Poulton-Le-Fylde

[SodTheDrummer]

As a former resident of the Wyre area I take an interest in my old local station - Poulton-Le-Fylde - a charming little station.. Anyway, I recently came across the PWRS site (Poulton & Wyre Railway Society) who are aiming to reopen the line to Fleetwood (apparently one of the few major towns in UK not to have a rail link).
They have put forward a proposal for a new platform at Poulton and a link to the main line from Fleetwood and I wondered if any of the engineering types on here have any thoughts on how feasible/likely this is..

http://www.pwrs.org/poulton-station-alternative-proposal/

 

[Joseph_Locke]

As a former resident of the Wyre area I take an interest in my old local station - Poulton-Le-Fylde - a charming little station.. Anyway, I recently came across the PWRS site (Poulton & Wyre Railway Society) who are aiming to reopen the line to Fleetwood (apparently one of the few major towns in UK not to have a rail link).
They have put forward a proposal for a new platform at Poulton and a link to the main line from Fleetwood and I wondered if any of the engineering types on here have any thoughts on how feasible/likely this is..

http://www.pwrs.org/poulton-station-alternative-proposal/

It's a very good idea. Shame NR have / are about remove the junction ...

 

[Codville]

I emailed my MP (Cat Smith) about the junction removal some time ago, she asked the sectary of state for transport about the future works and apparently there will be provision for a reconnection to the Fleetwood line should the need arise.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

... there will be provision for a reconnection to the Fleetwood line should the need arise.

That's semantics at its best - like saying there is provision to put Boar's Head Junction back - there's nothing there, and no space left in the signalling system either.

 

[Codville]

Fair enough,the only other bit of into I've got is the local Labour group are gearing up to try and save it.

 

[Elecman]

I hope they have very deep pockets then as under the new Hendy rules those that want enhancements now have to pay for them!!

 

[Andyh82]

Can't imagine reinstating trains to Fleetwood will ever get anywhere near the top of a list.

Especially as in a couple of years they should have trams from Fleetwood to Blackpool North station, where onward connections could be made.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

It's a very good idea. Shame NR have / are about remove the junction ...

But it's brand new!......

 

[furnessvale]

But it's brand new!......

Very true and (virtually) unused.

Sadly, it's the wrong shape for higher speed running on the through lines so it has to go!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Can't imagine reinstating trains to Fleetwood will ever get anywhere near the top of a list.

Especially as in a couple of years they should have trams from Fleetwood to Blackpool North station, where onward connections could be made.

The tram takes 41 minutes to do what I make out at about 7 miles from Fleetwood Ferry to Blackpool North Pier. So realistically you're probably looking at about 45 minutes to get to Blackpool North station once that link is in place. For anyone getting the train, the line then heads NE, to some extent doubling back on the tram route, such that Poulton is only about 4-5 miles from Fleetwood (Although I appreciate that most people would be boarding at intermediate stations, not at the Ferry). Depending on line speeds and where a future train route might stop, you'd expect a train could probably do that distance in 10-12 minutes.

The time saving for people heading to Blackpool would be significant and for people heading to Preston or beyond would be massive.

I don't know enough about the area to comment on the feasibility of reinstating the line itself, but based on journey times, relying on the tram as the sole rail-based transport for people in Fleetwood doesn't really look good enough to me.

 

[Codville]

But it's brand new!......

Wasn't the current layout only installed around 08?

As for taking the tram to Blackpool, it does indeed take around 40 minutes to go down there, there's also an awkward hourly bus from Fleetwood that takes 20/30 minutes to get to Poulton.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Can't imagine reinstating trains to Fleetwood will ever get anywhere near the top of a list.

Especially as in a couple of years they should have trams from Fleetwood to Blackpool North station, where onward connections could be made.

IIRC Wyre Borough Council were in favour of reinstating the link - whether that would extend to coughing up any money to help pay for it is another matter.

The PWRS proposal also removes the junction, the line from Fleetwood running into the current Up Fylde platform and terminating (initially). There does seem like there's enough space on the down side as there was a siding there previously.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I don't know enough about the area to comment on the feasibility of reinstating the line itself, but based on journey times, relying on the tram as the sole rail-based transport for people in Fleetwood doesn't really look good enough to me.

I was wondering how many bus services run from the North Pier area to Fleetwood to supplement the tram services.

 

[Codville]

I was wondering how many bus services run from the North Pier area to Fleetwood to supplement the tram services.

Just one service the No 1, every 20 minutes.

 

[6Gman]

IIRC Wyre Borough Council were in favour of reinstating the link - whether that would extend to coughing up any money to help pay for it is another matter.

Every council is in favour of rail improvements ...







... until they're asked to put their hands in their pockets.

 

[Lankyline]

As I remember the tram ran right into the town centre, whilst any train service cannot due to redevelopment of the original station and track south of the station

 

[PR1Berske]

Reopening the Fleetwood line is one of those dreams to be lost to reality. NR doesn't want to keep the necessary infrastructure, no council wants to pay for it. Much like the Preston trams, in those regards.

