year, when we were thinking about visiting again!

 

[merlodlliw]

I have a most interesting book, lost railways of Lancashire, on page 44, it gives this data.

in the 1930s it was claimed that rail passengers to Blackpool totalled six million a year.
On Saturday 18th July 1936 a record 656 trains passed Kirkham en route to and from Blackpool.

On august bank holiday 1938 451 special trains brought day trippers to the resort , 6,300 buses were also used that day.

All this plus normal timed departures, from the covered platforms.

The central station buildings, 1.5 miles of platform plus 34 parallel sidings,a huge toilet block whose pennies paid for all the rates and running costs.
six covered platforms and eight open ones could not cope with the excursion traffic. a few sites below
http://home.freeuk.net/timarchive/html/blackpool_2.htm

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/blackpool_centrtal/index.shtml
http://www.buytickets.tpexpress.co.uk/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable




A £2M extension was due for 1940, but the rest is history. As for the new service, yes a demand, Glasgow School Summer break started 25th June.

 

[shinkansen1966]

I do love these press releases. They are often padded out with whaffle.

"Train enthusiasts today welcomed the new service, saying they hope it will be extended to become permanent."
*** it's difficult to imagine train ethusiasts being hostile towards and new service. And they may hope the service becomes permament. I hope it becomes permanent, too. But that is a decision for Transpenine, the DfT and First's directors and shareholders.

It is also hoped the service will bring in more tourists at peak summer season.
*** that's the whole point of it. It's as bland as me saying, it is hoped my legs will allow me to walk to the corner shop.

Mind you, new service looks a good idea. Long may it continue. TPE whaffle or no whaffle.

 

[Failed Unit]

Lot of Glaswegians (and other Scottish lads and lassies) in Newcastle very weekend it seems. Sunday afternoon and the trains north are sometimes rammed.

That is before XC take over the route and people have to cram onto a Voyager

 

[The_Stig]

There are posters advertising the deal on the Glasgow subway. I will read it properly next time to see what they are promising.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

That is before XC take over the route and people have to cram onto a Voyager

As much as Voyagers may be horrible, a 4 car Voyager is beneficial to a 3 car 185 on this busy route!

 

[Failed Unit]

As much as Voyagers may be horrible, a 4 car Voyager is beneficial to a 3 car 185 on this busy route!

Really I always thought the 3 car 185 had more capacity

 

[Geezertronic]

If Wikipedia is to be believed a 185 has 154 Standard and 15 First Class seats and a 4 car 221 XC Voyager has 182 Standard and 26 First Class seats.