 

[Elecman]

In a pipe dream with tram train you could extend the Blackpool Tramway to the Blackpool South Kirkham line to Kirkham as a DC system then reverse back to Poulton at 25kv once elctrified, wire the Poulton to Fleetwood branch as a DC system and connect to the tramway at Fleetwood. You would just need either a crossover or flyover to get to the existing up platform at Poulton for,the tram system if Poulton gets a new down platform. Like I say a pipe dream which no one will ever pay for

 

[CAF397]

Very true and (virtually) unused.

Sadly, it's the wrong shape for higher speed running on the through lines so it has to go!

Not just virtually unused - absolutely unused. it was installed and then immediately clipped up out of use.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Its a shame as the line to Fleetwood from Poulton is more or less intact - yes they need to find a new terminus site at FW, but i think they have somewhere in mind IIRC. Their remodelling proposal has potential I think as there is more than enough space on the current down side to slew the up through there and use the current up platform for the heritage connection. (and i'm presuming it's not completely infeasible engineering wise as Mr Locke esq. didn't dismiss it straight away)

 

[furnessvale]

Not just virtually unused - absolutely unused. it was installed and then immediately clipped up out of use.

Thanks for that. The virtually was a last minute addition to cover the possibility of an odd ballast train.

I did hope at one time that the possible salt extraction across the Wyre could generate some freight but that is a long shot.

 

[Codville]

Its been a long time since salt has been extracted on the Wyre the Fleetwood museum has the last chunk of salt extracted from Preesall on display, in more recent years I was hoping the waste facility would use the line but the bulk garden and food waste side of that plant has now closed due to cutbacks, another possibility would have been fish for processing at planned fish processing park.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

(and i'm presuming it's not completely infeasible engineering wise as Mr Locke esq. didn't dismiss it straight away)

How well you know me ...

Fleetwood is one of the simpler schemes, level crossings not withstanding. The new Fleetwood station isn't very central (unless you appropriate some car parking) but it would only be a short walk / extension to the trams and it is good for a park and ride site, and Freeport.

A Fleetwood - Preston would attract quite good patronage, IMHO.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How long ago it now seems hearing the tannoy at Manchester Victoria railway station end its announcement....."for Blackpool North and Fleetwood"...:roll:

 

[randyrippley]

sensible thing would be to extend the tram by street running from Fleetwood to the old railway, then continuing the tram to Poulton. Plenty of room on the road for the trams, it would serve the medical centre and the Fleetwood port shopping centre, and tie Poulton, Thornton and Cleveleys towns into the tram network.

 

[PR1Berske]

How well you know me ...

Fleetwood is one of the simpler schemes, level crossings not withstanding. The new Fleetwood station isn't very central (unless you appropriate some car parking) but it would only be a short walk / extension to the trams and it is good for a park and ride site, and Freeport.

A Fleetwood - Preston would attract quite good patronage, IMHO.

But the big question is support from NR to retain the necessary rails and junction and that appears not to be remotely close

 

[CAF397]

Its been a long time since salt has been extracted on the Wyre the Fleetwood museum has the last chunk of salt extracted from Preesall on display, in more recent years I was hoping the waste facility would use the line but the bulk garden and food waste side of that plant has now closed due to cutbacks, another possibility would have been fish for processing at planned fish processing park.

I was hopeful that when planning permission was granted for the Waste plant being extended that the council would mandate no additional road traffic on the already congested A585, and instead use rail, in a similar position to the Pendleton waste operation in Manchester. Sadly not.

 

[furnessvale]

I was hopeful that when planning permission was granted for the Waste plant being extended that the council would mandate no additional road traffic on the already congested A585, and instead use rail, in a similar position to the Pendleton waste operation in Manchester. Sadly not.

I believe the waste plant itself has now closed, or at least any recycling facility has closed.

 

[Lankyline]

How well you know me ...

Fleetwood is one of the simpler schemes, level crossings not withstanding. The new Fleetwood station isn't very central (unless you appropriate some car parking) but it would only be a short walk / extension to the trams and it is good for a park and ride site, and Freeport.

A Fleetwood - Preston would attract quite good patronage, IMHO.

Just to be contentious, Fleetwood is a shadow of its former self, totally depressing with all the charm of a smacked fish, I say rip the line up put a cycle path in and let everyone see the architectural wonders of the former ICI works, the refuse facility and what's left of the docks

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Sensible thing would be to extend the tram by street running from Fleetwood to the old railway, then continuing the tram to Poulton. Plenty of room on the road for the trams, it would serve the medical centre and the Fleetwood port shopping centre, and tie Poulton, Thornton and Cleveleys towns into the tram network.

I can just imagine the disruption to local residents and the local road traffic that aspiration to extend the tramway from Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde would bring. Pay a visit to Manchester, where a swathe of disruption cut through the heart of the inner city core for what seems like eons in order that the 2CC Manchester Metrolink line could be installed.